​Ryan Gandra or Joe Frazier? At UFC 329, the broadcast team featuring Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier immediately compared Gandra’s gigantic left hook—capable of turning Zach Reese’s jaw to a momentary stain—to the legendary boxer’s punch. The middleweight prelim at T-Mobile Arena was mercifully brief, lasting just 1:15 before referee Mike Beltran stepped in to stop the action. Gandra wasn’t forcing the pace, but the finish came in a flash, and with considerable violence.
The sequence began with a subtle feint to the right, a short misdirection that drew Reese in before Gandra uncorked a looping left hook that connected with precision, dropping Reese to the canvas. Sensing the opportunity, Gandra surged forward for follow-up ground strikes, compelling the stoppage as the referee intervened.
Video of the finish is available below via X, capturing the moment Gandra’s punch landed and the fight ended. The victory marked Gandra’s fourth consecutive win by first-round finish, a streak that stretches back to his LFA triumph, which earned him a spot on Dana White’s Contender Series and paved his path into the UFC. This win extends his undefeated streak in the UFC and serves as his first two UFC triumphs.
Result: Ryan Gandra def. Zach Reese by TKO (punches) at 1:15 of Round 1.
This story originally appeared on MMA Junkie in coverage for UFC 329. The headline emphasized Ryan Gandra’s left hook, likened to Joe Frazier’s famed punch, as part of an SEO-focused recap of the event.