Netizens Buzzing as Dawson Finishes Santos With Just One Second Left in UFC Fight

The American mixed martial artist Grant Dawson knocked out Brazilian Leonardo Santos with a flurry of thunder-like punches with just a second remaining at UFC Vegas 22 on Saturday.

The fight was stopped at the 4:59 mark of Round 3 after Santos, 41, was put out by a total of five crushing punches in the face.

"At 4:59 of Round 3, Grant Dawson (@DawsonGrant20y1) earns a finish tied for the 2nd latest in 3-round UFC history. The record still belongs to Ricky Simon over Merab Dvalishvili at 5:00 R3," UFC tweeted.

Dawson's victorious strike at the very end of the round is the 2nd latest in the 3-round history of UFC, with the other such record holders being Leon Edwards and Paul Craig. At 5:00 R3, Ricky Simon still holds the absolute record of latest knock-out over Merab Dvalishvili.

Social media users greeted such an unexpected outcome of the bout with delight, with some also noting the ease with which Dawson carried out the series of punches.

Grant Dawson ends Leonardo Santos’ unbeaten UFC run with a KO with one second left in the fight. Santos’ first loss since May 2009. Insane. #UFCVegas22

— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) March 21, 2021

Dawson is running around the cage shouting, “50 Gs! 50 Gs! 50 Gs, baby!” Santos is still down.

— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) March 21, 2021

​The UFC shared another video shot prior to Dawson's push to win, where the fighter's coach can be seen giving him some forthright parting words, saying "you can't take him down, you've got to try and knock him out."

OH MY GOD GRANT DAWSON KNOCKS SANTOS OUT WITH 2 SECONDS LEFT OF THE FIGHT🤯🔥🔥

WOWOWOW.. I am speechless. That ground and pound was incredible..#UFCVegas22

— MMA MOMENTS (@MMAMOMENTS1) March 21, 2021

*Grant Dawson lays on Santos for the entire last round after Krause begged him to go for the KO*

Dawson with 5 seconds left: Oh wait, LMAO.#UFCVegas22

— MacMally🍀 (@MacMallyMMA) March 21, 2021

​Dawson's punches handed the first loss since May 2009 to Santos, ending his undefeated streak of 13 fights. Dawson, who joined the UFC after winning a contract at Dana White's Contender Series in 2017, is now undefeated in five fights.