Fighters from around the globe dream of the day they’ll step into the UFC octagon for the first time. For two athletes, Saturday’s UFC 246 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 T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
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Aleksa Camur
Division: Light heavyweight
Result: Aleksa Camur def. Justin Ledet via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Record: (6-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Grade: C+
Aleksa Camur is an absolute specimen of a human being, that is certain. His power is evident in every strike he throws, but therein lies a bit of the issue, as well. Facing a seasoned striker like Justin Ledet, Camur struggled to find the mark. With Camur hell-bent on landing a big punch or kick, he pressed forward with reckless abandon, and it clearly took its toll on his energy levels as the bout wore on, rifling off a few low-percentage moves.
To his credit, Camur continued to be the man walking forward. But against an opponent with a higher output, he would have struggled to get to a decision. Camur did get a takedown late in the final frame, but it came with just seconds left to go, not fully allowing him to take advantage of the position. A little more of that along the way would have likely proved very helpful.
In short, Camur has clear physical tools, but he’s still very much a work in progress. At just 24 years old and six fights into his professional career, that’s to be expected. The raw material appears to be there, but he’ll need a bit more seasoning before he’s mentioned among the division’s contenders. Shot selection and energy management will be key in his development.
Ode Osbourne
Division: Bantamweight
Result: Brian Kelleher def. Ode Osbourne via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 2:49
Record: (8-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Grade: D+
Ode Osbourne showed some real creativity to open his UFC debut, crawling out to the center of the cage a la Jon Jones, but then leaping into the air with a flying knee that nearly earned him a “Knockout of the Year” candidate just 18 days in to 2020. Unfortunately, things went swiftly downhill from there.
Osbourne’s penchant for first-round finishes on the regional stage certainly proves his capabilities of being exciting, but he was just a little too lackadaisical for my liking when Brian Kelleher closed the distance and then subsequently slammed him to the floor. The guillotine choke was locked in with relatively little resistance, and Osbourne was able to adjust the grip and fall back to guard, cinching up the finish – and even earning the rarely seen tap via feet since his opponent’s hands were both locked up in the hold.
Perhaps it was octagon jitters. Being promoted to the main card of a Conor McGregor pay-per-view just one day prior to the event certainly could do a number on a fighter mentally. I’m definitely not ready to write off Osbourne just yet. I just believe an increased sense of urgency could have done “The Oddity” a load of good in this contest.
