Before UFC Vegas 70, there had been 19 knockouts and 16 submissions during UFC action in 2023. That number did not include three specific types of finishes until Saturday night.
Jordan Leavitt was the first UFC fighter in 2023 to score a knockout via knees to the head in the clinch. Leavitt, who was coming off a submission loss to Paddy Pimblett in his previous outing, stopped Victor Martinez at the 2:27 mark of Round 1 of their lightweight contest.
The next fighter to score a first of 2023 was Mike Malott. Malott secured the first arm triangle from half guard submission of the year for the UFC.