Ricardo Ramos: UFC 217 spinning elbow knockout of Aiemann Zahabi my hardest hit ever

NEW YORK – UFC bantamweight Ricardo Ramos didn’t bring out his spinning (expletive) for Aiemann Zahabi. But when Zahabi started to pressure him, he was ready to let it go.

“It was not something I was planning especially for him, but that’s something that we train a lot,” Ramos told MMAjunkie backstage after a highlight-reel knockout of Zahabi in the UFC Fight Pass-streamed opener at UFC 217. “I had some secret weapons for him, and I always have these weapons.

“When Aiemann is pressuring, he attacks, and that’s what happened.”

Zahabi (7-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) had availed himself relatively well in rounds one and two, cutting off many of Ramos’ unconventional attacks with straight counters of his own. Although he appeared to be struggling to stay mobile, his feet flat-footed, he sent Ramos (11-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) reeling backward in the third and final frame.

The spinning elbow that sent Zahabi unconscious to the mat surprised just about everyone at Madison Square Garden. That includes Ramos.

Asked whether his fight-ending strike was the hardest he’d ever hit a man, he let out a squeal of joy.

“This was the hardest,” Ramos said.

For complete coverage of UFC 217, check out the UFC Events section of the site.