UFC 261: Mongolia’s Danaa Batgerel gets 50-second TKO after China Academy graduates go 0-3
- ‘Storm’ finishes Kevin Natividad in first round after a superb check left hook
- Na Liang, Aori Qileng and Rong Zhu all suffer defeat on debut but ‘Dragon Girl’ and ‘Mongolian Murderer’ thrill Jacksonville crowd with barnburners
Mongolia’s “Storm” Danaa Batgerel got it done with a first-round TKO on Saturday night after a rocky start to the UFC careers of the three China Academy graduates on show in Jacksonville, Florida.
Bantamweight Batgerel (9-2) stopped Kevin Natividad (9-3) after just 50 seconds in the fourth bout of the UFC 261 prelims, following losses for the debuting Na Liang, Aori Qileng and Rong Zhu.
The 31-year-old Batgerel threw a front kick up the middle, switched stances then landed a spectacular check left hook as Natividad was rushing towards him. He followed up on the ground with a few shots and referee Herb Dean was quick to step in.
“Thank you very much,” he said in English during an interview inside the Octagon with Joe Rogan, to cheers from the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.
“I’m very happy and I feel prepared and I’m just very fast,” Batgerel continued through a translator. “I’m very excited to fight against the other talented fighters.”