Keri Anne Melendez didn't have to wait long to win her professional MMA debut.
Melendez, 32, the wife of UFC lightweight Gilbert Melendez, floored Sheila Padilla with a heavy right hand just 47 seconds into the opening round of the pair's flyweight contest at Bellator 165 on Saturday night. Melendez (1-0) followed with two more right hands for good measure, but Padilla (2-1) was already done.
"I think it's time to pass the torch," an elated Gilbert Melendez said of his wife afterward. "We got a bad Melendez here and I'm very proud of her.