Rodrigo Vera couldn’t have envisioned a more impactful introduction to the UFC.
Making a last-minute appearance at UFC Macau, the talented fighter from Peru wasted no time in leaving his mark. He achieved a spectacular knockout victory in the first round against Zhu Kangjie, a previous winner of “Road to UFC,” on Saturday at the Galaxy Arena.
From the moment the fight began, Vera displayed remarkable composure and immediately took control. The 30-year-old consistently landed his strikes before Zhu, ultimately delivering the decisive blow less than two minutes into the bout.
A perfectly timed left hook connected cleanly with the Chinese fighter’s chin, sending him to the mat. Vera, known as “El Gato Loco,” quickly followed up with a barrage of punches, prompting the referee to stop the fight at 1:50 of Round 1.
Earlier this year, “El Gato Loco” narrowly missed out on a spot on Season 34 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” as neither coach Michael Bisping nor Daniel Cormier selected him for their teams.
With this victory, Rodrigo Vera enhances his professional record to 22 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw. He also extends his impressive winning streak to 14 consecutive fights, solidifying his position as a new contender to watch in the Octagon.
English Translation:
Rodrigo Vera couldn’t have asked for a better UFC debut.
Stepping into the Octagon on short notice at UFC Macau, the Peruvian standout wasted little time making an impression, scoring a blistering first-round stoppage victory over former Road to UFC winner Zhu Kangjie on Saturday at Galaxy Arena.
Vera looked composed from the opening bell and immediately took control of the action. The 30-year-old consistently beat Zhu to the punch during the early exchanges before finding the fight-ending shot less than two minutes into the contest.
A perfectly timed left hook landed flush on the Chinese fighter’s chin, sending him crashing to the canvas. “El Gato Loco” quickly swarmed with follow-up strikes, forcing the referee to intervene at the 1:50 mark of Round 1.
Earlier this year, “El Gato Loco” fell short of earning a spot on Season 34 of “The Ultimate Fighter”, as neither Michael Bisping nor Daniel Cormier selected him for their team.
With the win, Rodrigo Vera improves his professional record to 22-1-1 and extends his remarkable winning streak to 14 consecutive fights, firmly establishing himself as a new name to watch in the Octagon.
