The search for the next UFC star took center stage on Tuesday night with Dana White's Contender Series 69 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In the featured bout of the night, middleweights Liam Anderson (6-2) and Andrey Pulyaev (8-2) went head-to-head.
However, it was the second fight of the night that highlighted an up-and-coming MMA star who made a huge statement and made his case for a UFC contract.
MORE: Dana White's Contender Series 69 weigh-in results
Bantamweight Malcolm Wellmaker entered the bout as a moderate favorite over Adam Bramhald and landed a devastating counter right hook to flatline Bramhald in the cage in the very first round.
HE ONLY NEEDED ONE SHOT 🤯
— UFC (@ufc) August 28, 2024
Malcolm Wellmaker gets the KO in round 1! #DWCS pic.twitter.com/8tzqVoN344
Wellmaker kept his perfect record intact and advanced to 8-0 with his statement win.
That's the kind of performance you need at the UFC Apex to impress UFC boss Dana White and earn your contract.
Dana White's Contender Series season 8 continues on Tuesday, September 3, with Week 4 right after Labor Day.
The featured bout is a welterweight showdown between undefeated Igor Cavalcanti (9-0) and South Korea's Seok Hyun Ko (10-2).