By the time Jimi Manuwa and Ovince Saint Preux took to the Octagon at UFC 204, fans were pretty tired.
The decision to keep the running order on American time in order to accommodate the pay-per-view audience meant that the pair faced off at around 4am local time.
London bantamweight Brad Pickett cited the late-night kick-off as a factor in his first-round defeat to Iuri Alcantara, but Manuwa showed no signs of fatigue as he put on a clinic in his fight with OSP.
‘Poster Boy’ dominated proceedings and scored a devastating KO in the second round after tiring his opponent out.
A combination of clean head shots and powerful body blows took down OSP, and prevented Manuwa from recording consecutive defeats for the first time in his career.
You couldn’t help but be impressed by the London-based fighter who sent a message to the rest of the light heavyweight division with his cool dismantling of Saint Preux.
JIMI FUCKIN' MANUWA
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) October 9, 2016
— Travis Barker (@travisbarker) October 9, 2016
Been, as the kids say, a minute since Manuwa won like that. Big one for him, especially considering the shallow nature of the 205 division.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) October 9, 2016
If anyone in the arena was yawning then Jimi Manuwa just got their attention. Goodness gracious me. #UFC204
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) October 9, 2016
https://twitter.com/Patrick_Wyman/status/784953836247003136
That was the best Jimi Manuwa we've ever seen. By far. Unbelievable KO. #UFC204
— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) October 9, 2016
The 36-year-old had won over any neutrals who had somehow not heard of him already with such an astonishing performance.
After such an impressive display, Manuwa had goodwill to burn. All he had to do was stick the landing and not immediately piss everyone off.
https://twitter.com/knowyourharry/status/784954897158504448
Still, there were plenty who enjoyed the playful side of the California-born fighter.
https://twitter.com/JarrenAlexander/status/784954954851155970
https://twitter.com/MalloryForever/status/784955565084639232
Manuwa with the dab you hero
— Jordan Hawkins (@JordanHawkins99) October 9, 2016
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