Spike Carlyle
When you show up for your first UFC bout with a fighting moniker of “The Alpha Ginger,” you know all eyes are going to be on you when you. Thankfully, [autotag]Spike Carlyle[/autotag] has the character, and the temperament, to deliver.
Carlyle (8-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) made a big impression in his UFC debut as he danced to the octagon, giggled at Bruce Buffer, then finished fellow debutant Aalon Cruz inside one round to score a big stoppage win at UFC on ESPN+ 27 in Norfolk, Va.
Carlyle showed smart takedown defense, then impressive striking power, as he found the target with some punishing elbows from close range that set up a ground-and-pound finish, with the bout stopped as he rained down a shower of powerful punches.
It took a grand total of 85 seconds for Carlyle to show his defensive and offensive skills, as he grabbed an impressive first win as a UFC fighter. With an eye-catching nickname, a quirky personality, and a fighting style that is clearly capable of fast finishes, “The Alpha Ginger” is certainly one to keep an eye on when he gets his next assignment.
ALPHA GINGER! What a debut for Spike Carlyle! #UFCNorfolk pic.twitter.com/hbWeR7z3PC
— UFC (@ufc) February 29, 2020
Next up: A bantamweight crowd-pleaser makes his mark.