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-
[autotag]Austin Lingo[/autotag]’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.