Whenever an athlete is about to make a debut in sports like Football, NBA or cricket, there is a lot of hype, but this doesn’t happen with MMA fighters. They have to work really hard to climb the UFC ladder before becoming a big name. Some fighters are so talented that they leave a lasting impression from their first fight. With that said Let’s have a look at those fighters who made impactful debuts in the UFC.
Vitor Belfort – UFC 12
At the age of 19, Belfort became one the youngest fighters to debut in the UFC. Not only this, he also became one of the youngest heavyweight champions of all time. “The Phenom” took part in UFC’s Heavyweight tournament and defeated his two opponents by TKOing both Telligman and Ferrozzo in a total of 120 seconds. Although Belfort’s career included pit stops in PRIDE, Strikeforce, Cage Rage and Affliction, preventing him from becoming a UFC legend, he still is considered one of the finished Mixed martial artists of the past few decades.
Frank Shamrock – UFC 14
Frank Shamrock made a stunning debut in 1977 against Kevin Jackson. Despite entering the bout as an underdog, “The Legend” forced Jackson to tap out in just 16 seconds. After this, Frank went on to surpass the accomplishments of his brother, Ken Shamrock, as well. Unfortunately, the two brothers were never able to face off in the Octagon. Frank was the first to hold the UFC Lightweight championship. He retired as the four-time defending undefeated champion.
Daniel Cormier – UFC on Fox
After having an incredible run in the Strikeforce, Cormier made a notable UFC debut. He faced the former heavyweight champion, Frank Mir and took the fight to great lengths. DC won the fight via unanimous decision. Cormier later became one of the top veterans in the UFC. After winning two incredible fights in 2013, Cormier went on to become one of the most skilled and unique fighters in the promotion. He is one of two fighters to hold titles simultaneously in two different weight classes. He claimed the light Heavyweight title in 2017 and then the Heavyweight title in 2018. Moreover, he is also the only fighter to successfully defend his titles in two weight classes.
Nick Diaz – UFC 44: Undisputed
Nick Diaz is the brother of former UFC fighter Nate Diaz. He made his debut in UFC 44 on September 26, 2003 against Jeremy Jackson. The event starred many big names but Diaz was not one of them until he gave a stellar performance during the mid-afternoon. In a close bout, Diaz ultimately knocked Jackson down by armbar in the final round, scoring a remarkable victory.
Junior Dos Santos – UFC 90
When Dos Santos made his debut at UFC 90 in 2008, no one was expecting him to win. At the time, Dos Santos was just an unknown who was facing Fabricio Werdum, who was considered one of the best heavyweights in the world. Nevertheless, Dos Santos shocked everyone by taking a quick victory. “Cigano” won the fight via technical knockout in just 80 seconds within the first round. After this impressive performance, Dos Santos was put on the fast track to UFC stardom and he went on to claim the heavyweight title just three years later.
Ronda Rousey, UFC 157
Ronda Rousey was already an established fighter before entering the UFC. Because of her impressive performances at Strikeforce, she was a favorite at UFC 157, which is unprecedented for a UFC debut. Rousey became the first woman to headline a UFC event after the UFC bought Strikeforce in February 2013. “Rowdy” defeated Liz Carmouche without any difficulty with her signature armbar submission.
Royce Gracie, UFC 1
In its early days, UFC events were held as open weight tournaments, which brought together the best fighters from several different disciplines to fight for the Ultimate Fighting Champion title. In the first event, Royce Gracie participated to show how his family’s techniques could be successful against opponents of any size. At UFC 1 in 1993, Gracie defeated three much larger opponents in sequential order, demonstrating his family skills and mastery. He went on to become one of the first UFC stars and an influential fighter.
Conor McGregor, UFC on Fuel TV: Mousasi vs. Latifi
Before becoming a UFC star, McGregor was an avid fighter on Ireland’s Cage Warriors MMA circuit. In 2013, UFC President Dana White signed him during a visit to Ireland. The same year, McGregor faced Marcus Brimage in his UFC debut. “The Notorious” promptly knocked out his opponent with a punch in just a few minutes. From there, the Irish fighter’s profile exploded and took him to global stardom. McGregor is one of the reasons UFC became popular worldwide.
Jon Jones – UFC 87
Currently, one of the best fighters in Jon Jones had a remarkable debut in UFC 87. Since the moment he stepped into the Octagon, it was clear that he was an exceptional fighter. While most debuts follow years of radar preparation and training, Jones agreed to his fight on two weeks’ notice. In August 2008, Jones faced Andre Gusmao and got the victory via unanimous decision. Over the next few years, he went on to become the most dominant UFC champion.
Anderson Silva – UFC Fight Night 5
Anderson Silva started his career with PRIDE FC and later joined the UFC after signing a contract with them in April 2006. He made his debut against Chris Leben, who was a very popular fighter at that time. Silva landed 85% of his strikes on his opponent and knocked him out with a knee strike in just 49 seconds. After defeating Leben, “The Spider” became one of the best and most prominent fighters of all time, holding the UFC Middleweight title for 2,457 days, the longest title reign in UFC history.
Also Read:- Top 5 Most Controversial Judges Decisions in UFC History
