Fighters from around the globe dream of the day they’ll step into the UFC octagon for the first time. For three athletes, Saturday’s UFC 247 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 Toyota Center in Houston.
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Austin Lingo
Division: Featherweight
Result: Youssef Zalal def. Austin Lingo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Record: (7-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Grade: C-
Austin Lingo’s UFC debut didn’t go the way the previously undefeated prospect had hoped, but his first career loss certainly wasn’t a result of a lack of effort.
Lingo showcased a solid gas tank and a hard-nosed approach as he set a relentless pace from the start of the fight and pushed forward at every opportunity.
That desire to walk forward throwing punches eventually became his undoing, however, as his opponent countered him smartly and used Lingo’s forward momentum against him by securing takedowns at key times during the fight.
One positive in his defeat was Lingo’s ability to fight his way out of a tricky submission predicament in the second round, when he found himself caught in a D’Arce choke. He stayed composed, fought the hands smartly and eventually freed himself from the hold.
Overall, his approach proved a little too one-dimensional on the night, but not every opponent will be as slick fighting off the back foot as Zalal, and it would be no surprise to see him in a barnburner against a similarly-styled fighter in a fight or two.
Youssef Zalal
Division: Featherweight
Result: Youssef Zalal def. Austin Lingo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Record: (8-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Grade: B
Youssef Zalal didn’t seem overly impressed with his performance on his UFC debut, but his display on short notice at UFC 247 showed a great deal of promise as he handed fellow debutant Lingo the first defeat of his MMA career.
Lingo brought a lot of pressure to Zalal throughout the matchup, but the 23-year-old dealt with it like a seasoned veteran as he fought smartly off the back foot, countering well with slick, fluid strikes and halting Lingo’s forward momentum with well-timed takedown attempts.
When the fight went to the mat, Zalal was in complete control as he dominated top position and twice threatened with D’Arce chokes. Only imperfect positioning and a gritty opponent prevented him from scoring the submission finish he clearly wanted.
After the fight, he embraced his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, paid tribute to his coaches and gave a shout out to some of his teammates who haven’t yet made it to the big show. With a promising set of skills during the fight and an infectious personality after it, “The Moroccan Devil” could turn out to be an entertaining presence on fight cards through 2020 and beyond.
Khaos Williams
Division: Welterweight
Result: Khaos Williams def. Alex Morono via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:27
Record: (10-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Grade: A
Khaos reigned in Houston as Khaos Williams exploded into the UFC with a stunning 27-second knockout of seasoned octagon veteran Alex Morono at UFC 247.
Williams’ debut may only have been a short one, but in those 27 seconds we saw plenty to suggest he’s going to be a lot of fun to watch in the talent-rich UFC welterweight division. He came out aggressively, found his mark with his punches early and then, when he saw that he had his opponent hurt, he moved in for the finish and closed the show in clinical fashion.
In short, it was a nerveless display that proved that he’s ready for his shot on the big stage.
