UFC 226 Highlight Video: Paulo Henrique Costa Tees Off on Uriah Hall

Paulo Henrique Costa has been wrecking shop since entering the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s roster and he continued his ascension up the middleweight rankings by melting Uriah Hall on Saturday at UFC 226.

The muscular, powerful Brazilian waded through a tempest of jabs and a bloody nose from “The Ultimate Fighter” veteran in the first frame to deliver a sensational second-round knockout. “The Eraser” was warned by referee Mark Smith multiple times in the opening frame for poking with his fingers and hitting low, but that didn’t deter the contender from hammering away at the slick veteran. Hall opted for a more measured, technical approach, but even after rocking Costa in the second with a counter right cross, he withered under the Brazilian’s pressure.

A torrent of punches to the head caused Hall’s legs to rubberize and a follow-up right to the jaw sealed his fate. Hall plummeted to the canvas face first, prompting Smith to immediately intervene. The official time of the highlight reel knockout came at 2:38 the second stanza, the longest fight of his career thus far.