Luke
Riley took issue with reaction to his finish at UFC 329. | 📷:
Getty/UFC

Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight Luke Riley
was confident that it was only a matter of time before his
UFC 329 opponent, Kai Kamaka
III, went down.

Riley (14-0) took on Kamaka III (18-8) at UFC 329 in Las Vegas. The
Brit took some punishment to his lead leg early in the fight, but
needed just one well-timed right hand to floor his foe, also
opening up a cut near the Hawaiian's eye.

While Kamaka III returned to his feet, Riley was relentless with
his combinations, which was enough for referee Kerry Hatley to call
a stop to the contest. The stoppage drew some backlash from the
commentators and fans online, as Kamaka III was covering up but
still on his feet.

Luke Riley responds to criticism after UFC 329 victory over Kai
Kamaka III

Riley believes Hatley saved his opponent from taking unnecessary
damage. The Liverpudlian is confident he would eventually have
finished Kamaka III.

“Fans have the smallest memories ever,†Riley said in a post-fight
interview. “So, I think after the last one, coming into this one,
[fans were saying], ‘Luke decision, Luke decision. He's gonna
scrape a split decision.' It's like, OK, and then, yeah, that's
what happened: first-round knockout. So, the memory is gonna be
refreshed again.â€

Riley was coming off a decision win over Michael
Aswell going into UFC 329. The undefeated 27-year-old says UFC
fans started considering him a decision fighter after his last
victory. However, he just refreshed their memories with his 10th
career finish.

“Kai is a tough motherf*cker. But once I sniff blood, it's done,â€
Riley added. “Once I landed that shot on the chin, seeing he was
rocked, he was hurt, he was just a wounded animal that was gonna be
put down. And the ref saved him.â€

Furthermore, Riley addressed Joe Rogan and Daniel
Cormier's commentary and views on his finish. “They’ve f*cking
lost their minds. Two more seconds, and he would have been face
down on the canvas,†he said at the post-fight presser.

Damian Pinas upped his record to 10-1 at UFC 329. | 📷:
Getty/UFC

Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight Damian
Pinas says he is in no hurry to finish his fights, although
they usually end early.

Pinas took on Cesar
Almeida at
UFC 329 in Las Vegas. After a back-and-forth striking battle,
Pinas floored his opponent with a vicious right hand. While Almeida
appeared to be out, the referee waited for another right hand from
Pinas before stepping in.

Damian Pinas explains why another first-round UFC finish wasn’t
the plan

While Pinas is known for his signature jab-cross combination, he
believes he displayed a more versatile arsenal at UFC 329. This
marked Pinas' second first-round finish in as many UFC outings and
third, including his
Dana White's Contender Series win last year.

However, “The Baba Yaga†claims he is in no hurry to finish fights.
According to Pinas, he is ready for three-round matches, although
his opponents usually go down when he touches them. The 24-year-old
says he is naturally patient with everything in life.

“I showed them that I can do more than they know,†Pinas said in a
post-fight interview. “Some people see the video; they think,
‘Damian is a striker, just a simple 1-2.' I can do whatever I want.
I just throw my 1-2 because it's the easiest way to put them out…
I'm not here to finish fights early; it just happens. I don't do
it; it just happens. I'm ready to fight three-round fights. But
when I touch them, they get out. I naturally am patient with
everything. I'm a chill guy.â€

Pinas (10-1) has gone past the first round only twice in his 10
career wins. Meanwhile, Almeida (7-3) is now on a two-fight slump
and 3-3 in the UFC.