Making an immediate impact in the UFC is a challenging task. The level of competition is fierce, the pressure that comes with fighting on the biggest stage in the sport is real, and if there were ever a place where an athlete could understandably get a little in their own head and struggle out of the chute, it’s inside the Octagon.
But things are a little different when you’re a 35-year-old debutant with more than 30 professional bouts under your belt, many of which have come against the best talents competing outside off the UFC as was the case in September when Ante Delija immediately claimed a spot in the Top 10 with a knockout win over Marcin Tybura.