Issue 151
February 2017
“I drilled that kick like, 2,000 times before I even stepped into the cage,” said Vannata. “I was definitely ready for him. If that’s not worth $50,000...
“That’s the first time he’s been knocked out in his career, and off a side kick to the leg into a spinning hook kick. Yeah, that’s 50 Gs. That tops (Barboza’s kick). That s**t was beautiful.”
He added: “We watched a lot of tape on him. He’s always had the same defensive tactics. He likes to pull to the same side every time, so that’s something I created myself and it found its home.
“It felt f**king spectacular. It doesn’t top that right there. To knock him out like that, it’s top notch.”
Whenever Edson Barboza’s name is mentioned, you can expect the clip of his sensational 2012 ‘Knockout of the Year’ of Terry Etim will be shown right after. It is still the defining moment in his career – and had never been repeated in the Octagon, until now.
‘Groovy’ Lando Vannata’s almost identical spinning wheel-kick KO at UFC 206, which put John Makdessi to sleep quicker than you can say ‘check please’, was just as special as the Brazilian’s effort. It also lit the blue touchpaper on the New Jersey lightweight’s career on the big stage.
When Vannata made his UFC bow, he was defeated, but put Tony Ferguson in more danger than he’d ever been in the UFC in a bruising ‘Fight of the Night’ classic.
That attracted a lot of eyeballs for his sophomore appearance. The fans he’d gained expected him to prove the hype behind him was justified in Toronto, Canada. He didn’t let them down.
Calculated and clinical, he put Makdessi to sleep for the first time in his 20-fight career. Make no mistake, Lando Vannata has got his groove on now.
1: With just 90 seconds on the clock, Vannata pushes forward and puts Makdessi onto the back foot.
2: Vannata pushes out a range-finding left side kick to the thigh on his opponent’s lead leg.
3: As he brings his left foot back down and plants it on the mat, he pivots and spins on his toes.
4: As he hits 180-degrees, he turns his head to focus on his target: Makdessi’s chin.
5: Vannata’s right heel sweeps across Makdessi’s face and connects perfectly with his jaw.
6: Tim-ber! Makdessi’s lights go out, his body goes stiff and he topples over backwards.
7: Vanatta strolls towards his opponent incase he needs to finish him, but Makdessi is barely conscious.
8: The referee jumps between them to officially stop the contest after just a minute and 40 seconds.
VANNATA’S STATS
- 78% CAREER FIRST ROUND FINISH RATE – 7 IN 9 WINS.
- 3rd FASTEST FINISH IN HIS PRO CAREER VS. MAKDESSI.
- 9-1 SOLE CAREER DEFEAT ON UFC DEBUT VS. #2 TONY FERGUSON.
