Junior dos Santos showed once again that he's one of the most powerful punchers in all of mixed martial arts on Saturday night, leveling
Gilbert Yvel with a powerful punch in the first round of their fight at
UFC 108 and then finishing him off with a few more strikes on the ground.
Referee Herb Dean stopped the fight just over two mintues into the first round as dos Santos pummeled Yvel on the canvas. Yvel complained that it was a fast stoppage, but it wasn't: Dean did the right thing by stopping the fight.
When asked after the fight where he thinks he ranks in the heavyweight division, dos Santos answered, "On the top."
Dos Santos isn't quite on the top yet, but he's certainly close: In four UFC fights he has four stoppage victories, and all four of them have been the result of his powerful punches.
"I love this," dos Santos said afterward. "I love being a fighter. I love this place."
UFC fans are increasingly loving dos Santos. He's among the sport's elite heavyweights, and at age 25 he has a very exciting future ahead of him.
Dos Santos improved his record to 10-1, while Yvel fell to 36-14-1.
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UFC 108 Photos
Paul Daley finishes Dustin Hazelett in the first round at UFC 108 on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nev.
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Esther Lin for FanHouse
Paul Daley, right, kicks Dustin Hazelett at UFC 108 on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nev.
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Paul Daley, right, and Dustin Hazelett just miss power punches at UFC 108 on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nev.
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Paul Daley blasts Dustin Hazelett with a left hand at UFC 108 on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nev.
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Paul Daley finishes Dustin Hazelett in the first round at UFC 108 on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nev.
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Paul Daley, right, celebrates as referee Herb Dean checks out Dustin Hazelett at UFC 108 on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nev.
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Ed "Stitch" Duran takes care of Dustin Hazelett at UFC 108 on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nev.
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Paul Daley celebrates his knockout win at UFC 108 on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nev.
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Paul Daley celebrates his first-round knockout win at UFC 108 on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nev.
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Dustin Hazelett leaves the Octagon after his knockout loss at UFC 108 on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nev.
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Sam Stout winds up for a punch at UFC 108 on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nev.
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