LAS VEGAS – Nikolas Motta said he would make Tom Nolan pay for talking a big game prior to UFC Fight Night 234, and he did just that.
Motta (14-5 MMA, 2-2 UFC) dished a slice of humility to the 23-year-old prospect Nolan (6-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) when he stood toe-to-toe and exchanged strikes in a furious start to the lightweight bout at the UFC Apex.
Both men landed well, but it was a stinging left hand followed by a right that floored Nolan early on. Motta, 30, swarmed him on the mat and forced the stoppage just 63 seconds after the bout began.
Check out the replay of the final sequence below (via X):
HEAVY shots from Nikolas Motta 💥 #UFCVegas84 pic.twitter.com/57jxTdx797
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) January 13, 2024
Nothing but smiles from @NikolasMotta after that performance 😁 #UFCVegas84 pic.twitter.com/Wr1tgOQpnh
— UFC (@ufc) January 13, 2024
After a controversial no contest vs. Trey Ogden in his previous fight, Motta needed a strong performance on the final fight of his current UFC contract. He did just that with a definitive win over a previously undefeated opponent.
“Tom Nolan is a killer – he has a finish rate so high and he’s a killer,” Motta said in his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping. “I know I have a lot of power and I work with some of the best. … Finally I show more of who I am.”
Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 234 results include:
- Nikolas Motta def. Tom Nolan via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 1:03
- Joshua Van def. Felipe Bunes via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 4:31
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 234.
