At PFL Champions Series 3, Sergio Pettis stunned fans and pundits alike by landing a dramatic spinning back elbow knockout on Magomed Magomedov in a bantamweight title eliminator.
Magomedov had the momentum entering the second round, using grappling dominance—body triangles, control, and submission threats—to keep Pettis grounded and on the back foot. But as the round neared its close, Pettis countered a jumping knee with a side kick and then unleashed the spinning back elbow that sent Magomedov crumpling.
Social media erupted. Anthony Pettis tweeted in disbelief, while fans used phrases like “just killed a man on live television” to describe the knockout’s suddenness and severity. Observers compared the finish to Pettis’s earlier spinning backfist knockout of Kyoji Horiguchi, saying the style and suddenness echoed that moment.
With the win, Sergio Pettis continues to build on his recent run—this marks his second straight victory and brings his record of performance in recent years to 8 wins in his last 10. Meanwhile, Magomedov’s rollercoaster stretch of results continues, as his attempt to secure a title shot ends in abrupt fashion.