Santiago Ponzinibbio scored his 30th career win with a brutal third-round TKO against Carlston Harris in the UFC Vegas 101 co-main event.
Both fighters were relatively reserved in the opening round, but with 10 seconds to go, Harris stat Ponzinibbio down with a nice one-two combination. Ponzinibbio popped right back up and was able to avoid taking any additional danger before the horn.
While Harris scored a knockdown in the first, it was Ponzinibbio who did the majority of the damage in the second, busting open Harris’ lip.
With the fight potentially tied 19-19, Harris came out looking to utilize his ground game, but Ponzinibbio fended off his attempts with relative ease. Near the halfway point of the third, Ponzinibbio catches Harris with a looping right hand that has Harris stumbling backward. Ponzinibbio swarms and lands another right hand that puts Harris on the mat.
Ponzinibbio briefly goes to the mat for a few ground-and-pound shots but quickly forces Harris back to his feet. Once upright, Ponzinibbio pours it on forcing the referee to step and and call for the stoppage via a standing TKO.
Official Result: Santiago Ponzinibbio def. Carlston Harris via TKO (strikes) at 3:13 of Round 3.