UFC on ESPN+ 35 results: Ottman Azaitar brutalizes Khama Worthy for quick TKO

There was little action in the first minute of Ottman Azaitar’s fight against Khama Worthy. But after he let loose, things were over in a hurry.

Azaitar (13-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) stayed unbeaten and took out Worthy (16-7 MMA, 2-1 UFC) with a TKO in just 93 seconds. Azaitar landed dozens of punches on the money for the stoppage.

The lightweight bout was the UFC on ESPN+ 35 co-main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It streamed on ESPN+.

The first minute featured nothing but feints from both fighters while they tried to see openings. But a little past a minute in, Azaitar landed a big pair of punches that stunned Worthy. While he wobbled, Azaitar pounced on him. After a few more combinations that were on the button, including a body shot with an uppercut soon after, Azaitar had to have smelled blood in the water.

Worthy went to the canvas, and Azaitar followed him there with big punches while Worthy covered up. It didn’t take long for Herb Dean to step in to wave the fight off. Worthy jumped up and appeared to protest the stoppage and asked why the fight was over, but after Dean released him, Worthy seemed to still be wobbly from the punches.

“The game plan was to go for three rounds – don’t think about the knockout. Start easy, slowly, because we knew what he was going to do,” Azaitar said. “He always makes counters only, (so) I wanted him to come (forward).”

But that plan went out the window when Azaitar knew Worthy was hurt. The Moroccan now has 12 of his 13 career wins by stoppage, including nine knockouts. Worthy had his seven-fight winning streak, including his first two in the UFC, snapped with his first stoppage loss in more than three years.

Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN+ 35 results include:

• Ottman Azaitar def. Khama Worthy via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:33
• Roxanne Modafferi def. Andrea Lee via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Ed Herman def. Mike Rodriguez via submission (kimura) – Round 3, 4:01
• Bobby Green def. Alan Patrick via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Billy Quarantillo def. Kyle Nelson via knockout (punches) – Round 3, 0:07
• Sijara Eubanks def. Julia Avila via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
• Kevin Croom def. Roosevelt Roberts via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 0:31
• Alexandr Romanov def. Roque Martinez via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 2, 4:22
• Jalin Turner def. Brok Weaver via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:20
• Bryan Barberena def. Anthony Ivy via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Sabina Mazo def. Justine Kish via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 3:57