Timmy Cuamba earned his first victory inside the Octagon at UFC Kansas City with a spectacular flying knee that led to an emphatic second-round knockout finish against Roberto Romero on Saturday.
After a competitive opening round that saw both fighters exchange blows, Cuamba took definitive control in the second frame. He first hurt Romero significantly with a well-placed jab, followed by a head kick that Romero somehow managed to absorb and continue fighting. However, Romero was unable to recover from the devastating flying knee Cuamba launched next, which immediately sent him collapsing to the canvas.
Cuamba pursued Romero to the ground to land follow-up strikes, but the referee quickly recognized the severity of the knockout and stopped the fight at 3:55 of the second round.
“That was just thanks to my team,” Cuamba stated regarding his performance. “Going into the second round, I told myself it’s time to be great and that’s what I did. I noticed he kept ducking a lot so I knew he was going to be there.”
This performance was a strong statement from Cuamba, especially following his initial two appearances in the UFC which both resulted in decision losses.
In this bout, Cuamba not only showcased a diverse skill set but, crucially, displayed a potent killer instinct. He effectively capitalized on the moment he sensed Romero was hurt after connecting with clean strikes in the second round.
The stunning flying knee knockout is a highlight-reel moment that secures Cuamba his initial win in his developing UFC career.
