UFC 206 wasn’t the card that it could have been.
Problems plagued the Octagon’s return to Toronto as a failure to book Georges St-Pierre for a fight was followed by a late injury to Daniel Cormier, who was scheduled to defend his UFC light heavyweight title against Anthony Johnson, and the day before the event, new headliner Anthony Pettis failed to make the 145lbs weight limit for his interim featherweight title fight against Max Holloway.
On paper it could have been better.
But knockouts aren’t written on paper.
And thanks to Lando Vannata, we were honoured with one of the most stunning knockouts of 2016.
.@GroovyLando deads Makdessi #UFC206 #KO #Knockout #Dead #HelloDarknessMyOldFriendhttps://t.co/SBVrD1y5bL
— Jim Edwards (@MMA_Jim) December 11, 2016
Vannata earned plenty of fans back in July when he came in on short notice and came close to shocking the world by rocking top UFC lightweight contender Tony Ferguson.
The Jackson Wink product suffered his first career loss against ‘El Cucuy’ but he showed nothing but slick striking throughout and he displayed more of his fan-friendly style on Saturday night.
Tasked with taking on UFC veteran John Makdessi, Vannata uncorked a spinning wheel kick à la Edson Barboza and knew the deed was done.
‘Groovy’ could feel his opponent’s senses leave his body as Makdessi fell to his back and Vannata walked off, with a new addition to his highlight reel in tow.
Diarmuid Connolly makes his long overdue GAA Hour debut and talks to Colm Parkinson about everything from the black card to his rivalry with Lee Keegan and how he honed the ability to kick accurately with either foot.
