Augusta’s Wellmaker delivers knockout in UFC debut

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - In front of a packed house at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Augusta’s Malcolm Wellmaker shined.

Or delivered a shiner, rather.

The area native who trains at Faglier’s Mixed Martial Arts off of Bobby Jones officially made his debut with the UFC after leaving Dana White, and the contender series speechless in August.

Projected to go 2.5 rounds against the South African Cameron Saaiman, ‘The Machine” beat the odds, delivering the a knockout punch in the first round 2 minutes into the fight.

It was his first contracted fight of four with the UFC.

“I didn’t think it was gonna come this soon, I thought he would shoot for a takedown. But he gave me what I wanted and y’all got what y’all wanted,” said Wellmaker in the UFC Octagon.

The win keeps the bantam weight fighter (135lbs) an undefeated 9-0.

He has his sights set on a card closer to home.

“In June, you’re all coming to Atlanta. It’s two hours from my house. Let’s make it happen.”

In his post-fight press conference, Wellmaker talked about the moment where he dropped to his knees after winning in his debut:

“I didn’t feel like I had to beat him to live the dream. I felt like I was already in it. And for that to happen, man, that was just, I still can’t even wrap my head around the position that I’m in now.”

And of course he gave Augusta a shoutout.

“To be able to raise our name with a performance like that, have Bruce Buffer say, you know, Augusta, Georgia, regardless of whatever I do for the rest of my career, that in itself is priceless.”