Ketlen Souza knocks out Ariane Carnelossi during UFC Vegas 118 opener

Ketlen Souza got her revenge on former foe Ariane Carnelossi earlier tonight (Sat., June 6, 2026) at UFC Vegas 118 live on Paramount+ from inside UFC’s Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, turning in a sensational first-round knockout (head kick and punches) to spark the “Prelims” undercard. This may not have been a matchup on […]

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 06: (L-R) Ketlen Souza of Brazil kicks Ariane Carnelossi of Brazil in a women's strawweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Meta APEX on June 06, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) Ketlen Souza kicked off UFC Vegas 118 with a bang. Literally. “Esquentadinha” needed less than two minutes to close out Saturday’s Meta Apex opener as she blistered Ariane Carnelossi with a head kick and finished her with a follow-up punch. Watch the fast finish below. Ketlen Souza with a VICIOUS head kick KO to kick off #UFCVegas118. pic.twitter.com/wDVxKokDdi — MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) June 6, 2026 Souza had no problem dealing with Carnelossi’s early aggression, simply biding her time as she waited for the perfect opportunity to strike. A Souza combination stunned Carnelossi and she stumbled right into the head kick that put her on her backside. It didn’t take long for referee Chris Tognoni to step in and stop the match 1:34 into Round 1. That’s two straight wins now for Souza (17-6), who recently stopped a two-fight skid with a decision nod over Bruna Brasil. She improves to 4-2 in the UFC’s strawweight division with her first knockout in the promotion. Carnelossi (15-5) will be searching for answers as she loses for the third time in four appearances and has just one win since October 2021.

Ketlen Souza ran through Ariane Carnelossi at UFC Vegas 118

Ketlen Souza needed just 94 seconds to put Ariane Carnelossi away in highight-r