Maheshate, the first Chinese fighter to earn a UFC contract via Dana White’s Contender Series, graduated to the octagon with a thunderous first-round knockout of Steve Garcia on the UFC 275 prelims.
An aggressive Garcia walked right into a right hand that sent him face-first to the canvas, prompting referee intervention at the 1:14 mark of the opening frame.
Check out the finish below, courtesy of UFC broadcast partner ESPN.
PERFECT RIGHT HAND PUT HIM OUT
Stream #UFC275 on @ESPNPlus https://t.co/AekbXNw2JU pic.twitter.com/IEOV2Ep3At
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 12, 2022
The knockout sent the UFC commentary table into a frenzy.
The booth loved this one!
[ #UFC275 | Prelims LIVE on ESPN2 & @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/rrXrGPJWnq
— UFC (@ufc) June 12, 2022
Maheshate won his contract with a decision over Achilles Estremadura in his UFC audition. But Garcia made it plain he had no desire to go to scorecards as he charged forward to engage in the pocket. Once there, he took a few hard shots but also delivered one of his own, a left hook inside that briefly rattled Maheshate. More punches landed when Garcia held his opponent against the fence and pistoned his right.
Garcia hoped to recreate the early success of that left. Maheshate, however, went one better with this counter-right and cracked his jaw.
Maheshate extended his record to 7-1 with his first UFC win and left Garcia, who won on the Contender Series but was not immediately signed, at 1-2 in the octagon.
