LAS VEGAS – Kennedy Nzechukwu has won the first main event of his UFC career by finishing Ion Cutelaba.

The light heavyweight bout served as the impromptu main event of UFC Fight Night 215 at the UFC Apex, after the originally scheduled headliner Derrick Lewis was forced to withdraw due to illness. Although the bout was elevated to main event status, it remained a three-round contest, but Nzechukwu (11-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) only needed two to stop Cutelaba (16-9-1 MMA, 5-8-1 UFC).

The fight started off fast, with the light heavyweights immediately trading hard strikes. With both fighters landing flush, Cutelaba switched it up and looked for a takedown, and eventually landed in mount.

Nzechukwu worked his way back up to his feet, but was dumped back to the mat before getting back up again, where he then had to deal with a kimura threat and foot stomps until the round ended.

At the beginning of the second round, Nzechukwu came out on fire with hard strikes, putting Cutelaba in a bad spot. A beautifully-timed knee from Nzechukwu found the mark as Cutelaba changed levels for a takedown, sparking the finishing flurry of punches.

Absolutely savage stoppage for Kennedy Nzechukwu #UFCVegas65 pic.twitter.com/swVD7aBHO5

— UFC (@ufc) November 19, 2022

That’s how you make the most of your first UFC main event #UFCVegas65 pic.twitter.com/Y8jIH14QXf

— UFC (@ufc) November 19, 2022

Picking up his fifth win under the UFC banner, Nzechukwu, 30, makes it back-to-back finishes. In July, he finished Karl Roberson in the third round via TKO. Only one of his UFC wins have reached the judges’ scorecards.

Cutelaba, 28, sees his current skid continue, dropping three straight. His last victory came by unanimous decision over Devin Clark last September.

Full results of UFC Fight Night 215 include:

• Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Ion Cutelaba via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:02
• Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Chase Sherman via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Muslim Salikhov def. Andre Fialho via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:03
• Jack Della Maddalena def. Danny Roberts via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:24
• Charles Johnson def. Zhalgas Zhumagulov via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Jennifer Maia def. Maryna Moroz via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Miles Johns def. Vince Morales unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Ricky Turcios def. Kevin Natividad split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Vanessa Demopoulos def. Maria Oliveira unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Brady Hiestand def. Fernie Garcia unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Natalia Silva def. Tereza Bleda via TKO (spinning back kick) – Round 3, 1:27

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 215.