Sergei Pavlovich needed just 39 seconds to finish Glover Teixeira at UFC Macao, announcing his return to devastating form. Song Yadong submitted Rob Font Figueiredo with a guillotine choke late in the second round, with nine of the night's 13 fights ending before the final bell — seven of them in the first round. Askar Askarov Asakura also made an impressive return to bantamweight, knocking out Smasher, while a low blow from Su Mudaerji left Alex Perez vomiting in the cage and subsequently hospitalized after the bout was ruled a no-contest. Bonuses for Fight of the Night went to Menifield and Mingyang, with Asakura and Yadong earning Performance of the Night honors.
UFC Macao delivered a night of early finishes on June 1, highlighted by a stunning 39-second demolition of Glover Teixeira by Sergei Pavlovich and a late submission victory by Song Yadong over Rob Font Figueiredo in the bantamweight main event.
Pavlovich wasted no time announcing himself back in the heavyweight conversation, stopping Teixeira in under a minute. The Brazilian veteran, now 46 years old and carrying a 33-9 record, came into the bout as one of the most decorated fighters of his generation. Standing six-foot-two with a 76-inch reach, Teixeira has long been respected for a well-rounded game that includes 2.11 takedowns per 15 minutes and consistent striking output of 3.73 significant strikes landed per minute. The finish, however, left little room for those tools to come into play.
Song Yadong, nicknamed Kung Fu Kid, earned a Performance of the Night bonus for his guillotine choke finish of Figueiredo late in the second round. The 28-year-old sits ranked sixth in the bantamweight division with a record of 22-9-1. Standing five-foot-eight with a 67-inch reach, Yadong is primarily known as a volume striker, averaging 4.42 significant strikes landed per minute, making the submission finish a notable addition to his highlight reel.
One of the darker moments of the evening involved seventh-ranked flyweight Alex Perez, who was struck by a low blow from Su Mudaerji that left him visibly ill in the cage. The 34-year-old American, who holds a 26-10 record, was subsequently hospitalized, with the bout officially ruled a no-contest.
Why it matters
- Pavlovich's rapid finish signals a forceful return to the heavyweight title picture
- Yadong's submission win deepens his claim as a top bantamweight contender at just 28 years old
- Perez's hospitalization raises health concerns for one of flyweight's top-ten ranked fighters
- Nine of 13 fights ended early, with seven first-round finishes underlining the card's finishing-heavy nature
