In late April, in front of 15,000 people in Kansas City, Missouri, Malcolm “The Machine” Wellmaker made his UFC debut.
ESPN’s Brendan Fitzgerald is on the call as the 135-pound Augusta-born professional fighter knocks his opponent face-first into the canvas, bringing an end to the fight.
Wellmaker, although ecstatic, was far from surprised.
“It feels good to know that I am getting some respect and recognition on the highest level,” the fighter recounts. “For a long time, I felt like I could do it, and it just seems to actually be happening for me now.”
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