Nurgozhay Nails Buzzer-Beating TKO Over Lopes at UFC Vegas 120

Overview

• Nurgozhay defeated Bruno Lopes by TKO (punches) at 4:59 of Round 1, finishing the fight with one second left on the clock.
• The sequence included multiple knockdowns and a late flurry that forced the referee to stop the bout on the UFC Vegas 120 preliminary card at the Meta APEX.
• The fight was briefly paused earlier in the round after an eye-thumb contact, then resumed before Nurgozhay closed out the finish.
• Nurgozhay told Daniel Cormier through an interpreter that he belongs in the UFC and is ready to work, and video highlights from Paramount+ circulated immediately after the stoppage.
• Reports differ on the fighters’ exact UFC records entering the bout, but outlets agree the Aug. 8 first-round TKO strengthens Nurgozhay’s momentum and could change his near-term matchmaking outlook.