Mandel Nallo Earns UFC Deal With First-Round Knockout

Summary:

• Canadian lightweight Mandel Nallo stopped Brazil’s Samuel Silva in the first round of Dana White’s Contender Series.
• UFC president and CEO Dana White praised Nallo’s performance despite his age, offering him a contract on the spot.
• Nallo extended his winning streak to five after a previous run in Bellator.

Canadian lightweight Mandel Nallo punched his ticket to the UFC in style on Tuesday night, earning a contract after a surprising first-round finish of Brazil’s Samuel (Caveira) Silva on Dana White’s Contender Series.

Dana White to Nalo: “Get Over Here”

The 36-year-old veteran dropped Silva with a crisp right hand to the chin and immediately swarmed him on the ground, landing four unanswered shots before referee Jason Herzog called a halt at 3:29 of the opening round.

UFC president Dana White, who decides which fighters get contracts on the show, didn’t hesitate after the performance.

I do not love your age but I love your style. Get over here, I’m going to give you a shot.

White’s Contender Series has become an important starting point for fighters looking to break into the UFC, with several Canadians like Mike Malott, Jasmine Jasudavicius, Chad (The Monster) Anheliger, Yohan (White Lion) Lainesse, T.J. (The Truth) Laramie, and Serhiy Sidey already making the jump through the show. 

Nallo himself didn’t shy away from the age question when speaking after the fight.

I know you guys aren’t looking for 36-year-old prospects. But I’m not a prospect, I’m a finished product. You can plug me in anywhere.

Nalo: “It Felt Good”

The Vancouver-born who trains out of Montreal’s Tristar Gym with renowned coach Firas Zahabi is well-known for ending his fights quickly. Heading into Tuesday’s contest, 12 of his 16 professional bouts had failed to reach the second round. His four most recent wins lasted a combined 12 minutes and 15 seconds.

It feels like all my other fights, honestly. I fight quick. I like to kill right away. I’m not a mean guy in life but in the cage I’m pretty nasty. So it felt good.

Both men came out swinging at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Nallo landed early with stinging leg kicks and a few sharp shots to the head, while Silva returned fire with heavy punches that briefly had the Canadian reeling. But the damage quickly piled up on Silva, who showed wear on his lead leg and face before the decisive finish.

Nallo (14-3-0, one no-contest) previously fought for Bellator from 2018 to 2023, going 4-3-0 with one no-contest. He’s now riding a five-fight win streak since leaving the promotion. 

Silva (13-5-1), the Cage Warriors lightweight champion, entered the bout on a five-fight run of his own, with eight career first-round finishes.

In similar news, welterweight Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani also secured a contract after knocking out Jack Congdon with a spectacular head kick knockout, which he sealed with a right hand blow. 

Polish middleweight Cezary Oleksiejczuk and American featherweight Tommy (Gun) McMillen also inked deals. McMillen and his opponent David Mgoyan were both taken to the hospital following their grueling three-round fight.

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