Keri Melendez’s professional MMA debut lasted just 47 seconds as she claimed an eye-catching knockout win inside the Bellator cage. It meant all eyes were on her when she returned to action at Bellator 201 against young prospect Tiani Valle in Temecula, Calif.
Both fighters were keen to impress, and wasted no time after the opening bell as they set to work throwing strikes. Valle started out with the higher output as she made an adrenaline-fueled start to the bout, but Melendez looked the more composed of the pair as she took a little time to time her opponent with solid counter shots.
Melendez used her kicks well and landed clean with counter rights and left as she punished Valle at the end of her combinations. That punch power eventually told as she dropped Valle with a straight right, but rather than pursue a second knockout finish, Melendez smartly spotted the submission opening, jumped on Valle’s back she locked up a tight rear-naked choke.
It gave Melendez the first submission victory of her career and showed that, while her hands are undoubtedly heavy, she has the submission skills to match.
Since that victory, Melendez has picked up a pair of decision victories against Dakota Zimmerman and Mandy Polk to extend her unbeaten record. Next up, she’s set to face Emilee King at Bellator 242 in San Jose on May 9.
Ahead of that fight, recap her superb finish of Valle via the video above.
Bellator free fight: See Keri Melendez's first career submission