Kevin Croom earned one of the biggest upset victories of the year at UFC Vegas 10, submitting Roosevelt Roberts in seconds.
Roosevelt Roberts found himself a new opponent just a day before UFC Vegas 10 when Kevin Croom stepped up to replace Matt Frevola, who pulled out due to an injury. Roberts had been on a solid run since joining the UFC through the Contender Series in 2018. He was 4-2 with a pair of submission wins but was coming off a loss to future Hall of Famer Jim Miller.
Croom has been around the block on the regional scene, fighting for Titan FC, LFA, CES, and Fight Nights Global, making it as high as Bellator before signing with the UFC. He was coming off a three-fight win streak including a win over “Crazy Horse” Charles Bennett.
Kevin Croom opened up fast, looking for a hard left hook that just missed. He then connected with that same left hook only moments later, dropping Roosevelt Roberts hard and quickly swarming for the finish. He quickly grabbed the guillotine and started cranking on it for the submission, Roberts tried his best to scramble but that was it! What a moment, and what a submission for Croom.
UPSET CITY 🗣@KevinCroom_MMA, welcome to the Octagon!
[ #UFCVegas10 – LIVE now on #ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/mPG9x6PL6e
— UFC (@ufc) September 12, 2020
Kevin Croom has long been a journeyman in MMA, having fought in seemingly every single promotion waiting for that opportunity to come to fight in the UFC. He got that chance on short-notice, and he knocked it out of the park. Absolutely amazing moment for the biggest underdog on the card. It was the quickest finish in a debut in UFC lightweight history.
Kevin Croom def. Roosevelt Roberts by Submission (Guillotine Choke) in Round 1 (0:31)
