Kennedy Nzechukwu shined under the glare of an altogether unexpected spotlight.
The monstrous 6-foot-5 Fortis MMA rep overcame an inauspicious start and took another step forward in the Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight division, as he chopped down Ion Cutelaba with a knee strike and follow-up punches in the second round of their makeshift UFC Fight Night 215 headliner on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Nzechukwu (11-3, 5-3 UFC) finished it 62 seconds into Round 2, stepping up to shoulder the marquee when the original Derrick Lewis-Sergey Spivak main event fell apart in the hours leading up to the show.