UFC Fight Night 40 results, photos: Daron Cruickshank devastates Erik Koch

CINCINNATI – A bout that most expected might offer up the evening’s “Fight of the Night” instead provided a highlight-reel finish, as Daron Cruickshank scored a devastating first-round finish of Erik Koch.

The lightweight bout was part of the main card of today’s UFC Fight Night 40 event at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati. It aired on FOX Sports 1 following prelims on FOX Sports 2 and UFC Fight Pass.

Koch took the center to open the fight, as Cruickshank circled on the outside, happy to stay in kickboxing range and fire off flashy techniques. The larger Koch tried to pick apart his opponent’s leg from distance, but Cruickshank walked through the shots and scored a huge left high kick that sent his opponent toppling to the floor. From there, it was a barrage of brutal elbows and punches that forced the stoppage of the fight at the 3:21 mark of the opening round.

Following the impressive win, Cruickshank said he felt the performance proved to the world that he was deserving of his spot on the UFC roster.

“That was a great fight for me,” Cruickshank said. “I showed up, and I believe when I show up, I can beat anybody.

“I know I belong here, but I feel like I just proved I belong here.”

Cruickshank (15-4 MMA, 5-2 UFC) improves to 3-1 in his past four fights. Koch (14-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC) falls to 1-3 in his past four outings.

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 40 results include:

• Daron Cruickshank def. Erik Koch via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 3:21
• Neil Magny def. Tim Means via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
• Soa Palelei def. Ruan Potts via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:20
• Chris Cariaso def. Louis Smolka via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Ed Herman def. Rafael Natal via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Kyoji Horiguchi def. Darrell Montague via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Zak Cummings def. Yan Cabral via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Johnny Eduardo def. Eddie Wineland via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:37
• Nik Lentz def. Manny Gamburyan via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Justin Salas def. Ben Wall via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:41
• Anthony Lapsley def. Anthony Lapsley via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 3:56

For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 40, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.

Matt Erickson contributed to this report on-site in Cincinnati.