Justin Gaethje Freezes Edson Barboza in UFC on ESPN 2 Headliner in Philadelphia

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No one in the Ultimate Fighting Championship brings crowds to a boil as consistently as Justin Gaethje.

The former World Series of Fighting champion on Saturday kept his name on a short list of lightweight contenders, as he knocked out Edson Barboza in the first round of their UFC on ESPN 2 headliner at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. Barboza (20-7, 14-7 UFC) met his end 2:30 into Round 1, suffering the quickest defeat of his 27-fight career.

Gaethje (20-2, 3-2 UFC) tenderized the Brazilian’s leg with kicks and staggered him with a right hand at close range inside the first minute. Barboza withstood the initial onslaught but never seemed to fully recover. Gaethje kept his foot on the gas, pushed the onetime Ring of Combat titleholder backward and uncorked a devastating right hand that stole the show and sealed his fate.

It was Gaethje’s eighth first-round finish as a professional.

Hermansson Guillotine Dispatches Branch

Jack Hermansson submitted former two-division World Series of Fighting champion David Branch with a guillotine choke in the first round of their middleweight co-main event. Branch (22-6, 4-5 UFC) bowed out 49 seconds into Round 1, losing for the third time in four appearances.

Hermansson (19-4, 6-2 UFC) wasted no time getting down to business. The onetime Cage Warriors Fighting Championship titleholder forced Branch onto his back foot with an awkward but aggressive standup attack, secured a takedown and caught the arm-in guillotine as the Renzo Gracie-trained Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt tried to escape to his feet. Hermansson wrenched the choke, forced Branch to release a fence grab and tightened his squeeze until the deed was done.

An emerging threat at 185 pounds, Hermansson has finished all three of his opponents during his current winning streak.

Emmett Delivers Split-Flying KO

Team Alpha Male’s Josh Emmett in his first appearance in more than a year knocked out Michael Johnson in the third round of their featherweight attraction. An unconscious Johnson (19-14, 11-10 UFC) hit the deck supine and stiff 4:14 into Round 3, his modest two-fight winning streak having run its course.

Emmett (14-2, 5-2 UFC) spent two-plus rounds trying to track down “The Ultimate Fighter 12” finalist. Johnson threw and landed more -- a sharp straight left was his weapon of choice -- but never did enough to keep his counterpart from moving forward. Late in the third round, Emmett flicked out a jab, closed the distance and unleashed a hellacious right hook that sent spit flying and felled the Hard Knocks 365 rep where he stood.

The 34-year-old Emmett has recorded three wins across his last four outings.

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Ascending Waterson Bests Kowalkiewicz

Former Invicta Fighting Championships titleholder Michelle Waterson continued her climb on the 115-pound ladder, as she laid claim to a unanimous decision over Karolina Kowalkiewicz in a featured strawweight encounter. Waterson (17-6, 5-2 UFC) swept the scorecards with identical 30-27 marks from all three judges.

Kowalkiewicz (12-4, 5-4 UFC) never seemed to find her comfort zone. Waterson pecked away with jabs and leg kicks in the first round, executed a head-and-arm throw and threatened with an armbar in the second and worked kicks to the body before delivering a tactical single-leg takedown in the third. Momentum remained in the longtime Jackson-Wink MMA standout’s corner for the duration of the 15-minute battle.

Waterson, 33, has rattled off three straight victories.

Craig Triangle Submits Nzechukwu

Former British Association of Mixed Martial Arts champion Paul Craig submitted the previously unbeaten Kennedy Nzechukwu with a triangle choke in the third round of their light heavyweight showcase. Nzechukwu (6-1, 0-1 UFC) conceded defeat 4:20 into Round 3.

Craig (11-3, 3-3 UFC) has begun to make a habit out of Hail Mary finishes, with little more than a year having passed since his last-second stoppage of Magomed Ankalaev. He appeared to be down two rounds to none entering the final period, as Nzechukwu has routinely countered his attempted takedowns with elbow volleys to the side of the head and also poured on punishment with ground-and-pound. Late in Round 3, Craig lured the Fortis MMA prospect into his guard, waited for an opening and cinched the choke before rolling into top position and prompting the tapout.

The 31-year-old Craig has won two of his last three fights.

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Surging Yusuff Outduels Moraes

Team Lloyd Irvin’s Sodiq Yusuff extended his winning streak to four fights with a unanimous decision over Sheymon Moraes in a three-round featherweight feature. All three cageside judges scored it for Yusuff (9-1, 2-0 UFC): 29-27, 29-28 and 29-28.

Moraes (11-3, 2-2 UFC) was a step behind for much of the match, though he connected with a few clever standing elbows and several punishing body kicks. Yusuff focused his attack on the Brazilian’s lower extremities with kicks, all while incorporating a potent jab and occasional combinations. He made the final result a virtual certainty late in the third round, where he floored Moraes with a counter right hand, followed with ground-and-pound and ultimately achieved full mount.

The defeat snapped a modest two-fight winning streak for Moraes.

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