Adama Diop earned a UFC contract at Dana White’s Contender Series on Tuesday, stopping Zaurbek Sabanov in the second round, becoming the first fighter from Senegal to sign with the promotion.
The heavyweight scored a TKO at 2:13 of the second round, landing a series of shots in the clinch and in close until the referee stepped in. Diop had also scored a takedown in the first round, which ended with Sabanov landing an overhand and Diop answering with a flurry.
Diop came in at 6-1 as the EFC heavyweight champion. The promotion said he would relinquish the title to compete on the Contender Series. He won the belt in April with a second-round TKO at EFC 132.
A former traditional wrestler in Senegal, Diop moved into MMA and has fought for Hexagone MMA as well as the EFC. Our Contender Series Season 10, Episode 8 highlights have the full results from the night.
