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UFC on ESPN 3 Results, Highlights: Ngannou stops Dos Santos in just 71 seconds

Francis Ngannou (14-3) once again demonstrated why he is the scariest fighter in the UFC’s Heavyweight roster, this time at the expense of former champion Junior Dos Santos (21-6).

It took the Cameroonian fighter just 71 seconds to stop Dos Santos via TKO and close out UFC on ESPN 3 in Minneapolis, Saturday (Sunday, Philippine time).

The action started with both Ngannou and JDS exchanging vicious leg kicks. At one point, JDS even managed to knock “The Predator” off balance with one swift kick to calf. His momentum, however, proved short-lived. Ngannou easily found his range and blasted Dos Santos down the canvas, pounding his opponent until the referee has no other choice but to stop the fight.

By handing Ngannou his third first-round finish in a row, Dos Santos joins Cain Velasquez and Curtis Blaydes in Ngannou’s growing list of victims. Combined, it only took two minutes and 22 seconds—less than half a round—for the Cameroon native to finish the three of them.

After the fight, Ngannou made it clear what he wants next for him.

“I feel very good. I am very happy now and then I hope the UFC is going to realize that I deserve the title shot right now,” Ngannou said in an interview. “I deserve the winner of DC [Daniel Cormier] and Stipe [Miocic].”

Cormier (21-1-0, 1 NC) is set to defend his heavyweight title against Miocic (18-3) at UFC 241.

In the co-main event, Joseph Benavidez (28-5)  stopped Jussier Formiga (23-6) and declared himself the top contender for Henry Cejudo’s flyweight title. After a frantic first round saw a cut open on the side of Benavidez’s left eye, Benavidez stormed back in the second with a solid combination against the cage that Formiga was unable to answer as he crumpled in a heap next to the fence.

Main Card Results

  • Francis Ngannou def Junior dos Santos via TKO (Round 1, 1:11)
  • Joseph Benavidez def Jussier Formiga via TKO (Round 2, 4:47)
  • Demian Maia def Rocco Martin via majority dec (29-28 x2, 28-28)
  • Vinc Pichel def Roosevelt Roberts via unanimous dec (29-28 x3)
  • Drew Dober def Marco Polo Reyes via KO (Round 1, 1:07)
  • Alonzo Menifield def Paul Craig via KO (Round 1, 3:19)

Prelim Results

  • Ricardo Ramos def Journey Newson via unanimous dec (30-27 x3)
  • Eryk Anders def Vinicius Moreira via KO (Round 1, 1:18)
  • Jared Gordon def Dan Moret via unanimous dec (30-27 x2, 29-28)
  • Dalcha Lungiambula def Dequan Townsend via TKO (Round 3, 0:42)
  • Amanda Ribas def Emily Whitmire via sub (Round 2, 2:10)
  • Maurice Greene def Junior Albini via TKO (Round 1, 3:38)

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