The American mixed martial artist Grant Dawson knocked out Brazilian Leonardo Santos with a flurry of thunder-like punches with just a second remaining at UFC Vegas 22 on Saturday.
The fight was stopped at the 4:59 mark of Round 3 after Santos, 41, was put out by a total of five crushing punches in the face.
"At 4:59 of Round 3, Grant Dawson (@DawsonGrant20y1) earns a finish tied for the 2nd latest in 3-round UFC history. The record still belongs to Ricky Simon over Merab Dvalishvili at 5:00 R3," UFC tweeted.
Dawson's victorious strike at the very end of the round is the 2nd latest in the 3-round history of UFC, with the other such record holders being Leon Edwards and Paul Craig. At 5:00 R3, Ricky Simon still holds the absolute record of latest knock-out over Merab Dvalishvili.
With a second to spare!
— UFC (@ufc) March 21, 2021
⏱ @DawsonGrant20y1 refused to leave it in the judges' hands. #UFCVegas22 pic.twitter.com/Jasz14UHdl
Social media users greeted such an unexpected outcome of the bout with delight, with some also noting the ease with which Dawson carried out the series of punches.
Wow crazy finish!!!
— Billy Q (@BillyQMMA) March 21, 2021
Grant Dawson ends Leonardo Santos’ unbeaten UFC run with a KO with one second left in the fight. Santos’ first loss since May 2009. Insane. #UFCVegas22
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) March 21, 2021
Dawson seeing Santos wake up from his ko . #UFCVegas22 pic.twitter.com/wostssrnnk
— Gus (@gussaturnine) March 21, 2021
Dawson is running around the cage shouting, “50 Gs! 50 Gs! 50 Gs, baby!” Santos is still down.
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) March 21, 2021
The UFC shared another video shot prior to Dawson's push to win, where the fighter's coach can be seen giving him some forthright parting words, saying "you can't take him down, you've got to try and knock him out."
🗣 @TheJamesKrause gave Dawson Grant this speech before the 3rd and final round
— OddsChecker (@OddsCheckerUS) March 21, 2021
😳 He went out and got KO win with 1 second to spare in the 3rd
pic.twitter.com/WWUrsmkiVX
OH MY GOD GRANT DAWSON KNOCKS SANTOS OUT WITH 2 SECONDS LEFT OF THE FIGHT🤯🔥🔥
— MMA MOMENTS (@MMAMOMENTS1) March 21, 2021
WOWOWOW.. I am speechless. That ground and pound was incredible..#UFCVegas22
*Grant Dawson lays on Santos for the entire last round after Krause begged him to go for the KO*
— MacMally🍀 (@MacMallyMMA) March 21, 2021
Dawson with 5 seconds left: Oh wait, LMAO.#UFCVegas22
2 seconds left on the clock and Grant Dawson said. #UFCVegas22 pic.twitter.com/4Mjw91IAYp
— Manolo 🥃 (@manny_mma_) March 21, 2021
Dawson's punches handed the first loss since May 2009 to Santos, ending his undefeated streak of 13 fights. Dawson, who joined the UFC after winning a contract at Dana White's Contender Series in 2017, is now undefeated in five fights.
