Herbert Burns
Division: Featherweight
Result: Herbert Burns def. Nate Landwehr via knockout (knee) – Round 1, 2:43
Record: 10-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC
Grade: A
Following his contract-winning display on “Dana White’s Contender Series,” [autotag]Herbert Burns[/autotag] headed into his octagon debut with many expecting him to try to grapple his way to victory. After all, the brother of fellow submission ace Gilbert Burns had finished seven of his nine career victories by that method. But the Brazilian showed he’s no one-trick pony as he marked the occasion of his first UFC appearance with a stunning knockout – the first of his MMA career.
Heading into the matchup, [autotag]Nate Landwehr[/autotag] hadn’t lost since 2015, a stat that was even more impressive given the fact that he’d spent the last three years competing for Russian promotion M-1 Global. In addition, he had only lost twice and had never been knocked out in 15 pro fights. That resumé only served to make Burns’ performance all the more eye catching.
The Brazilian outstruck Landwehr in the early exchanges, then locked up a D’Arce choke that threatened to finish the fight early in the round. But, to his credit, Landwehr stayed calm and managed to escape the hold before firing back with a wild flurry of punches. Rather than wilt under the barrage of strikes, Burns stayed cool and countered with a perfectly timed knee to claim an instant knockout and a spectacular first win inside the octagon.
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As debuts go, it showed almost everything you’d like to see from a fighter: a willingness to strike, excellent grappling acumen and, crucially, calmness and composure under fire. Throw in a highlight-reel knockout, and you’ve got pretty much the perfect UFC debut.
[jwplayer XRGxfU0I-RbnemIYZ]