Fighters from around the globe dream of the day they’ll step into the UFC octagon for the first time. For seven athletes, Saturday’s UFC 243 event marked that special moment in their career.
Check out this week’s rookie report to see what kind of first impression those fighters made on the sport’s biggest stage from Marvel Stadium in in Melbourne, Australia.
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Bruno Silva
Division: Bantamweight
Result: Khalid Taha def. Bruno Silva via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 3, 3:00
Record: (11-4-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Grade: C+
Bruno Silva would prefer to compete in the flyweight division, but when the UFC calls, you take what you get, and that meant a bantamweight matchup against a very tough Khalid Taha.
The difference in power was evident at the start, with Taha’s punches causing damage from the opening bell. To his credit, Silva turned to his wrestling to claim the second round and put the result in the balance of the third. Unfortunately, his energy level noticeably dropped, and Taha was able to the take the action to the canvas, where he set up an arm-triangle choke to finish the fight.
Silva showed a willingness to engage and a strong wrestling game, not to mention some grit when it was clear he was down early, but he was simply overmatched here at 135 pounds. Perhaps the Henry Cejudo protege will get a chance to compete in his natural weight class next time out. Otherwise, it might be a tough run for him in the UFC.
Zarah Fairn
Division: Women’s featherweight
Result: Megan Anderson def. Zarah Fairn via submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 3:57
Record: (6-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Grade: F
Zarah Fairn was long considered a talent worthy of the UFC, but the promotion’s lukewarm commitment to the women’s featherweight division left her on the outside looking in. The French fighter’s debut likely didn’t do much to make promotion officials wish they’d acted sooner.
To her credit, Fairn did try and start fast, a smart gameplan against a fighter in Megan Anderson who has often been criticized for not pulling the trigger quickly enough. But Anderson withstood the initial barrage and took the fight to the floor, stepping over to mount and completely dominating the positioning. Once on her back, Fairn was clearly trapped, spending several minutes trying to hold off strikes from her opponent.
Late in the frame, Fairn tried to escape, but that decision failed her, as well, with Anderson transitioning to a triangle choke and earning a meek tap from Fairn at the 3:57 mark of the opening frame. Fairn is going to need a much different showing in her next outing if she’s hoping for an extended stay on the UFC roster.
Brad Riddell and Jamie Mullarkey
Division: Lightweight
Result: Brad Riddell def. Jamie Mullarkey via unanimous decision (29-27, 30-26, 30-26)
Record: Brad Riddell (7-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Grade: A
Record: Jamie Mullarkey (12-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Grade: A
In battle of regional newcomers, New Zealand’s Brad Riddell outpointed Australia’s Jamie Mullarkey, but both men proved their worth as absolute warriors with one of the grittiest fights you’ll ever see.
A seasoned kickboxer, Riddell was clearly the better striker, and Mullarkey turned to his grappling to help level the playing field. That resulted in a bout that truly showcased all aspects of the MMA game. Action was quick on the feet and on the floor. Transitions were executed perfectly. And bombs were being dropped all along the way.
With both men battered and bloodied, the third round turned into an absolute showcase of beauty and brutality. Both men landed clean, taking turns wobbling each other with crisp shots that easily would felled lesser combatants. In the end, it was clear Riddell had done enough to take home a decision win. Fortunately, they each pocketed a “Fight of the Night” bonus for their efforts, as well.
Maki Pitolo
Division: Welterweight
Result: Callan Potter def. Maki Pitolo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Record: (12-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Grade: C-
Maki Pitolo did his best to land his patented “Coconut Bombz” in a three-round battle with Callan Potter, but he simply wasn’t able to ever really seal the deal. Potter was able to withstand a few big blows on the feet and even fire back with a few of his own. But his real success came through grappling, where his basic attacks were able to render Pitolo relatively helpless.
Pitolo is capable of putting on fun fights, but the seemed entirely too one-dimensional in his UFC debut, and even that one dimension wasn’t exactly dominant, especially against a fighter you’d expect him to overpower with Potter moving up from 155 pounds.
Pitolo has potential, but he didn’t get to flash much of it Down Under.
Yorgan De Castro and Justin Tafa
Division: Heavyweight
Result: Yorgan De Castro def. Justin Tafa via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 2:10
Record: Yorgan De Castro (6-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Grade: B-
Record: Justin Tafa (3-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Grade: C+
Undefeated heavyweights Yorgan De Castro and Justin Tafa were promoted to the main card when Holly Holm was forced to withdraw, and despite each having just a handful of pro contests to their time, they were entrusted to kick off the night’s pay-per-view. The expectation, of course, was that one of them would score a big knockout, and that’s exactly what happened.
Neither of these men strike the most athletic figure, but it’s clear they each have power. Both also are willing to fight within their abilities, not wildly swinging for the fences when it’s clear their gas tanks aren’t exactly ready to handle a marathon session.
Both men seemed relatively comfortable in the clinch, but mostly from a defensive posture. In the end, both are a little rough around the edges but certainly have the ability to end fights. Each will likely find themselves in a slugfest or two before it’s all said and done but do lack what it would take to compete at the very top of the division right now.
