Malcolm Wellmaker welcomed Kris Moutinho back to the octagon at UFC Atlanta on Saturday, in a preliminary card bantamweight bout.
Moutinho’s first run with the company saw him put on a gutsy performance against future champ Sean O’Malley, but after a second setback, he was shown the door. Having fought through a dark time in his life, he turned things around on the regional scene, winning five straight to get a shot at the big show once again, against the undefeated Wellmaker.
Early in the first round Wellmaker found a home for a big hook while Moutinho pushed forward. A minute into the fight Malcom stumbled Moutinho and started to press his opponent to the fence. Moutinho attempted a takedown but was unsuccessful and circled back to the center of the cage. Wellmaker then faked a low leg kick and came over the top with a winging right hook from the southpaw stance that flatlined Moutinho, sending him faceplanting into the canvas. The undefeated Georgia native electrified his hometown crowd earning his third consecutive knockout.
The UFC bantamweight division was put on notice with this performance, as a new contender in Wellmaker will be threatening the rankings very soon.
Official Result: Malcolm Wellmaker def. Kris Moutinho by knockout, Round 1, 2:37
