UFC 170 Results: Erik Koch TKOs Rafaello Oliveira in Impressive Fashion

UFC 170 Results: Erik Koch TKOs Rafaello Oliveira in Impressive fashion
by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

Duke Roufus prodigy, Erik Koch returned to the 155lb division, and back to the win column with an impressive first round TKO victory over Rafaello Oliveira.

Fighting for the first time since his August loss to Dustin Poirier, Koch entered the bout hoping to bounce back with a win over BJJ black belt Rafaello Oliveira and make a name for himself in a new division. It's safe to say he did both.

The bout kicked off in surprising fashion with Oliveira coming out the aggressor, looking to land some hard, but wild shots. Oliveira went for a leaping knee which left the fghter open for a straight left from Koch which dropped the New Jersey based Brazilian lightweight. Koch followed the fight to the ground, getting in Oliveira's guard and began raining down, laser-beam accurate ground and pound which left referee Yves Lavigne with no choice but to stop the fight at the 1.24 mark, impoving Koch's record to 14-3, and earning the Cedar Rapids born fighter his 10th career stoppage.

Following the bout Koch told interviewing Joe Rogan it had become too difficult for his maturing frame to make 145lb, and fighting as a lightweight will allow him to show what his is really capable, as he did tonight.