Fighters react to Eddie Alvarez's stunning TKO of Rafael dos Anjos
Rafael dos Anjos' title reign came to an abrupt end Thursday night as challenger Eddie Alvarez scored a first-round TKO in the main event of UFC Fight Night to walk away UFC lightweight champion.
Alvarez pushed a fast-and-furious pace, which dos Anjos matched, but was able to catch the Brazilian with a big straight right hand that sent his opponent stumbling backwards.
RDA survived for as long as he could, but Alvarez kept pouring it on until Herb Dean stepped in and called an end to the fight.
RDA looked sharp until he got caught with that big shot ? #ufcvegas
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) July 8, 2016
UFC fighters took to Twitter to react to the crowning of a new UFC champion.
Congratulations Eddie, hold on to that belt for a little while... I want to be the one to take it. #believeit
— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) July 8, 2016
AAAAANNNNDDDDD NNEEEEEWWWWWW @ealvarezfight ! 1 down 1 to go!! @frankieedgar up next...… https://t.co/XEuW1CFYgH
— Corey Anderson UFC (@CoreyA_MMA) July 8, 2016
. @Ealvarezfight Right hook around the guard of RDA ala Mayweather vs Cotto
— Zachary Makovsky (@ZachFunSize) July 8, 2016
@Ealvarezfight family man!!! Way to go dude! Congrats! #ufcphilly #letsdoit
— Paul Felder (@felderpaul) July 8, 2016
NOBODY has my kinda power.
— Jeremy Stephens (@LiLHeathenMMA) July 8, 2016
Uppercut- it only takes me one. #UFCVegas
Congrats! To the new champ @Ealvarezfight solid!!
— Michael Johnson (@FollowTheMenace) July 8, 2016
WOW @Ealvarezfight so proud and happy for you !!! Remembering those days we were starting our careers on the same cards..
— Big Ben Rothwell (@RothwellFighter) July 8, 2016
Wow! This is gonna be a great week of fights! #UFCVegas
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) July 8, 2016
Holllyyyy shhhiiitttt #UFCFightWeek
— Jerome-Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) July 8, 2016
#ufcvegas was fun. New lightweight champ. Congrats! @UFCFightPass rocks
— Mickey Gall (@mickeygall) July 8, 2016
The #undergroundking does it! The heart of a champion. #muchrespect the dog came out!
— Frankie Saenz (@FrankieSaenz) July 8, 2016
@RdosAnjosMMA never give up.
— Antonio Pezao Silva (@BigfootSilva) July 8, 2016