Stopping Alex Morono was a big moment for Santiago Ponzinibbio, not only because he snapped a two-fight skid, but because he picked up his first stoppage win since he overcame a life-threatening infection.
In December 2022 at UFC 282, Ponzinibbio scored a TKO win over Morono when he wobbled him bad with a brutal right hand and finished him with ground-and-pound. It was just a year into his comeback from an infection that put his career on ice for three years, and Ponzinibbio clearly was overtaken by emotion in his post-fight celebration.
Watch Ponzinibbio’s stoppage win in the video above.
Ponzinibbio (29-7 MMA, 11-6 UFC) returns to the cage Saturday in the UFC on ESPN 59 co-main event at Ball Arena in Denver. He fights fellow veteran Muslim Salikhov (19-5 MMA, 6-4 UFC) in a welterweight matchup.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 59.
Tracy Cortez
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Dana White’s Contender Series – Cortez v Agapova
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 30: Tracy Cortez celebrates after defeating Mariya Agapova in their flyweight…
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 30: Tracy Cortez celebrates after defeating Mariya Agapova in their flyweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series Week Six at the UFC Apex on July 30, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/DWCS LLC/Zuffa LLC)
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MMA: UFC Fight Night-Sao Paolo: Melo vs Cortez
Nov 16, 2019; Sao Paolo, BRAZIL; Vanessa Melo (red gloves) fights Tracy Cortez (blue gloves) during…
Nov 16, 2019; Sao Paolo, BRAZIL; Vanessa Melo (red gloves) fights Tracy Cortez (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Ginsasio do Ibirapuera. Mandatory Credit: Jason Da Silva-USA TODAY Sportsh
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MMA: UFC Fight Night-Sao Paolo: Melo vs Cortez
Nov 16, 2019; Sao Paolo, BRAZIL; Vanessa Melo (red gloves) fights Tracy Cortez (blue gloves) during…
Nov 16, 2019; Sao Paolo, BRAZIL; Vanessa Melo (red gloves) fights Tracy Cortez (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Ginsasio do Ibirapuera. Mandatory Credit: Jason Da Silva-USA TODAY Sportsh
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MMA: UFC Fight Night-Sao Paolo: Melo vs Cortez
Nov 16, 2019; Sao Paolo, BRAZIL; Tracy Cortez (blue gloves) reacts to fight against Vanessa Melo…
Nov 16, 2019; Sao Paolo, BRAZIL; Tracy Cortez (blue gloves) reacts to fight against Vanessa Melo (red gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Ginsasio do Ibirapuera. Mandatory Credit: Jason Da Silva-USA TODAY Sportsh
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MMA: UFC Fight Night-Sao Paolo: Melo vs Cortez
Nov 16, 2019; Sao Paolo, BRAZIL; Tracy Cortez (blue gloves) reacts to fight against Vanessa Melo…
Nov 16, 2019; Sao Paolo, BRAZIL; Tracy Cortez (blue gloves) reacts to fight against Vanessa Melo (red gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Ginsasio do Ibirapuera. Mandatory Credit: Jason Da Silva-USA TODAY Sportsh
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UFC Fight Night: Cortez v Egger
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – OCTOBER 11: (R-L) Tracy Cortez punches Stephanie Egger of Switzerland…
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – OCTOBER 11: (R-L) Tracy Cortez punches Stephanie Egger of Switzerland in their women’s bantamweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island on October 11, 2020 in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
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UFC Fight Night: Cortez v Kish
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 17: (L-R) Tracy Cortez punches Justine Kish in a flyweight fight…
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 17: (L-R) Tracy Cortez punches Justine Kish in a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on April 17, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
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UFC 274 – Cortez vs Gatto
May 7, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Tracy Cortez before fighting against Melissa Gatto during UFC 274…
May 7, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Tracy Cortez before fighting against Melissa Gatto during UFC 274 at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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UFC 274 – Cortez vs Gatto
May 7, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Tracy Cortez pins Melissa Gatto to the mat during UFC…
May 7, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Tracy Cortez pins Melissa Gatto to the mat during UFC 274 at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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UFC 274 – Cortez vs Gatto
May 7, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Tracy Cortez pins Melissa Gatto to the mat during UFC…
May 7, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Tracy Cortez pins Melissa Gatto to the mat during UFC 274 at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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UFC 274 – Cortez vs Gatto
May 7, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Tracy Cortez pins Melissa Gatto to the mat during UFC…
May 7, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Tracy Cortez pins Melissa Gatto to the mat during UFC 274 at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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UFC 274 – Cortez vs Gatto
May 7, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Tracy Cortez pins Melissa Gatto to the mat during UFC…
May 7, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Tracy Cortez pins Melissa Gatto to the mat during UFC 274 at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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UFC 274 – Cortez vs Gatto
Tracy Cortez
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UFC 274 – Cortez vs Gatto
May 7, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Tracy Cortez following her victory against Melissa Gatto during UFC…
May 7, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Tracy Cortez following her victory against Melissa Gatto during UFC 274 at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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UFC 274 – Tracy Cortez post-fight interview
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