Zachary Reese proved the new UFC gloves could deliver a stunning knockout after he flattened Julian Marquez in just 20 seconds at UFC Louisville on Saturday.
In a night filled mostly with decisions, Reese got the crowd on its feet after unleashing a blistering body kick that backed Marquez up against the cage during the opening exchange. From there, Reese just unleashed some rapid fire strikes capped off by a vicious uppercut that sent Marquez crashing down to the canvas in a heap.
Reese followed him to the ground for a few more shots but referee Dan Miragliotta already saw enough as he jumped in to rescue Marquez from any further harm. The knockout adds a seventh first round finish to Reese’s resume, which accounts for every win during his young career.
“I’m trying to be a little more patient,” Reese said about the lightning quick knockout. “I kind of fight like white trash sometimes but I am pretty skilled. I watched zero tape on Julian. I worry about me.
“Hell yeah, I’m stoked to be in the win column in the UFC. I’m ready for another one.”
The knockout put Reese back on track after he suffered a stunning knockout loss of his own in his octagon debut after Cody Brundage slammed him to the canvas to end their fight this past December.
This time around it was Reese delivering the brutal finish after he went on the attack and put Marquez down emphatically in the opening round.
Reese now sits at 7-1 in his career while Marquez drops his third fight in a row — all by knockout — with a chance that loss could result in his final appearance in the UFC.
