Never count Paige VanZant out of a fight.
“12 Gauge” ended Bec Rawlings’ night early with a second-round knockout in their women’s strawweight bout at UFC on Fox 21 on Saturday.
After clearly dropping the opening round to an always game Rawlings, VanZant opened the second with a flying head kick, faking with her right leg, emphatically finishing with the left. The Oregon native quickly finished the job, throwing in some punches to prompt the merciful stoppage.
Rawlings opened the fight as she usually does, playing the aggressor, cutting off the cage and initiating the striking exchanges. The Australian was quick to jump out of range upon landing her combinations, wanting no part of VanZant’s clinch game. She quickly took the center of the cage to open the second, but never saw VanZant’s assault coming.
The highlight reel finish redeems VanZant’s December 2015 loss to Rose Namajunas, while Rawlings sees her two-fight win streak eradicated.