UFC on ESPN 10 rookie report: Grading the newcomers in Las Vegas

Fighters from around the globe dream of the day they’ll step into the UFC octagon for the first time. For five athletes, Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 10 event marked that special moment in their career.

Check out this week’s rookie report to see what kind of first impression they made on the sport’s biggest stage from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

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Christian Aguilera

Division: Welterweight
Result: Christian Aguilera def. Anthony Ivy via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:59
Record: 14-6 MMA, 1-0 UFC
Grade: A

You can’t really ask for a better, cleaner debut performance than the one we saw from welterweight newcomer Christian Aguilera, who exploded into the UFC’s 170-pound division with a hugely impressive display.

Matched against fellow debutant Anthony Ivy, Aguilera started the fight looking calm and composed as he threw out some range-finding punches to set his distance, while Ivy looked to establish his kicks from distance.

Aguilera took a couple of leg kicks but wasn’t unduly troubled, as he maintained his footing and worked out his timing for his counters. When they came, they were swift, powerful, and decisive as he scored a quickfire finish.

Aguilera answered a leg kick with a right-left combination as he rocked Ivy back against the fence. That was the opening Aguilera was waiting for, and he pounced on his opportunity. A solid right uppercut, then a trio of powerful right hands, finished the job as he clinically claimed an impressive debut win.

The temperament looked rock-solid, his composure was on point, and his killer instinct as soon as he saw his opening was deadly. All in all, it was a near-flawless performance from Aguilera, who claimed the 11th knockout win of his career, with 10 of them coming inside the first round, and six inside one minute.

Next up: A night to forget for “Aquaman”