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 on ESPN 8 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 VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla.
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Rodrigo Nascimento
Division: Heavyweight
Result: Rodrigo Nascimento def. Don’Tale Mayes via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:05
Record: (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Grade: B+
Confident and composed, Rodrigo Nascimento stepped into the octagon for his UFC debut like a man making his fifth or sixth appearance in the cage, and he produced a performance to match as he outstruck, then outgrappled, Don’Tale Mayes to claim an impressive first win as a UFC athlete.
Nascimento made his intentions clear from the very start of his UFC debut as he charged to the center of the cage and started to engage with Mayes from the get-go. Nascimento looked strong in the clinch, but also showed he’s not a one-trick pony by connecting with some solid punches in the stand-up.
Nascimento eventually dragged his man to the canvas and immediately took control, but Mayes did enough off his back to keep the Brazilian at bay and survive the round. However, Nascimento’s finish to Round 1 offered a glimpse of what was to come in Round 2.
Once again, Nascimento came out fast and aggressive as he connected with a big right hand, then an eye-catching head-kick that had Mayes backing up. The Brazilian then locked up the clinch with his back against the cage and, despite taking some solid body shots from Mayes, soon swept his man to the mat.
With the action back on the canvas, Nascimento instantly transitioned to Mayes’ back and locked up the rear-naked choke as he forced a quick tap from Mayes and secured a very impressive debut victory.
There’s room for improvement, too. He’s perhaps a little too static and upright in his striking and stood and admired his work a little, rather than following up on his best shots, but overall Nascimento produced a performance of great promise on his debut. If he continues to evolve his striking game, he could become a dangerous new presence in the UFC’s heaviest weight class.
Irwin Rivera
Division: Featherweight
Result: Giga Chikadze def. Irwin Rivera via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Record: (9-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Grade: C+
Stepping in on just a couple of days’ notice to compete a weight class higher than his usual bantamweight, Irwin Rivera was up against it from the start against slick striker Giga Chikadze, but “The Beast” put up an admirable performance against a man tipped to make some waves in the UFC’s 145-pound division.
It was apparent from the start that Rivera had to overcome a significant height and reach disadvantage, but he fared well in the early exchanges as he hurdled a Chikadze low kick attempt and connected with a solid right hand.
Rivera blitzed in and out effectively through the first two minutes of Round 1, and fired off wild offense from unusual angles. But Chikadze was a little too seasoned for the newcomer and quickly worked out the debutant’s timing. Once Chikadze settled into his striking, it was an uphill battle for Rivera, as the Georgian striker used his range to pepper Rivera with strikes from distance. He was even dropped hard at the start of the final round but, remarkably, bounced straight back up and returned fire with punches of his own.
Rivera ended up losing all three rounds on all three scorecards, but the scores of 30-26, 30-27, 30-27 didn’t reflect the newcomer’s performance in a bout where he had weight, height, reach and preparation time disadvantages to battle in a last-minute assignment. Yes, Rivera lost, but with a seemingly endless gas tank, an indomitable fighting spirit, and a cast-iron chin, he showed plenty to suggest that he’ll be an exciting addition to the UFC’s bantamweight division.
Michael Bisping put it best on commentary, “I can’t wait to see him on a full camp.” Hopefully Rivera will get that chance, at his natural weight class, next time around.
