Dong Hyun Kim picked up his fourth consecutive win and did so in devastating fashion as he knocked out John Hathaway with a spinning elbow in the main event of UFC Fight Night Saturday in Macau, China.
Kim hurt Hathaway early with a big overhand right and stunned the Englishman again with several big left hands late in the first round. However, Hathaway was able to recover and land some decent strikes of his own in the second round. Early in the third, as the two opened up on the feet, Kim landed a spinning elbow that put Hathaway to sleep.
Hathawy (17-2) hadn’t fought since September 2012. It was the first knockout loss of his career.
Kim (19–2–1, 1 NC) is now on the longest win streak of his UFC career and has displayed a new, in-your-face style in his last two outings. He also recently knocked out Erick Silva viciously in October.
UFC Fight Night: Kim vs Hathaway preliminary card recap
In the co-main event, Lipeng Zhang became the first ever winner of The Ultimate Fighter China after beating Sai Wang by controversial split decision.
Wang escaped from a tight, rear-naked choke attempt from Zhang in the first round and seemed to take control of the fight after that moment. However, the judges awarded Zhang the decision, which was met with a chorus of boos.
Matt Mitrione knocked Shawn Jordan out with one second remaining in the first round of their heavyweight tilt to improve to 7-3 in the UFC.
The two big men exchanged heavy blows, but no one landed flush until Mitrione connected on a clean punching combo in the dying seconds of the opening stanza. The loss was Jordan’s second straight by first-round knockout.
In the opening bout of the main card, Tristar Gym’s Ivan Menjivar lost his third straight bout after falling short against Hatsu Hioki.
The two featherweights competed in a grappling-heavy battle that saw Menjivar have to defend many Hioki submission attempts. Hioki won a unanimous decision.
Menjivar (25-12) has not won since November 2012 , while Hioki (27-7-2) snapped a three-fight losing streak of his own.
Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp was in attendance at CotaiArena taking in the action cageside.
