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Kongo rises from the ashes for crazy KO victory

Cheick Kongo snatched victory from the jaws of defeat © Getty Images

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Cheick Kongo is highly unlikely to ever produce a more defining moment in his MMA career after his against-all-odds, last-ditch desperation knockout of Pat Barry in Sunday's breathtaking UFC Live main event.

There have been some outstanding knockouts in the UFC calendar of 2011. Anderson Silva dropped jaws with his front kick destruction of Vitor Belfort, Lyoto Machida drew comparisons to the Karate Kid with a switch kick KO of Randy Couture, while Sam Stout reminded fans that hands are just as potent by switching out the lights on Yves Edwards.

But none of those can compare to the events of Pittsburgh in terms of a pendulum-swinging, plot-rewriting, defeat-defying moment, as Kongo pulled out a right hook/uppercut combination to snatch victory out of Barry's grasp.

It was two minutes and 40 seconds of some of the craziest action anybody can expect to see inside an Octagon. After a feeling-out process where both men landed heavy leg kicks, Barry changed the entire fight with a booming right hook that pole-axed his rival.

Kongo had enough about him to turn his back to Barry, but the American's onslaught continued, slamming follow-up blows to the head of Kongo, who momentarily got back to his feet only to be slayed by another cracking right.

This time it truely looked over, Kongo was back to his feet but neither leg was communicating with the other as he stumbled back towards the cage, eyes looking anywhere other than at the man racing forward to finish.

However, Kongo's future was on the line, he'd only won one of his last four, and from absolutely nowhere he threw a desperation right hook that stopped Barry in his tracks, before launching into a follow-up uppercut - surely the last thing he had left - that flattened Barry in one of the great come-from-behind victories.

As Barry lay motionless for several minutes after the bout had ended, Kongo commented: "I had to win this fight, I saw the opportunity for the uppercut, and I knew I only had one shot."

UFC Live results
Cheick Kongo bt Pat Barry via KO (punches) at 2:39 of round 1
Charlie Brenneman bt Rick Story via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Matt Brown bt John Howard via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Matt Mitrione bt Christian Morecraft via KO (punches) at 4:28 of round 2
Tyson Griffin bt Manvel Gamburyan via majority decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-29)
Javier Vazquez bt Joe Stevenson via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
Joe Lauzon bt Curt Warburton via submission (kimura) at 1:58 of round 1
Daniel Roberts bt Rich Attonito via unanimous decision (29-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Charles Oliveira bt Nik Lentz via submission (rear naked choke) at 1:48 of round 2
Ricardo Lamas bt Matt Grice via TKO (strikes) 4:41 at of round 1
Michael Johnson bt Edward Faaloloto via TKO (punches) at 4:42 of round 1

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