Tommy McMillen wants to establish himself as a fan-friendly fighter.
McMillen made his UFC debut in a featherweight tilt against Manolo Zecchini at UFC Fight Night 272 in Las Vegas. It was a firefight from the very beginning, with McMillen landing the more consequential shots. While both fighters started showing signs of fatigue in the very first round, McMillen had an evident advantage on the feet. “Gun” finally dropped his beaten-down opponent with a knee to the body, and a few follow-up shots were necessary for the referee to step in.
With McMillen being an ace submission artist, the oddsmakers had him as a heavy favorite for a submission win. McMillen claims he could have submitted his opponent any time he wanted. However, the 28-year-old wanted to put on a show in his UFC debut. McMillen notes that he went toe-to-toe on the feet and came out victorious against the Italian, who has nine knockout wins to his name.
Something to Prove
“Vegas is smart, they had the submission as minus money,” McMillen said in a post-fight interview with the UFC. “I could have subbed that kid out any time I wanted to. But I was coming in here with something to prove. I want those bonuses, I fight for bonus money. So I went in there and TKO’d him… I think he’s got like 10 finishes, nine knockouts. And I went in there and stood toe-to-toe with a dude that’s got knockout power. He’s knocked a lot of people out, I knocked him out. I just want to prove to people that I can do that. I can go in there and sub them out, but I think that was a lot more fun for the fans.”
The undefeated McMillen (10-0) has only gone to the distance once in his 10 career wins, during his Dana White’s Contender Series victory last year. Meanwhile, this was Zecchini’s (11-5) first fight since a loss in his UFC debut in 2023.
