Punahele Soriano broke the trend going on in the first UFC card of the year. Following 5 consecutive fights that went the full 3-rounds’ distance in the prelims of the card, Soriano scored the first finish by knocking out Dusko Todorovic in sensational fashion in a middleweight bout. It was a sensational finish too, to start off the stacked main-card.

The 28-year-old Hawaiian, Soriano, started off in impressive fashion and scored two knockdowns. The second one proved to be the fight-ender, with Todorovic hitting the canvas within the opening five minutes.

Soriano kept his undefeated record intact, handing his opponent his first professional loss. Furthermore, he became the first fighter to secure a KO in the UFC in 2021. The finish will have handed his career a boost, as it has certainly raised his stocks in the middleweight division.

The fighter will look to build on this as he moves ahead in 2021.

Punahele Soriano will look to make statements going forward

After gathering the seventh finish of his MMA career, Soriano will be looking to make a good run at 185 pounds. The middleweight division is full of contenders at the moment. Apart from the champion Israel Adesanya, there are fighters like Paulo Costa, Robert Whittaker, Kevin Holland, and more waiting to get their crack at the gold.

Soriano’s first aim should be to break into the top 15 the division. After that, he can think about progressing further in the division. There will be plenty of willing, dangerous contenders waiting to welcome him to the top half of the division.

What did you make of Punahele Soriano’s impressive knockout victory? Can he make a statement alongside the top middleweights and build on his impressive showing from UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs Kattar?