UFC 226 results: Paulo Costa finishes Uriah Hall in second round

The future star of Brazilian MMA just took a big step toward becoming a present one on Saturday night.

Undefeated middleweight Paulo Costa got into a down-and-dirty brawl with Uriah Hall at UFC 226 and emerged with a TKO victory. The time of the stoppage at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas was 2:38 of the second round as Costa improved to 12-0, with all 12 wins by way of finish.

“Every time I come here, I come to make a great show,” Costa said.

The tone was set early, as both fighters threw down from the outset. While Hall landed enough to keep Costa on his toes, Costa landed the better shots. And also a few that weren’t legal. Twice there were stoppages for low blows thrown by Costa, first a kick and then a punch. Costa was warned for these and also for using his fingers, but was not deducted a point.

Costa made it all academic in the second round. With withering shots to the head and body, Costa made Hall cover up. Hall, however, can change a fight with one strike, and he appeared to do so with a right hand to the temple which dropped Costa in his tracks.

But in a nice display of tenacity, Costa got back to his feet and continued the onslaught until he made Hall faceplant for the finish.

Hall (13-9) lost for the fourth time in his past five fights.