Riley silences UFC 329 critics with first-round knockout of Kamaka III

Luke Riley (14-0) backed up his words with a first-round knockout of Kai Kamaka III (18-8) at UFC 329 in Las Vegas on July 12, recording his 10th career finish and silencing fans who had labelled him a decision fighter after his previous victory over Michael Aswell.

Riley absorbed early punishment to his lead leg before landing a single, well-timed right hand that floored Kamaka III and opened a cut near the Hawaiian’s eye. Referee Hatley stepped in to wave off the contest, a call Riley defended firmly in the post-fight press conference.

“Fans have the smallest memories ever,” Riley said. “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.”

The 27-year-old Liverpudlian also pushed back against commentary from Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier, who questioned the timing of the stoppage. Riley was unequivocal in his assessment of where the fight was heading.

“They’ve f*cking lost their minds. Two more seconds, and he would have been face down on the canvas,” he said. “And the ref saved him.”

Riley was equally emphatic about Kamaka III’s resilience, acknowledging the difficulty of the matchup while insisting the outcome was never in doubt once he sensed vulnerability. “Kai is a tough motherf*cker. But once I sniff blood, it’s done,” he 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.”

The win extends Riley’s unbeaten professional record to 14-0 and marks his third consecutive victory since joining the UFC roster. The Brit has now established himself as a genuine contender in the featherweight division, combining a clean record with a growing reputation for decisive finishes under the sport’s biggest banner.