How Did a 31-Year-Old Ugandan Fighter Perform in His First Headline Fight?

David Onama headlined his first fight night just hours ago with a less-than-stellar performance. Unfortunately, the Ugandan martial artist was knocked out just mere minutes into the first round, snapping his four-fight win streak. His opponent, Steve Garcia, pushed the pace immediately and kept Onama on the back foot. The 31-year-old looked hesitant and unwilling to engage as he failed to give anything back to Garcia’s overwhelming combinations.

Heading into the fight, the fighter known as the "Mean Machine" was known for his takedown defense and the ability to stagger his opponents with quick strikes and elbows. Known for finishing his fights quickly, Garcia made quick work of his opponent through his quick striking. Onama tended to outlast his opponents; however, that did not work for him in his first headline fight. The Ugandan came in with momentum and needed to maintain his distance to win the fight, and he needed to land a takedown and avoid punches, even when he is grappling with Garcia. Unfortunately, everything that could go wrong for Onama went wrong.

While recovery was attempted, Onama was unable to find his balance and pace, ultimately allowing Garcia to throw whatever strikes he saw fit to overpower the younger man. It’s unfortunate as this marks another halt in the momentum of the Ugandan fighter’s climb through the rankings, but that doesn’t mean his story is over. There are still many opponents for him to engage with and many more fights to be had. A reassessment of his authority in the octagon and how he can better refine his striking is critical before he returns to the cage.

On the other hand, Garcia has added another win to his streak, bringing his total to seven spectacular victories, with six achieved by knockout or technical knockout. His rise through the rankings has been abrupt and brutal, making him another potential star despite his age. What’s next for these two fighters? Who is the best match and when will they compete against each other?  Personally, I would love to see Garcia fight again before the end of the year, perhaps on the December card, since he finished this fight with no damage. However, only time will tell.