UFC Vegas 118: Ketlen Souza head kick leads to speedy knockout

Ketlen Souza made a statement in her strawweight bout at UFC Vegas 118, delivering a devastating head kick that sent Ariane Carnelossi to the canvas in spectacular fashion. Referee Chris Tognoni had seen enough, stopping the fight just 1 minute and 34 seconds into the opening round after Souza followed up the head kick with a finishing punch.

Souza, nicknamed "Esquentadinha," showcased patience and timing against Carnelossi's early aggression. Rather than trading with her opponent, Souza waited for the right moment to strike, landing a sharp combination that stunned Carnelossi before the Brazilian launched her perfectly-timed head kick. The finish marked Souza's first knockout victory inside the UFC octagon.

The victory extends Souza's current winning streak to two fights. The 17-6 fighter had recently snapped a two-fight losing skid with a decision win over Bruna Brasil and now sits at 4-2 in the UFC's strawweight division. For Carnelossi, the loss represents a troubling trend; the 15-5 fighter has now lost three of her last four bouts and has managed just one victory since October 2021, suggesting she may need to reconsider her approach in the division.