[VIDEO] Dave Bautista Wins MMA Debut


(It could be argued that the gun gave him an unfair advantage.)

Former WWE professional wrestling star Dave Bautista made a successful MMA debut last night in Providence, RI. Bautista beat Vince Lucero via TKO (ground strikes) in the first round of their main event bout.

Lucero, a late replacement, out weighed Bautista by nearly forty pounds and came into the cage with well over forty professional fights under his belt but couldn’t survive the pro wrestler’s ground attack. Early on, Lucero hurt Bautista on the feet with punches.

Once he was able to get space and clear his head, however, Bautista took things to the ground with a double leg take down. From there he moved to side mount, then mount and rear mount before unloading a series of unanswered punches that forced the referee to stop the fight.

“I am better than I showed,” Bautista told interviewer Joe Lauzon after the win.

Perhaps, perhaps not. But Bautista definitely has more guts than other celebrity performers out there who play tough guys on TV or film but have no idea what it is like to train for and take part in a real fight.

The pro wrestler promised that he would continue to fight and thanked his Tampa area team and coaches. Check out the fight video as well as full event results after the jump.


(It could be argued that the gun gave him an unfair advantage.)

Former WWE professional wrestling star Dave Bautista made a successful MMA debut last night in Providence, RI. Bautista beat Vince Lucero via TKO (ground strikes) in the first round of their main event bout.

Lucero, a late replacement, out weighed Bautista by nearly forty pounds and came into the cage with well over forty professional fights under his belt but couldn’t survive the pro wrestler’s ground attack. Early on, Lucero hurt Bautista on the feet with punches.

Once he was able to get space and clear his head, however, Bautista took things to the ground with a double leg take down. From there he moved to side mount, then mount and rear mount before unloading a series of unanswered punches that forced the referee to stop the fight.

“I am better than I showed,” Bautista told interviewer Joe Lauzon after the win.

Perhaps, perhaps not. But Bautista definitely has more guts than other celebrity performers out there who play tough guys on TV or film but have no idea what it is like to train for and take part in a real fight.

The pro wrestler promised that he would continue to fight and thanked his Tampa area team and coaches. Check out the fight video as well as full event results after the jump.

Full card results courtesy of MixedMartialArts.com:

Dave Bautista def. Vince Lucero via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:05
Chandler Holderness def. Todd Chattelle via TKO (elbows) – Round 1, :27
David Loiseau def. Chris McNally via TKO (cut) – Round 1, 2:30
John Howard def. Brett Chism via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 3:31
Mike Campbell def. Gemiyale Adkins via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Calvin Kattar def. Saul Almeida via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Luis Felix def. Marc Stevens via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Tyler King def. Josh Diekmann via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-27, 29-28)
Greg Rebello def. Chris Guillen via submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 2:26
Brennan Ward def. Shedrick Goodridge via TKO (punches)- Round 1, 2:36
Andre Soukhamthath def. Rob Costa via TKO (cut) – Round 2, 4:44
Nate Andrews def. Leon Davis via submission (guillotine), Round 2, :29
Kevin Horowitz def. Tyson Chartier via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

– Elias Cepeda