UFC 274: Watch Michael Chandler brutally KO Tony Ferguson with a vicious front kick

MICHAEL CHANDLER returned to the win column with a brutal knockout of fan favourite Tony Ferguson.

The three-time Bellator lightweight champion locked horns with El Cucuy in the early hours of Sunday morning on the main card of a stacked UFC 274 card in Pheonix, Arizona.

Fan favourite Ferguson entered the mouth-watering showdown on the back of three dominant losses to Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush.

And he was handed his fourth loss, and potentially his walking papers in the second round of the desert dust-up courtesy of a nasty front kick.

An elated Chandler said: "What the fans at home will never ever feel is when you're down and you have a round like I just did that wasn't decisive; Tony Ferguson showed up.

"You gotta pull out something from inside of you. And God came through."

Chandler made a bright start to his fourth octagon outing, taking the centre of the octagon and staying light on his feet.

But he was wide of the mark with an early double jab and subsequently had two leg kicks checked by Ferguson.

And he soon found himself on the canvas after missing a huge left hook.

Ferguson put the Sanford MMA ace on his backside with a big left hand and went in for the kill after he got back to his feet.

That exchange prompted Chandler to seemingly deviate from his game plan and throw heavy and telegraphed shots.

But just as it seemed like he was hellbent on making the fight a brawl, he beautifully changed levels and grounded the fight with a power double leg.

Ferguson defended well off his back and landed several of his trademark elbows from the bottom.

But after plenty of posturing for position, Chandler managed to break free and land some shots of his own - one of which cut Ferguson - before the horn went.

Ferguson looked the picture of confidence as the second round began.

But he was soon out cold as a picture-perfect front kick landed flush on his jaw and separated him from consciousness.