Elijah Smith may just have delivered this year’s knockout with his finish to Toshiomi kazama at UFC Vegas 109.
Following a front and back grappling exchange on the ground as he avoided an attempt at submission from the bottom, Smith fought a triangular choke attempt from Kazama by lifting him into the air and slamming him hard onto the canvas. Professional wrestling style power bomb – Quinton “Rampage” Just as Jackson went to Riccardo Aronna years ago, Kazama’s night was knocked out and Smith began celebrating his victory.
The end came at 4:10 in the opening round.
Kazama actually lay motionless on the ground for a while after the knockout, but thankfully he woke up and warned after the medical professional took care of him in the cage.
“I just want to pray for the other person, hopefully he’ll make it safe at home,” Smith said after his vicious finish. “I knew I had the ability to catch up with the guys on the ground. I’m still as good as they’re coming. I knew I had to slam him right.
“I knew I would be strong and strong, so I wanted to get that $50,000 bonus. The sky is not at its limit.”
As one of the heaviest favorites of the entire card, Smith was expected to win, but it wasn’t easy for Kazama to threaten him with the ground during all the grappling exchanges. Kazama attacked with an armbar attempt, then attacked with an attempt at hooking heels as Smith continued to take his better position while his hands were free.
Kazama continued to search for submissions when he saw the opening of the Triangle Chalk, but Smith clearly had the perfect counter for the move. In the replay, Smith lifts Kazama into the air and then places his hand on his chin as he returns to Earth again to ensure he has caused the greatest damage.
When the fight was over, Smith actually cried out Jackson. Jackson competes with Powerbomb, the most famous in MMA history.