It was good to be home for Tyson Pedro.
Pedro added another mark into his win column against Sweden’s Anton Turkalj in Sydney, Australia, in the main card opener at UFC 293.
A 2022 Contender Series winner, Turkalj walked out to the Australian crowd’s jeers, unfazed, looking for his first UFC victory after losing his first two bouts in the promotion. The Australian crowd’s jeers quickly turned to cheers when their hometown fighter walked out, looking to redeem himself from his loss to Modestas Bukauskas earlier this year.
Turkalj opened the first round of the pay-per-view with a couple of fast kicks that were more for show than for damage. After feeling out Turkalj for a bit, Pedro attacked with beautiful, precise combinations that made the crowd go wild. His right hand stunned Turkalj before dropping the Swedish fighter just over two minutes into the opening round.
With the loss, Turkalj falls to 0-3 in the octagon, meaning “The Pleasure Man” may well have competed for the final time inside the octagon. He may also be regretting telling Pedro to ask his wife about his nickname, regardless of how tongue-in-cheek the suggestion might have been. As for Pedro, he bounces back after his loss in Perth back in February.
Official Result: Tyson Pedro def. Anton Turkalj by KO (punches), Round 1, 2:12
