Tonight’s UFC 138 event took place before a ruckus crowd at the LG Arena in Birmingham, England.
Kicking off the event was a lightweight match featuring the return of former contender Terry Etim as he took on Edward Faaloloto after the Brit was on the receiving end of a 19-month stint sidelined due to injury.
What we’ll remember about this fight:
Etim wasted little time in finishing off Faaloloto. In just a matter of seconds, the Brit capitalized on a mistake made by the inexperienced five-fight veteran when he submitted him in just 17 seconds. It’s one of the fastest submission victories inside the Octagon and was also far and above the quickest finish of the evening.
After a not-so aesthetically pleasing preliminary card, safe for the surging Che Mills, Etim helped regain the momentum of the event.
What we learned about Terry Etim:
We’ve always known Etim was as talented as they come. He’s diverse and as well-rounded as they come. Though he held a decided advantage on the feet, Etim never hesitated in cinching in the guillotine choke. It’s a hit-or-miss move for most fighters, as they shy away from the hold in order to maintain position, though Etim threw caution to the wind and it paid off well.
The Brit deftly shook off any ring rust, and he did so before a large crowd before his fellow countryman.
What we learned about Edward Faaloloto:
Too much too soon. Faaloloto made his Octagon debut on heels of a two-fight win streak in only two tries as a professional. A 2-0 record doesn’t exactly scream “UFC worthy,” and now, we see why. Faaloloto was thrown into the shark tank, and it proved to be too much too soon for the inexperienced Hawaiian.
What’s next for Terry Etim:
Once a top contender in the division, Etim took the first step he needed for his comeback trail to the upper echelon of the 155-pound class. He couldn’t show much in his return, but the little bit he did would indicate that the well-versed Team Kaoban product is confident, and that’s dangerous for anyone.
What’s next for Edward Faaloloto:
This is the last we’ve seen the Hawaiian in the Octagon, at least for a long while. Now, Faaloloto leaves the organization on the heels of a three-fight skid, having suffering consecutive defeats against the likes of former WEC contender Anthony Njokuani, TUF finalist Michael Johnson and now Etim—all tough customers for anyone, let alone a 2-0 fighter entering the UFC. Too much too soon.
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