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This UFC 305 photo of Carlos Prates’ KO of Li Jingliang will make you wonder if you’re on mushrooms

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3 months ago

August 18, 2024

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This UFC 305 photo of Carlos Prates’ KO of Li Jingliang will make you wonder if you’re on mushrooms

TOPSHOT – China’s Li Jingliang (in red) is knocked out by Brazil’s Carlos Prates in their men’s welterweight division event of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 305 at the Perth Arena in Perth on August 18, 2024. (Photo by COLIN MURTY / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by COLIN MURTY/AFP via Getty Images)

[autotag]Carlos Prates[/autotag] got a $50,000 bonus for a sickening knockout of [autotag]Li Jingliang[/autotag] at UFC 305 on Saturday.

But if the bonus-picking members of the UFC brass had seen a photo of the knockout moment by Colin Murty in Perth, Australia, before their decision, they might have been inclined to give Prates even more – or send a little something Murty’s way.

The shooter

Career photojournalist Murty, who was shooting for Getty Images via Agence France-Presse, has an extensive resume stretching back more than 40 years, but you won’t find a lot of MMA on his CV. That’s what will make those who appreciate good photography – particularly good sports photography – love this shot even more.

(And if you’re tempted to say, “Oh, he probably just has a really good camera,” then please go away. He does. Of course he does. And he also has the kind of eye and instincts that can lead to an insane image like this. Most of the rest of us don’t, no matter how much our iPhones lie to us #SupportRealPhotographers.)

The fight

China's Li Jingliang (in red) and Brazil's Carlos Prates fight in their men's welterweight division event of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 305 at the Perth Arena in Perth on August 18, 2024. (Photo by COLIN MURTY / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by COLIN MURTY/AFP via Getty Images) — China’s Li Jingliang (in red) and Brazil’s Carlos Prates fight in their men’s welterweight division event of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 305 at the Perth Arena in Perth on August 18, 2024. (Photo by COLIN MURTY / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by COLIN MURTY/AFP via Getty Images)

Prates opened up the pay-per-view main card with a stunning walk-off knockout of Jingliang late in the second round. It was the first time “The Leech” had been knocked out in a career dating back 17 years.