The first bout in the new partnership with the UFC to air preliminary fights on FOX family network FX began and wasted no time to get right into the action.
Mike Pyle didn’t enter the HSBC Arena in Rio De Janero, Brazil with many supporters in the crowd and will leave with even less after knocking out one of their countrymen.
Pyle wasted no time to return to the winners circle hunting Ricardo Funch before dropping him with a hard right hand that put his lights out at the 1:21 mark of round 1.
Post-fight he warned the rest of the division that this is what they have to look forward to in going on in the 170-lbs landscape following some tough losses to high end competition.
Here’s what they had to say post-fight:
MIKE PYLE:
“After my last fight, I took a step back and readjusted some things in my training. I knew that I had to really take a look at my whole MMA game and I think you saw some of the adjustments and improvements tonight. My striking and my overall game have evolved. This was an important fight for me in my career and I appreciate Ricardo taking this fight on short notice.”
RICARDO FUNCH:
“I’m disappointed. I don’t have any excuses. He caught me with a good shot and it was over.”
