OMG!!!!! What a transition! #UFC195 https://t.co/youVVnKzIv
— #UFC195 (@ufc) January 3, 2016
Now that's how you make a return to UFC!
Michael McDonald looked a little rusty in his comeback fight to the Octagon during UFC 195 Fox Sports 1 "prelims" action tonight (Sat., Jan. 2, 2016), losing most of the first and second rounds.
The 24-year-old was taking on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Masanori Kanehara after more than two years of sitting on the sidelines with various injuries and in the early going it looked like he'd bitten off more than he could chew.
Kanehara controlled McDonald on the ground for all of round one and looked to be doing the same in the second round before a sudden shocking turnaround changed the fight's complexion in a flash.
The Japanese fighter had secured a head and arm triangle choke on McDonald and looked close to getting the tap. Indeed, even color commentator Joe Rogan suggested the American was about to surrender.
But suddenly McDonald escaped, took back control and sank in a vice grip choke on Kanehara that earned the quick tap.
McDonald moves to 17-3 in his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) career, while Kanehara drops to 25-12-5.
For more UFC 195 news and notes, including up-to-the-minute live results and play-by-play updates, click here and here.