Saturday night featured the official UFC debut of Anthony Wint, who previously had a brief playing career as a linebacker with the NFL's New York Jets. Wint, 30, stepped into the octagon as part of the main card for UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs. Rodrigues at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, facing Terrance Chatman.
Wint used the first round to pick up a debut victory, locking in the chokehold and taking Chatman down to the mat. After the referee checked on Chatman's condition, it was clear he had passed out from the arm-triangle choke, and Wint was immediately declared the winner. "It wasn't the game plan, but we got it done.
Boy, y'all in trouble, y'all done let me in here," Wint said during a post-fight interview, later saying, "I'll tell ya what, I get in this cage, you're gonna have to kill me to get me out." Saturday's win kept the former Jets linebacker undefeated at 8-0 in his MMA career, as he'd previously won in Dana White's Contender Series, Fury, and Xtreme Fighting Championship events. More news: Carlos Prates Sends Strong Warning to Islam Makhachev After UFC 330 Win Wint's debut came just 11 days after he won at the Contender Series, defeating Matt Adams via TKO just over 30 seconds into the first round, earning a contract from Dana White, and his debut fight at Sacramento's event last night. Chatman dropped to 5-2 with the loss.
After seeing Wint's dominant win at the Contender Series, White praised the newest UFC signing for wanting a fight at UFC 330 or as soon as possible. "I love guys who want to turn around quick and fight again. When you come into the Contender, and you do well, and you get that pop, staying active is the best thing you could do," White said of Wint, per MMA Junkie.
Wint's NFL career arrived in 2018 when he signed as an undrafted free agent with the New York Jets. Although he was cut at the end of training camp, the Jets eventually re-signed him to the practice squad and later promoted him to the active roster. He had two games of NFL experience, including a Dec. 23 loss to the Green Bay Packers, where he had one tackle and a forced fumble.
However, the Jets eventually waived him in August 2019. Wint later signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL, but the league canceled its 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting him to turn his focus to MMA. Based on the results thus far, the failed attempt to succeed in football led him to something he's truly succeeding at so far, with his recent wins very impressive and likely to lead to more fights and tougher opponents.
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