Santo Curatolo puts UFC flyweights on notice with one-hitter-quitter at CFFC 82

If you subscribe to the theory that flyweights don’t finish fights, you may want to change your mind after watching this, from newly-crowned Cage Fury Fighting Championships flyweight champion Santo Curatolo.

On a night of fights that saw five of the six UFC Fight Pass-streamed bouts produce first-round stoppages, Curatolo (5-0) stole the show with a stunning left hand that finished his flyweight title fight with James Mancini after just 65 seconds.

Curatolo calmly stalked Mancini (6-5) around the cage at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia before dropping his man hard with a lead left hook – his first serious punch of the fight – to force the referee to dive in and stop the fight.

https://twitter.com/UFCFightPass/status/1293734824184864768

The victory saw Curatolo capture the vacant CFFC flyweight title and place himself firmly in the mix for a potential UFC – or Contender Series – call-up.

Speaking to CFFC co-commentator CM Punk after his one-hitter quitter, Curatolo remained modest and even suggested he was trying to “pace himself” during his quickfire win.

“I tried to really pace myself in this fight and not get too tense, not look for too big a shot,” he said. “I know that I hit hard. If I just place my punches in the right place, I’m gonna put people down.

“I would love to get called to the UFC, but of course we don’t deserve anything. We only deserve what we earn. If Dana White or whoever gives me that contract and thinks I’ve earned it, then I’m ready to go.”

If that chance does come, Curatolo says he’s ready to answer the call and make an instant impact in the UFC’s 125-pound division.

“As much as I have a target on my back, I have a target on every single flyweight in that UFC roster,” he said. “I can’t wait to get over there and I’m ready to take all these guys out, one by one.”

CFFC 82 main card results:

• Santo Curatolo def. James Mancini via TKO (punch) – Round 1, 1:05 – for flyweight title
• Phil Caracappa def. Terry Bartholemew via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
• Yohan Lainesse def. Connor Dixon via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 4:30
• Solomon Renfro def. Robert Gidron via submission (anaconda choke) – Round 1, 0:45
• Isaiah Monroe def. Joey Tizzano via submission (anaconda choke) – Round 1, 2:36
• Turpal Khamzayev def. Jason Tipaldos via TKO (elbow, punch) – Round 1, 4:31