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+
[autotag]Ode Osbourne[/autotag] 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.
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