Kiefer Crosbie’s bravery may have been his undoing at UFC Fight Night 257.

In the opening bout on Saturday’s main card, Crosbie (10-6 MMA, 0-3 UFC) was finished by Taiyilake Nueraji (12-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) elbows at 3:33 of Round 1. The welterweight fight took place at Shanghai indoor stadium in Shanghai.

The finish was not without controversy, however. Just moments prior to Nueraji’s violence finish, Crosbie was blasted with an illegal knee that triggered a two-point deduction from referee Marc Goddard. Rather than take the disqualification or no contest, Crosbie elected to keep fighting. The finish came moments later when Nueraji smashed Crosbie on the canvas.

WTF THATS FUCKING ILLEGAL! #UFCShanghaipic.twitter.com/JJ75HUvs5D

— TakeruCigarra (@TakeruCigarra) August 23, 2025

Controversial KO ⁉

“Super Saiyan” Nueraji Taiyilake stops Kiefer Crosbie in Round 1, just moments after being docked two points for an illegal knee strike. pic.twitter.com/8tRfdq9e0v

— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) August 23, 2025

Nueraji, 24, wins his debut in under four minutes time and extends his current streak to six victories in a row. He’s never gone the distance.

Crosbie, 35, could find himself out of a UFC job after three-straight losses.

Up-to-the-minute UFC Shanghai results:

• Taiyilake Nueraji def. Kiefer Crosbie via TKO (elbows) – Round 1, 3:33
• Charles Johnson def. Lone’er Kavanagh via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 4:35
• Rong Zhu def. Austin Hubbard via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Kyle Daukaus def. Michel Pereira via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:43
• Yi Zha def. Westin Wilson via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:37
• SuYoung You def. Xiao Long via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Uran Satybaldiev def. Diyar Nurgozhay via submission (Ezekiel choke) – Round 1, 2:45

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC fighter’s bravery leads him to knockout loss in Shanghai