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Kickboxer Gokhan Saki Makes UFC Debut And Owns It

Kickboxer Gokhan Saki Makes UFC Debut And Owns It

Welcome to the octagon.

Michael Minay

Michael Minay

In most professions, you're not expected to make your debut and hit the ground running. For example, on day one of a new job, you're not expected to challenge the CEO on financial strategy.

Yet sport is a little different. Whether football or cricket, boxing or darts, a winning start is essential. Imagine if Neymar (who cost PSG £198m/$267m) had taken five games to net his first goal.

Gokhan Saki was under such pressure as he made his UFC bow, having switched from kickboxing where he holds an impressive 83-12 win-defeat record.

However, in his first round, it didn't take him long to get the people talking...


The Dutch-Turkish fighter flattened Luis Henrique da Silva, just like he has done previously with his opponents in kickboxing - 59 of his 83 victories were by knockout.

In only his second match under MMA rules, and halfway through the first round seemingly struggling against the 205lb Brazilian, Saki pulled through to take victory.

Da Silva had him penned in the corner, using a couple of elbow blows to the head, but the newbie used a savage left hook to end the fight.

After the fight, Saki told reporters: "I stopped for two-and-a-half years, and I'm not back just to take part in the UFC and tell people I'm a UFC fighter. I'm here to take over.

"I'm here to knock people out. This is what I'm missing in my life. That's why I'm here. I'm ready for any fight."

Credit: Fox

Despite not training much, being too scared of injuries, Saki pulled off the shock victory.

"When you get hit, that's not a good feeling," he added. "But when I get hit, I love to give two or three back. That was the situation today."

Some did question whether the fight was stopped early, with the referee not allowing da Silva a chance to respond, but the former kickboxer agreed it was the right decision.

Credit: Fox

He told MMA junkie: "I think the referee did a good job, because I hit him many times, and the referee said a couple of times, 'Fight back'.

''He was trying to fight back, but I think I hit him at least 10 times hard, and they need to protect the fighters also.

"This is a feeling, instinct from the referee. What can we say? I'm a fighter, I'm happy they stopped the fight. I win the fight. Sorry for da Silva if it's not the right thing, but I think the referee did a good job."

Undoubtedly all eyes will be on Saki to see who he picks as his next opponent.

Featured Image Credit: Fox

Topics: UFC, MMA