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 on ESPN+ 16 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 Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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Hunter Azure
Division: Bantamweight
Result: Hunter Azure def. Brad Katona via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
Record: (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Grade: B+
Hunter Azure is going to be a problem. He’s still raw in many ways and might need to develop his game management a bit, but he’s got talent.
Azure’s striking didn’t always come in combinations, but it was clearly effective, stunning Katona on a number of occasions. His defensive wrestling was incredible, refusing to go to the floor despite Katona’s repeated efforts. He was calm and composed in his UFC debut. He’s clearly got the tools needed to be successful.
In a close fight, Azure simply needed to do a little bit more to earn a higher mark. As strong as his defensive wrestling game proved, seeing a few takedown attempts of his own might have changed the flow of the contest. Or perhaps the striking success he had could have spurred him on to more extended exchanges. He simply had to capitalize on the clear advantages he had.
Azure was deserving of a win and looks like he’s primed to earn more in the near future. The raw tools are clearly there. A few minor tweaks, and the Dana White’s Contender Series grad will be ready for top competition.
Miles Johns
Division: Bantamweight
Result: Miles Johns def. Cole Smith via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Record: (10-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Grade: B-
Miles Johns has talent, that much is clear. That might be what made his performance on Saturday all the more frustrating.
Johns showed excellent takedown defense and defensive grappling, but as his Fortis MMA coach Sayif Saud clearly stated, he was hesitating a bit too long in spots against the cage, holding Cole Smith at bay but giving away valuable control time.
Johns also showed impressive striking when he was aggressive on the feet, lacing out a crisp jab and sneaking in big right hands behind it. In short, everything he did was technically sound. He just needed to do more of it.
Johns did show heart, fighting at his best in the third round when the bout seemed to clearly hang in the balance. There are plenty of things to take stock in, but the bantamweight division is rapidly becoming one of the best in the sport, and Johns will face stiffer tests in very short order. He’ll need to execute at a high level and deliver on the promise he certainly appears to possess if he wants to succeed at the highest level.
Tristan Connelly
Division: Welterweight
Result: Tristan Connelly def. Michel Pereira via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-27)
Record: (14-6 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Grade: A+
In fairness, this is a little bit tough. What Tristan Connelly did on Saturday was the type of stuff that’s written in move scripts. Local kid steps up on short notice, moves up a weight class and takes on one of the hottest prospects in the sport? Said kid weathers a storm the likes of which aren’t often (well, ever, really) seen inside the octagon, keeps moving forward at all costs, clearly needing to dig deep within his soul on multiple occasions?
Connelly brought the crowd to their feet, and rightfully so. The underdog story is one we can all understand, and as exciting as Michel Pereira is inside of the cage, his brash behavior makes him an easy target when it starts going wrong.
In short, Connelly’s performance on Saturday night was absolutely phenomenal. But what does it mean moving forward? That’s tough to say, exactly.
Connelly moved up a weight class for this fight, and the size difference was clearly visible. He’ll no doubt move back down for his second fight. His cardio wasn’t exactly impressive on Saturday night, but that’s to be expected when you step in on less than one week’s notice – and he showed he has real heart by digging deep even as he was clearly exhausted.
There were other positives, as well. Connelly’s grappling skills were on clear display. He listened to his coaches, who told him in the third round to stay in half-guard rather than move to mount, and he did so. His overall career record doesn’t stand out, but his character does, and he’s now 9-1 in his past 10 fights.
Connelly was awarded $100,000 for taking part in the evening’s “Fight of the Night,” collecting both halves of the award since Pereira missed weight. It was unquestionably one of the best moments of the night. Will that translate to success moving forward? I have to admit I feel like there’s still more we need to see.
