Almeida Saves UFC Career With Upset Johnson KO

Cesar Almeida revived his UFC tenure with a first-round stoppage of middleweight prospect Donte Johnson at UFC 334 in New York.

Almeida dropped Johnson with a perfectly timed right hand along the cage and followed with ground strikes until the referee waved off the bout, MMA Mania reports. The finish came after an earlier right hand had already hurt Johnson badly, leaving him vulnerable for the rest of the round.

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How Almeida Spoiled Johnson's Rising Stock

Johnson entered as the betting favorite, with most observers expecting his power and aggressive style to overwhelm Almeida. The Brazilian striker had struggled to find consistency through his UFC run and needed a signature win to avoid being cut. He got it by outstriking one of the division's most hyped names on the biggest card of November.

Almeida used precise shot selection to land clean punches early, per the report. Johnson survived the first knockdown but never recovered his legs. The second right hand sealed the finish.

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UFC 334 took place Saturday night at Madison Square Garden and streamed live on Paramount Plus.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Highlights! Cesar Almeida potentially saves UFC career with massive upset knockout | UFC 334