MMA Champion Viciously Knocks Opponent Out with Standing Elbow at Bellator 190

Alessio Sakara had a chance to claim a world championship in front of his friends and family at Bellator 190 in Florence, Italy, on Saturday. However, Brazilian champion Rafael Carvalho had other plans at the Nelson Mandela Forum.

Carvalho clipped Sakara early with a hard right hand, which staggered the Italian to the fence. Carvalho noticed his opponent was wounded and went in for the finish.

Carvalho unleashed a violent elbow that connected flush. Sakara crumpled to the canvas. The referee stepped in for an official end to the contest at just 44 seconds of the first round.

The victory marked Carvalho's third defense of the Bellator middleweight crown and second straight by knockout.

The loss was the fifth by TKO/KO in Sakara's lengthy MMA career.

Carvalho now stands firmly atop Bellator's 185-pound list after another stellar knockout.