Massive favorite Eryk Anders got a massive challenge from Tim Williams, but late in the fight landed a highlight-reel kick to close the deal.

Anders (11-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) knocked out Williams (15-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC) with a kick to the face that landed just as Williams was getting up off the canvas. A half-second earlier, and the kick would’ve been illegal. Instead, it was a knockout win for Anders with 18 seconds left in the fight.

The middleweight bout opened up the main card of today’s UFC Fight Night 135 event at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb. It aired on FS1 following prelims on FS2 and UFC Fight Pass.

“It felt great. I came out a little sluggish, and kind of found my rhythm later in the rounds,” Anders said. “I come to finish. I don’t like going to decisions. I think the difference between (my loss to Lyoto Machida) and this fight is I was looking for the knockout (last time).”

Williams kicked to the body 30 seconds in, but had to circle on the outside while Anders stalked him down and looked for an opening. Williams followed it up with a big head kick 50 seconds later. It was partially blocked, but it got Anders’ attention. Two minutes in, Anders landed a knee to the body and the two clinched up. They broke apart midway through the round, and Anders went back to looking for an opportunity.

Williams landed a kick again, and then countered Anders’ response with a left hand. Williams stung Anders with a 1-2 with 45 seconds left. And with 20 seconds left, Williams scooped Anders up for a takedown and took his back before the end of the frame.

Williams got his second takedown of the fight about 100 seconds into the middle frame. Anders got back to his feet, but had to contend with Williams moving around to his back. With three minutes left, Anders broke away and tried to land a big left hand. He started to let his hands go, then juts missed a high kick. A couple more punches were on the mark, and a knee followed.

Williams was cut open and Anders started to turn up the volume. Williams got defensive and went for a takedown, but Anders stuffed it. When he let Williams back to his feet, he hit him with big punches, but neither fighter could get enough momentum to get close to a finish.

Thirty seconds into the final round, Williams looked for an inside leg kick, but Anders landed a big left hand and put Williams on the canvas. He eventually let him up rather than risk fighting with him on the canvas. Ninety seconds into the round, Williams landed a solid right hand, then a body kick. Midway through, Williams again through a low kick – and again Anders drilled him with a left.

With two minutes left, Williams changed levels for a takedown, but Anders stayed upright. Williams landed a spinning backfist with 30 seconds left, but Anders stayed up. Seconds later, Anders took Williams off his feet with a low kick. And when Williams was getting back to his feet, Anders landed a massive left kick to the face – and Williams was out. Replays showed Anders’ kick landed just micro-seconds after Williams’ right hand came off the canvas.

Anders got back in the win column after suffering the first loss of pro career in February by split decision to Lyoto Machida. Williams lost for the second straight time after a five-fight winning streak.

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 135 results include:

• Eryk Anders def. Tim Williams via knockout (head kick) – Round 3, 4:42
• James Krause def. Warlley Alves via knockout (knee, punches) – Round 2, 2:28
• Cory Sandhagen def. Iuri Alcantara via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:01
• Andrew Sanchez def. Markus Perez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Mickey Gall def. George Sullivan via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 1:09
• Joanne Calderwood def. Kalindra Faria via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 4:57
• Drew Dober def. Jon Tuck via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
• Rani Yahya def. Luke Sanders via submission (heel hook) – Round 1, 1:31

For more on UFC Fight Night 135, check out the UFC Events section of the site.