Magomed Ankalaev could have been on his way to a highlight reel finish but now we’ll never know for certain.
While he’ll leave with a knockout win, it probably wasn’t the ending Ankalaev wanted after referee Kevin MacDonald stopped the fight at just 38 seconds into the opening round much to the disapproval of Ion Cutelaba and the Norfolk, Va. crowd.
After Cutelaba actually had to be pulled back to his corner following a physical altercation with Ankalaev during Bruce Buffer’s introductions, the light heavyweights came out throwing heavy leather as soon as the fight got started.