Fighters from around the globe dream of the day they’ll step into the UFC octagon for the first time. For seven athletes, Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 27 event marked that special moment in their career. Check out this week’s rookie report to see what kind of first impression they made on the sport’s biggest stage from Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Va. * * * * * Spike Carlyle Division: Featherweight Result: Spike Carlyle def. Aalon Cruz via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 1.25 Record: (9-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) Grade: A Spike Carlyle certainly isn’t an average MMA featherweight, and he gave us a glimpse of his potential with an impressive quickfire finish of fellow debuting prospect Aalon Cruz. “The Alpha Ginger” danced his way to the octagon and giggled his way through Bruce Buffer’s introduction before blasting Aalon Cruz to a first-round TKO defeat in a performance that was as impressive as it was clinical
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UFC on ESPN+ 27 rookie report: Grading the newcomers in Norfolk – MMA Junkie