UFC 250 live blog: Raphael Assuncao vs. Cody Garbrandt

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This is the UFC 250 live blog for Raphael Assuncao vs. Cody Garbrandt, the bantamweight co-headliner for Saturday’s fight card at UFC APEX in Las Vegas.

Assuncao and Garbrandt both look to snap recent losing skids. Assuncao has lost his previous two bouts, most recently dropping a decision against Corey Sandhagen, while ex-champ Garbrandt has lost his past three bouts, including a knockout loss against Pedro Munhoz in his most recent outing.

Check out the UFC 250 live blog below.

Round 1: Keith Peterson is the third man in the cage for the co-main event. There is a clear feeling out process to start the bout and a minute in, nothing major has happened beyond a few inside low kicks from Garbrandt. Assuncao is looking for ways to get inside and Garbrandt is just waiting to counter. Assuncao whips out a wheel kick which is fun but two-minutes in, nothing has happened. Garbrandt is throwing a lot of low kicks from far away. Good right hand from Garbrandt is the first good punch landed of he evening. Assuncao is just no doing anything and that’s no way to win a fight. More low kicks from Garbrandt. Assuncao still not doing anything. Garbrandt steps in with a combo but Assuncao cracks him with a big right hand and Garbrandt goes back to the outside. Garbrandt is definitely the faster fighter and that’s flummoxing Assuncao right now. Assuncao throws another wheel kick that misses and Garbrandt, with his back against the cage, now starts doing a bit of showboating as the round ends.

MMAFighting scores the round 10-9 for Garbrandt.

Round 2: Garbrandt opens the round with a sweeping low kick and almost gives up his back. Garbrandt shockingly gets a takedown but Assuncao stands and Garbrandt lands a big head kick, that Assuncao eats well. Garbrandt says that Assuncao is hurt and Assuncao denies it but his gait says differently. Assuncao is steeping gingerly on his lead leg. Garbrandt is still pot-shotting from the outside and just generally outworking Assuncao. Assuncao is closing the distance a little better now and has landed a few punches of his own now. Garbrandt starts trying to pressure and eats a counter for his troubles. Assuncao is getting Garbrandt to bite on feints and it seems like Assuncao now has the timing down. Assuncao lands a counter left. Garbrandt drops Assuncao with a clean left hand! But it’s just a flash knockdown and Assuncao is back up. Left hook for Garbrandt and what was a competitive round has now become a Garbrandt round. Assuncao throws a body kick tha backs Garbrandt up to the fence. As the final horn sounds, Assuncao throws a lazy right hook and Garbrandt lands a lightning bolt of a right hand that knocks Assuncao out COLD!! That is one of the cleanest knockouts you will ever see.

OFFICIAL DECISION: Cody Garbrandt knocks out Raphael Assuncao at 4:59 of Round 2.