Guram Kutateladze vs Evles Brener delivered the carnage - and then some! The bloody war ended up delivering a massive upset, with the +440 DraftKings underdog scoring the TKO victory in round 3 at UFC Vegas 76.
Kutateladze nearly finished the fight at the end of the first round - stunning Brener and leaving the Brazilian in desperation mode. In round two, Brener recovered nicely but was badly bloodied from a series of brutal elbows from the Georgian. Kutateladze looked like he was going to take the win easily, being up 20-18 on all the judge's scorecards going into the third. Things were playing out exactly how the Vegas oddsmakers thought it would - but Brener had plans of his own.
Brener knew he needed to finish things in round 3 or he'd be going home with the loss. With Charles Oliveira in his corner, Brener knew that the fight ain't over until the final bell.
With Kutateladze slowing down, Brener poured on the pressure. The Brazilian was relentless, never giving up on himself. The result?
WHAT A COMEBACK BY ELVES BRENER!!!!!!!!! #UFCVegas76 pic.twitter.com/z9IM4auhkX
— UFC (@ufc) July 1, 2023
Brener landed a slick left hand that crumpled Kutateladze against the cage. The pace was too much, and with Kutateladze turtled up against the fence, the ref was forced to call the fight.
Not only was it an early frontrunner for Fight of the Night honors at UFC Vegas 76, it was one of the most impressive comebacks of the year.
In MMA, you can never count out the underdog.
The all-out battle sent MMA Twitter into a frenzy, with fighters and fans loving the beautiful violence.
Elves Brener's shocking comeback TKO over Guram Kutateladze sends MMA Twitter into frenzy
Wooooow what a comeback
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) July 1, 2023
What a beautiful victory to the Brazilian… great fight #UFCVegas76
— Renato Moicano UFC (@moicanoufc) July 1, 2023
I just scared the 💩 out of my family! Losing my mind with this fight! I LOVE the heart of Brener! Epic fight! #ufcfightnight
— Paul Felder (@felderpaul) July 1, 2023
Damn theses Brazilians are vicious upset of the year wow !!!!
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) July 1, 2023
Wowwww! Upset alert. Elves Brenner just cashed as +500 underdog with a TKO of Guram Kutateladze in Round 3. #UFCVegas76
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) July 1, 2023
Elves Brenner has a hell of a mean-mug, for what it’s worth.
— Dann Stupp (@DannStupp) July 1, 2023
Remarkable comeback from Elvis Brener. pic.twitter.com/Z157wzHKoV
— Luke Thomas🏋️♀️ (@lthomasnews) July 1, 2023
What a fight!!!!
— John Morgan (@JohnMorgan_MMA) July 1, 2023
Elves Brener with the dramatic third-round finish, and the Chute Boxe squad joins in the celebration. 🔥🔥🔥#UFCVegas76 pic.twitter.com/cpbhcd1JfH
Wish I was smart enough to take Brener after seeing that video of Guram yesterday struggling to make the weight. No doubt that played a role in this fight. He was exhausted in the third round. #UFCVegas76
— Adam Martin (@MMAdamMartin) July 1, 2023
Elves Brener should get all the HYPE. He changed his hair color mid-fight and got the finish. ⚒️⚒️#UFCVegas76
— Hyon Ko (@KoreanJohn_) July 1, 2023
Dang what an upset wild fight!!! #UFCFightNight
— Billy Quarantillo (@BillyQMMA) July 1, 2023
What a showing by Elves Brener. He is bleeding all over the place and has a giant third round and ends it after dropping Guram Kutateladze and closing it out with follow-up shots. Great fight. #UFCVegas76
— Ryan Frederick (@ryanjfrederick) July 1, 2023
That’s got to be fight of the night.
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) July 1, 2023
Just hand the bonus out now. 😂#UFCApexSomething #MMA #BloodyMess #ChuteBoxeStyle
Both dude need $$$ for that one. #UFCVegas76
— Niko Price (@Nikohybridprice) July 1, 2023