After a successful outing on Dana White’s Contender Series, Bellator vet Chidi Njokuani made his UFC debut Saturday at UFC Vegas 47, against Canadian Marc-Andre Barriault.
The middleweight pairing found Barriault looking for his third straight win inside the octagon. Likewise, Njokuani was looking for his third straight win, after the Contender Series and a fight in LFA.
It was a short night for the middleweight pair — and a rough night at the office for Barriault.
Pretty much right when the fight started, Chidi Njokuani landed a right hand over the shoulder, flooring Barriault against the cage. Njokuani jumped on Barriault with big right hands landing over and over. Barriault tried to block, getting an arm up, but way too many punches were getting through. Enough landed that he was clearly out of it, Njokuani putting him away as the ref stepped in.
FIFTEEN SECONDS IS ALL HE NEEDED IN THE DEBUT!!!!!!!
Give it up for @ChidiBangNjoku 🙌 #UFCVegas47 pic.twitter.com/QyGCUvr43K
— UFC (@ufc) February 5, 2022
Following the fight, Njokuani credited brother Anthony — himself a former UFC fighter — for his success. It was Anthony Njokuani who introduced his brother to the sport, after all. But it’s Chidi who will carry the flag for the family in the UFC moving forward.
Official Result: Chidi Njokuani def. Marc-Andre Barriault by KO (right hand and ground and pound), Round 1, 0:16
