Fighters from around the globe dream of the day they’ll step into the UFC octagon for the first time. For one athlete, Saturday’s UFC 260 event marked that special moment in their career.
Check out this week’s rookie report to see what kind of first impression they made on the sport’s biggest stage from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Fabio Cherant
Division: Light heavyweight
Result: Alonzo Menifield def. Fabio Cherant via submission (Von Flue choke) – Round 1, 1:11
Record: (7-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Grade: D-
Fabio Cherant’s UFC chance came on short notice against a big, strong, tough opponent and, despite coming into the octagon with a solid track record of submission finishes, “The Water Buffalo” succumbed to a first-round submission as he got caught early by Alonzo Menifield in the night’s featured preliminary card bout.
Cherant was taken down quickly and, as Menifield applied pressure from the top, it quickly became apparent that the newcomer was trapped in a Von Flue choke, with Menifield exerting significant pressure as he forced his musclebound shoulder into the throat of the debutant.
Trapped against the cage and underneath Menifield, Cherant had no answer to the predicament and was eventually forced to tap. It meant his octagon debut was over almost before it had began as he was left no option but to submit after barely getting any offense off during his first UFC appearance.