![Who had the best finish of the night? [Images via @ufc on Instagram]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2021/08/2e87c-16296281557403-800.jpg)
![Who had the best finish of the night? [Images via @ufc on Instagram]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%205.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Gastelum saw some career-defining fights as the headliner paved the way for Jared Cannonier to re-enter talks of title contention.
Furthermore, the night was full of finishes. The first four fights of the night ended in finishes. While the phenomenon did not see its way through the main card, the fights tonight were enthralling nevertheless.
In the main event, Kelvin Gastelum and Jared Cannonier put on a high-quality contest. Both fighters traded using exceptional skills and movement. Kelvin Gastelum also added a little bit of grappling. However, Jared Cannonier was able to do more damage over five rounds to bag a unanimous decision victory.
The co-main event saw Olympian wrestler Mark Madsen take on UFC veteran Clay Guida. Madsen exceeded expectations and traded with great accuracy on the feet to take home the unanimous decision victory.
UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Gastelum saw six finishes, three submissions and three KO/TKOs.
Let's take a look at the five best finishes from UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Gastelum
#5. William Knight knocks Fabio Cherant out in first round at UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Gastelum
William Knight fought Fabio Cherant in a light heavyweight matchup on the preliminary card of the night. The contest started with William Knight taking center. Both fighters remained extremely cautious and avoided blasting flurries and getting caught in the process. In the four minutes that the fight lasted, each fighter landed less than fifteen strikes.
Fabio Cherant attempted to take over the offensive reins and push the attack. As he swung and missed, he backed Knight against the cage. As Cherant rushed to capitalize and land shots, Knight caught him with an awkward counter left that knocked Cherant down immediately.
Knight followed up with ground-and-pound to sail to an early TKO victory.
#4. Ramiz Brahimaj kicks off UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Gastelum with a first-round submission
UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Gastelum kicked off with a welterweight matchup between Ramiz Brahimaj and Sasha Palatnikov.
Brahimaj was quick to establish control and shot for a takedown in the first few seconds of the fight. Although Palatnikov got back up soon enough, Brahimaj maintained the pressure and took him back down immediately.
Ramiz Brahimaj displayed exceptional skills on the ground, gradually increasing his control. He took Palatnikov's back and locked in a rear-naked choke. Palatnikov showed heart by refusing to tap and constantly looked for a way to turn the situation around. However, Brahimaj's grip on the hold was too strong, and Palatnikoc soon fell unconscious. Brahimaj won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission midway through the first round.
#3. Alexandre Pantoja submits Brandon Royval in flyweight bout
Alexandre Pantoja faced Brandon Royval in the first fight on the main card at UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Gastelum.
Within the first few exchanges, Pantoja shot for a takedown and took his opponent's back. The two scrambled for a while, but Pantoja was unable to slip his arm under Royval's neck.
The fighters got back on their feet and traded shots, going toe-to-toe. Royval also secured a takedown, but Pantoja got back up quickly.
In the second round, Pantoja took Royval's back yet again. Scrambling off his back, Pantoja remained patient and combined strikes to eventually lock in a rear-naked choke. 'The Cannibal' won the fight via submission 1:48 into round two at UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Gastelum.
After the fight, No.3-ranked flyweight Pantoja called out champion Brandon Moreno, part of the UFC's commentary team. Both fighters came off as respectful but also seemed excited to test each other inside the octagon.
#2. Josiane Nunes makes quick work of Bea Malecki at UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Gastelum
Brazilian mixed martial artist Josiane Nunes made her UFC debut at UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Gastelum against Bea Malecki. The bantamweight bout took place on the night's preliminary card.
Nunes pushed the attack from the start. She set up combination after combination, putting incredible pressure on her opponent. By applying continuous pressure, Nunes was able to nullify the considerable size difference between herself and Malecki.
Nunes constantly threw her left hand ferociously at her opponent. In one such exchange, Nunes landed a left hook clean to Malecki's jaw, immediately sending her crashing into the canvas.
Nunes won the fight via KO at 4:54 of the first round.
#1. Ignacio Bahamondes delivers highlight-reel knockout
The second fight on the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Gastelum saw young lightweights Roosevelt Roberts and Ignacio Bahamondes battle it out over three rounds.
The fight remained a stand-up contest, although Roberts tried to take the fight to the ground on multiple occasions. Bahamondes stuffed all of Roberts' twelve takedown attempts, putting his exceptional takedown defense ability on display.
![Roosevelt Roberts (Left) and Ignacio Bahamondes (Right) [UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Gastelum Weigh-in]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2021/08/86080-16296105641516-800.jpg)
On the feet, Bahamondes constantly switched stances and combined strikes to keep his opponent guessing on the backfoot. Drawing towards the end of the third and final round, Bahamondes led the striking count 124-65.
Even after the ten-second indicator sounded, Bahamondes remained in full battle mode and dished out a KO for the ages. As Roberts came forward to engage, Bahamondes swiftly switched from southpaw to orthodox, thereby bringing his right leg behind. In one smooth motion, he landed a spinning wheel kick bang on Roberts' jaw, knocking his lights out immediately.
Bahamondes won the fight via KO at 4:55 of round three.
