Written by Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Marc-Andre Barriault scored arguably the biggest and most needed win of his career on Saturday after he crumbled Bruno Silva with a series of devastating elbow strikes in the first round at UFC 315.
The Canadian middleweight blasted Silva with a barrage of elbows against the cage that ultimately ended the fight at just 1:27 in the opening round. In the aftermath of the knockout, Silva remained motionless on the canvas for several moments as medical personnel tended to him.
THESE ELBOWS WERE NASTY
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While Silva eventually started moving again, he was eventually carried out on a stretcher where he’ll be taken to a local hospital in Montreal for further treatment.
Replays showed Barriault launching a huge elbow that slammed into the side of Silva’s head as he tried to defend himself against the cage. The assault continued until Silva slumped down to the canvas with Barriault unloading a few more punches until the referee was able to intervene to stop the contest.
Afterwards, Barriault celebrated his win after dropping his past three fights in a row while also showing concern for Silva as he was helped by medical personnel attending to him in the cage.
“I’m speechless right now,” Barriault said. “I hope Bruno’s going to be fine. It was my time tonight. I’ve been unlucky my last couple of fights but I think I showed tonight I belong in the UFC. Everything was on the line for me. I just trusted my instincts. Here I am right now.”
Scary stuff
Bruno Silva leaves the octagon in a stretcher, hope he’s good #UFC315 pic.twitter.com/6zRmTSukin
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It was obviously a scary ending for Silva, who entered the fight in his own must-win situation after dropping his past four fights in a row. For now, the results in the octagon don’t really matter as he seeks treatment at the hospital following the knockout at UFC 315.
Sideline reporter Brendan Fitzgerald later provided an update on the broadcast, saying Silva had been checked out by a doctor and he is alert with movement in all of his extremities. However, the fighter complained of neck pain, which is why a stretcher was utilized as a precautionary measure.