The big boys brought big power at Dana White's Contender Series on Tuesday.
It was Gabriel Lorenco who landed hardest, as he knocked out Charlie Cleveland with a series of strikes for a stoppage at 2:02 of Round 1. The heavyweight bout took place at Meta APEX in Las Vegas.
A looping right hand from Lorenco (8-1) was the initial rocking shot. Cleveland (6-2) scrambled to his feet and grabbed a leg, only to be met by a hard elbow. While it initially appeared to potentially be to the back of the head, replays later showed the blow was OK. Referee Chris Tognoni made the right call there. Lorenco pounded away with hammerfists as Cleveland's mouthpiece ejected out. Tognoni eventually stepped in, needing to shove Lorenco off his downed opponent.
RIGHT
HAND HITS HOME 🏠 Gabriel Lorenco gets the TKO in R1 for a huge win! [ #DWCS | LIVE on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/IVoLAMmJzz
— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) September 1, 2026
With the win, Brazil's Lorenco likely earned a UFC contract. The victory was his sixth as a pro. Indiana's Cleveland has a four-fight winning streak snapped.
Up-to-the-minute DWCS 90 results include:
- Gabriel Lorenco def. Charlie Cleveland via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:02
- Adam Livingston def. Hunter Smith via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: DWCS video: Gabriel Lorenco pounds Charlie Cleveland for knockout
