The 23-year-old Kevin Vallejos needed three minutes to prove that he belongs to the UFC cage.
Kevin Vallejos is one of a whole series of top perspectives that rise the ranks in the UFC Featherweight Division. But when Vallejos kept the inevitable stress and pressure related to a UFC debut fight, he passed the Octagon with flag and pennant.
Vallejos and Seung Woo Choi collided on Saturday in a featherweight fight on the UFC Vegas 104 head card on the Apex. After obtaining a contract through the Dana White Contender Series in September, all eyes were aimed at Vallejos to make a statement in his first Octagon performance.
Vallejos entered the cage as a hyped favorite against the veteran Choi. He left the cage as a concept, only a few minutes after his promotional term of office.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Kevin Vallejos compared to a UFC-Superster after the first round KO in UFC debut
Vallejos dropped Choi with an overhand right, only three minutes in the first round, and ended the game with brutal ground-and-pound before referee Kerry Hatley intervened. He has now won back-to-back fights with the first round knockout.
UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping, and suspected Hall of Famer Dominick Cruz, were brought to the ground by the finish of Vallejos. Bisping went so far that he declared Vallejos an 'Future Star' for Vecht fans to keep an eye on their eyes in 2025 and then.
In addition to Bisping and Cruz's a lot of praise over the UFC Vegas 104 broadcast, Vecht fans had a field day on social media that responded to the performance of Vallejos.
“Argentina has a DAWG in Kevin Vallejos,” wrote former UFC champion Henry Cejudo.
“If people don't see the shades of Ilia Topuria here with his head movement and then the right hand. Then you miss great details!” Former UFC title holder Aljamain Sterling noted.
“Topuria 2 has just fallen,” wrote a fan on X.
“Kevin Vallejos is the real deal,” said another.
“Choi received many unlimited punches.”
“That is what we call an efficient knockout.”
“This boy is cool. Kevin Vallejos will be fun when hell in this division.”
“Kevin Vallejos is the next Ilia Topuria. Literally a copy of Ilia & a great prospect.”
“Kevin Vallejos is a bad guy. Easy one of the best prospects that have come from Latin -America in recent years.”
Kevin Vallejos contributes to emerging featherweight talent after Iilia Topuria
The Ilia Topuria comparisons with Vallejos come at a time when the featherweight division urgently needs new names. Topuria will leave the UFC-Fedweight Title next month on UFC 314 for a full-time move to lightweight.
Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes will fight for the empty featherweight belt on UFC 314. Vallejos, with a few more victories, may be able to get the fast push in the featherweight top 15.
The finish of Vallejos was not the only impressive achievement at UFC Vegas 104. Priscila Cachoeira deserved a one-punch knockout before he begged Dana White to a bonus after the fight to help people with drug addiction.
Vallejos avoided a similar 'fraud control' label with Josias Musasa at UFC Vegas 104. The unbeaten prospect suffered his first career defeat against Carlos Vera during the UFC Vegas 104 Prelims.
Yuneisy Duben's Hype train was also derailed at UFC Vegas 104. She suffered a brute head-kick knockout from Carli Judice.
Vallejos is a dark man candidate for the 'Newcomer of the year' price of 2025 after UFC Vegas 104. It can be a matter of time until he fights on a large UFC flashlight.
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