The early preliminary card at UFC 261 boasted a wealth of Asian talent, primarily fighters out of China, positioned no doubt because of the increased interest in the region with Weili Zhang on the card. At the top of the early prelims was another fighter from the area – in this case, Mongolian Danaa Batgerel, looking for his second straight win inside the octagon against Kevin Natividad.
Hawaii’s Natividad had dropped his promotional debut to Miles Johns last year and was looking to bounce back. He bounced in the end — but not back.
Both fighters felt each either out for the first 20 seconds. Natividad threw a hook but missed. Natividad rushed forward after Batgerel threw a front kick, and then Batgerel him with a counter-check left hook, moving back. The hook put Natividad on his butt, and then Batgerel pounced with ground and pound, which led Herb Dean to jump in and stop the action. A very impressive, very quick win.
OH, WHAT A NIGHT 🗣
When Danaa Batgerel finds his shot, IT'S OVER!
[ #UFC261 on @UFCFightPass, ESPN2 & #ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/8pm8nBHxDh
— UFC (@ufc) April 24, 2021
After losing his UFC debut, Batgerel is now on a two-fight win streak with two first-round knockouts. He will likely get a big name for his next fight as he tries to climb the ridiculously stacked bantamweight division.
Natividad has now dropped two straight for the first time in his career.
Official Result: Danaa Batgerel def. Kevin Natividad via KO (punch) Round 1, 0:50
