A highly successful UFC debut for Luke Fernandez turned absolutely sour with one shot, as Rodolfo Bellato scored a needed first-round finish to kick off the night at UFC 326.
Fernandez came out with forward pressure, pushing Bellato to the fence and landing a number of shots. Within the first couple of minutes, Fernandez had outlanded Bellato in head strikes 19-1.
But then, about halfway through the round's allotted time, Bellato clipped Fernandez with a short left hook that connected on the chin. Fernandez dropped to the mat, and Bellato landed some devastating follow-up shots until the referee stepped in.
Rodolfo Bellato Scores Comeback TKO Of Luke Fernandez At UFC 326
This is Bellato's first win since his finish of Ihor Potieria in December 2023. Bellato is now 1-1-1 (1 NC) in his last four.
Fernandez suffers his first career loss in this one, falling to 6-1. This marked his UFC debut after earning a contract on Dana White's Contender Series this past autumn. Fernandez earned the contract with a 15-second finish of Rafael Pergentino.