UFC Atlantic City had a star-studded lineup and fans were happy to see a fight night event outside the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event saw 8 knockouts happen with Jacob Malkoun kicking off the knockout spree with a first-round finish of Andre Petroski.
Both fighters were coming off losses in the previous fights. Petroski was coming off a first-round finish by Michel Perreira on his middleweight debut, while Malkoun was coming off a first-round DQ loss to Cody Brundage.
Jacob Malkoun knocks Andre Petroski out in bizarre fashion
Jacob Malkoun had one of the most bizarre finishes of his MMA career when he KO-ed Andre Petroski in the first round. The official records show the finish as a result of a soccer kick and follow-up ground and pound shots.
However, it was more than what met the eye. Petroski attempted to take down Malkoun but was thwarted by the Australian fighter. Surprisingly, after the failed takedown attempt, Petroski fell on all fours, visibly hurt, much to the surprise of his opponent, the referee, and all those watching.
Does Jacob Malkoun have the most dangerous hip strikes in MMA history? pic.twitter.com/U6KXo7ICPu
— cotydankh (@CotyJitsu) March 31, 2024
Sensing Malkoun was going to attack him, Petroski shelled up covering his face. At this point, Malkoun soccer kicked the left side of his opponent’s body which was open for a shot. The impact of the shot made Petroski rollover.
Malkoun landed severe ground-and-pound shots, forcing Gary Copeland, the referee, to stop the fight 39 seconds into the second round. The Australian celebrated like a madman whereas his opponent still writhed in pain due to the soccer kick.
Jacob Malkoun discusses his UFC Atlantic City victory
Jacob Malkoun’s victory over Andre Petroski is still an enigma. Nobody could understand why Petroski fell on all four before Malkoun soccer kicked him and finished via ground and pound. The surprise was evident in the commentary booth as well.
Commentators Paul Felder, Michael Bisping, and Brendan Fitzgerald were bewildered when it happened. Nonetheless, Malkoun put forth a theory of what could have happened.
“I think when he went for the shot, he thrust at my hips in a big crossface, and maybe that hurt him. I think, I don’t know, to be honest,” said Malkoun at the post-fight press conference.
“I think I heard him with that big crossface, to be honest. And I turned down, I saw him wobbly, and I’m like, maybe I hit him with something hard, you know? And I’m a strong dude,” Malkoun added stating that he has a ‘farmer’s strength even though he is not one.
The finish was Malkoun’s first in the UFC. However, it did not get him a Performance Bonus as it went to Dennis Bazuka and Nate Landwehr. On the other hand, light heavyweights Ibo Aslan and Anton Turkalj grabbed the Fight of the Night bonus as per MMA Fighting.
What happened to Andre Petroski after his failed takedown attempt? Leave your thoughts below!
