Andre Fili absolutely *rocked* Kai Kamaka III at UFC Fight Night 290 on Saturday, landing a gigantic right head kick that stopped the featherweight bout cold at the 0:22 mark of Round 2. This wasn’t just another win, it was a statement knockout, and it put Fili right back on track after some tough outings.
Fili Delivers a Vicious Knockout
The featherweight showdown at Meta APEX in Las Vegas had some back-and-forth action in the opening round, but Fili quickly changed the script in the second. He landed that clean, gigantic right head kick to Kamaka III’s skull, dropping him in a heap. It was a spectacular knockout that nobody can deny. Fili now moves to a 26-14 MMA record, 14-13 in the UFC, while Kamaka III drops to 18-9-1 MMA, 2-4-1 UFC.
The Message From a Veteran
Fili came into this fight with real pressure, facing back-to-back losses and carrying the weight of being an aging athlete with a long tenure in the sport. He’s about a week away from his 13th anniversary as a UFC fighter, and at 36 years old, he had something to prove. After the fight, talking to Michael Bisping, Fili made it clear he’s not going anywhere. “Once I settled in and found my flow,” he said. “I’ve been working so hard. I’m about a week away from my 13th anniversary of being a UFC fighter. I’m 36, I’m still here and you’re all going to be stuck with me for a long time.” That’s the kind of fire you love to see from a veteran.
Other Action at UFC Fight Night 290
The rest of UFC Fight Night 290 also delivered some serious finishes. Otari Tanzilovi landed a head kick knockout of his own against Malcolm Wellmaker in Round 2, at 2:39. Julius Walker and Francisco Prado both earned TKO wins via punches in Round 2 and Round 1 respectively, against Gerald Meerschaert and Ismael Bonfim. Niko Price stopped Leon Shahbazyan with punches in just 1:58 of Round 1. Brendson Ribeiro secured a submission win with a guillotine choke in Round 1 against Felipe Franco, while Allen Frye Jr. got a knockout via punches in Round 1. Alice Pereira won by TKO due to retirement in Round 1, and Ernesta Kareckaite and Melissa Gatto fought to a majority draw.
Fili’s performance, especially given his recent history and age, really shows he meant what he said. He’s still got gas in the tank, and the featherweight division better be ready to be stuck with him for a lot longer.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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