Ultimate Fighting Championship saw a changing of the guard when Kelvin Gastelum sent the legendary Vitor Belfort down to the mat in the opening round.
Belfort charged to the center of the octagon and tried to pick his shot, even showing signs of the old Vitor with his impressive hand speed and spinning attacks. While some of his shots landed, Gastelum was the counter striker who was waiting for his opportunity to strike. He saw it late in the opening round and dropped Belfort with a massive shot.
He chased the legend to the canvas and peppered him with punch after punch before the referee waved the fight off. Check out what fighters had to say about the performance of both men below:
#UFCFortaleza wooosh I thought victor was out with that one punch. Way to stay in there
— Felice Herrig (@feliceherrig) March 12, 2017
Gastelum survives the early onslaught and drops Vitor. Vitor doesn't fold and gets up. #UFCFortaleza
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) March 12, 2017
I got greedy and bet vitor because he was such a dog. Turns out odds makers are smarter than me. Who knew?
— Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) March 12, 2017
WOW ? @KelvinGastelum putting away another veteran of the sport. #UFCFortaleza #NotSurprised but Vitor is a legend #ufc
— Damien Brown (@beatdown155) March 12, 2017
What a finish to the night! Gastelum with a nice TKO finish! #UFCFortaleza
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) March 12, 2017
Vicious KO for @KelvinGastelum my dude congrats @ufc #ufc #ufcfortaleza Vitor is tough as hell
— Truck Gordon (@TruckMMA_UFC) March 12, 2017
Gastelum has looked great at 85. I don't see the need for him to kill himself to get to 70. #ufc
— Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) March 12, 2017
KG is a Beast #UFCFortaleza
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) March 12, 2017
Gastelum is compiling quite the hit list at 25 years old. #UFCFortaleza
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) March 12, 2017
Congrats to @KelvinGastelum on the big win tonigh. ?????
— Brian Ortega (@BrianTcity) March 12, 2017
