Ode Osbourne was a hyped prospect coming out of the Contender Series, but Brian Kelleher spoiled his Octagon debut at UFC 246 with a first-round guillotine.
Just a couple of years ago, Brian Kelleher was one of the UFC’s feelgood stories. A rags to riches (well, given what fighters make, moderate success) story, ‘Boom’ went from being a UFC fan and regional fighter, to performing on the biggest stage in the sport.
Yet in the two years since, the bantamweight had fallen off the radar. A promising 3-1 start, and career-defining win over former champ Renan Barao, gave way to a two-fight skid and complete absence from the Octagon in 2019.
His return against Ode Osbourne, a young upstart fresh off the Contender Series, was a must-win, in other words. Osbourne comes into his UFC debut on a four-fight win streak, all of which have come via stoppage.
Ode Osbourne crawled to the middle of the Octagon, then leapt in the air and landed a right hand on Kelleher. Osbourne began darting around and throwing strikes, so Kelleher closed the distance and slammed him down against the fence. Osbourne was active off his back, throwing strikes and threatening with submissions. But Kelleher was consistently landing ground-and-pound. Osbourne sat up against the cage and Kelleher followed him, wrapping up a guillotine from top position. Kelleher pushed away while holding onto the neck and returned to guard with the guillotine still intact. The submission got tighter and tighter, and Osbourne tapped with his foot. A first-round submission for the Long Island native.
Brian Kelleher def. Ode Osbourne by Submission (Guillotine) in Round 1 (2:49)
