What a wild week it has been for “Bruce Leeroy,” the affable UFC veteran properly known as Alex Caceres. Coming off a key win over hot prospect Chase Hooper back at UFC 250, Caceres was looking to make it three in a row at UFC Vegas 8. Expected to face Giga Chikadze, a positive COVID-19 test nixed that, and after a brief pairing with Kevin Croom, Caceres wound himself matched up with newcomer Austin Springer.
The short-notice replacement missed weight for the fight, but perhaps the bigger news was that Caceres had cut his distinctive hair. Well, maybe not, but the real news was that UFC Vegas 8 opened with a four-fight run of submissions, including a slick one by Caceres.
Early in the first Caceres was loose and seemed to graze his opponent with a head kick, slightly hurting Springer. Springer was staying conventional, throwing a lot of kicks highlighted with a low leg kick to Caceres’ lead leg. Springer got a bit wild throwing looping hooks and Caceres began landing as he was coming forward. Springer then shot for a takedown but Caceres sprawled and took the back, finishing with the rear-naked choke.
GOOD NIGHT 😴@BruceLeeroyGlow needed less than a round to end the night.
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— UFC (@ufc) August 29, 2020
Four fights, four submissions to start the card, with pretty much all of them in the running for a potential Performance of the Night bonus.
Official Result: Alex Caceres def. Austin Springer by Submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 3:38
