The highlight of Timmy Cuamba's career came to UFC Kansas City.
The 26-year-old featherweight could have had a better start with his UFC-Run, after he had dropped his first two fights in the Octagon last year.
Cuamba lost back-to-back decisions at Bolaji Oki in his debut and Lucas Almeida before returning 10 months later in his first fight for a crowd. The Fight Night Card is tormented by a welterweight matchup between Ian Machado Garry and Carlos Prates.
The alumni of the competition series faced a tough Roberto Romero on the UFC Kansas City Prelims and Man on Saturday evening, he supplied.
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
Timmy Cuamba wins the first UFC fight with emphatic flying knee
It was a striking clinic for Cuamba, which lit Romero by two rounds.
In the second round, Cuamba opened a cut on the Mexican with a sharp elbow. With just over 90 seconds to go, Cuamba Romero rocked with a beautiful right hand.
Seconds later, Romero ate a huge headkick from Cuamba, still ahead after the strike.
Romero put Cuamba on his back foot and while he went inside, Cuamba landed a flying knee that connected straight to the chin. Romero covered with blood was sent to the canvas and Cuamba landed a few more strikes before the referee stopped the match.
Timmy Cuamba had finally reached the UFC-Win column, which saved his career from a brutal 0-3 start.
UFC fans complain about 'Early stoppage'
However, the TKO result did not come without controversy.
While the referee entered, the grounded Romero immediately stood back to his feet and ran to his opponent.
The referee quickly grabbed his arm and already caused Romero with the fight.
After the first knee, the referee waited about 3-4 seconds before he went between the hunters with UFC commentator Paul Felder who wondered if it was an early stopping.
“That stopping is bad,” wrote a fan on X.
“Felt like an early break, but Timmy started to squeak at the end …” Another fan wrote on X.
“Such an early stopping, these referees don't get it, fighters train and work hard for months, you have to give them the chance to fight,” wrote a fan on X.