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UFC Fight Night 70: Romero knocks out Machida with vicious elbows

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Yoel Romero's elbow met Lyoto Machida's face Saturday night, and the introduction wasn't pretty.

Romero knocked out Machida in the third round to earn a decisive victory in the main event at UFC Fight Night 70 in Hollywood, Fla.

After two tightly contested rounds, Romero, who was seemingly waiting for his opportunity to strike, registered his first taketown of Machida of the match 90 seconds into Round 3, and it was the only takedown he'd need. Romero, on top of Machida, began pummelling him with elbows to the face, and the fight was mercifully called after four successive elbow blows connected.

Nasty enough to send Machida for repairs:

Romero improves to 10-1 with the victory, and 6-0 in the UFC, while Machida drops to 22-7, and 14-7 in the UFC.

Romero went on a bit of a religious tirade in his post-fight interview, in light of same-sex marriage legislation being passed in the United States, apparently asking: "What happened to you? Wake up, USA! Go for Jesus, not for gay Jesus."

"Go for Jesus, not gay Jesus people." #UFCFlorida

Romero, unsurprisingly, backtracked after the fight:

Lost in translation, we suppose.

Full Results

  • Yoel Romero def. Lyoto Machida by Round 3 TKO (elbows)
  • Lorenz Larkin def. Santiago Ponzinibbio by Round 2 TKO (punches)
  • Antonio Carlos Junior def. Eddie Gordon by Round 3 submission (rear-naked choke)
  • Thiago Santos def. Steve Bosse by 1st Round KO (head kick)
  • Hacran Dias def. Levan Makashvili by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Alex Oliveira def. Joe Merritt by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Leandro Silva def. Lewis Gonzalez by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-27)
  • Tony Sims def. Steve Montgomery by 1st Round TKO (punches)
  • Sirwan Kakai def. Danny Martinez by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

- Results courtesy MMA Junkie.

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