UFC Fight Night 65 results: Robert Whittaker flattens, finishes Brad Tavares 44 seconds

Robert Whittaker and Brad Tavares -- two promising Middleweight prospects -- were hungry to climb the crowded 185-pound ladder at the expense of each other tonight (Sat., May 9, 2015) in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 65, which took place inside Adelaide Entertainment Centre in Adelaide, Australia.

And The Ultimate Fighter (TUF): "Smashes" winner needed just 44 seconds to send a savage message to the rest of the division.

After an initial feeling-out process, the pair finally began to exchange punches. Whittaker land a nice short left that put Tavares on his butt. The Hawaiian, though, sprung right back to his feet and fired off a few shots before Whittaker put him back down again with another nice left hook.

This time, however, Tavares would not be getting back up.

Whittaker pounced on Tavares and unloaded about five-or-six unanswered head bouncers. After the third connected, Tavares' eyes rolled into the back of his head and Whittaker unloaded two-or-three more before the referee mercifully dove in to stop the brutal assault.

What a finish, what a statement. Welcome to the Top 15, Robert.

For complete results from UFC Fight Night 65: "Miocic vs. Hunt," including play-by-play updates, click here.