Sean King III Feared Opponent "Wasn't Alive" After Brutal Slam KO at Noche UFC

36 seconds and out—that was the fate of Jessie Rosas, hailing from Mexico, at Noche UFC last week. A quick, brutal slam KO set the tone for the evening, headlined by Jean Silva and Jose Delgado. Sean King III, however, wasn't all excited after panic settled in for a moment. 

Sean King III Toned Down Post-Fight Celebrations Amid Concerns for Rosas

'The King of New Orleans' had initially planned to taunt the Rosas team with their iconic "chiwiwis" catchphrase Jessie Rosas' brother had made famous. However, after seeing his opponent lying unconscious on the floor, King quickly abandoned that idea. 

“I was gonna hit it on the mic with ‘DC’, but I thought he wasn’t alive for a second. So we weren’t gonna say that,” he revealed in the Ariel Helwani Show. “After I was all hyped, I was like, ‘Oh s—, he’s actually not moving.’"

Despite this considerate moment, King received pressing criticism from MMA fans for his three follow-up punches on Rosas right after the slam. Although he admitted the strikes weren't necessary, King pointed to his fight-or-flight response. 

“Some people are giving me s— on the internet for those three punches, but I’m in the moment, bro. It’s kill or be killed. Looking back, I’m like, damn, alright, he did not need those three (extra punches). But it is what it is.”

Fortunately, Rosas conceded no major injuries, even though his UFC profile currently lists him as "Not Fighting". Shortly after the fight ended on Saturday, the Mexican fighter had taken to his Instagram story to address his fans, promising a stronger return to the Octagon. 

Meanwhile, Sean King III already finds himself among top featherweight prospects. His showstopping UFC debut added a 4th knockout win to his resume and his third 1st-round spectacle. But it's not just fame that he's after. 

Sean King III Quits Day Job After Performance Bonus

Perhaps even the 'King of New Orleans' himself couldn't have expected the turn his life would take in Glendale, Arizona. The 22-year-old UFC debutant grabbed a massive $100K Performance of the Night bonus on Saturday. That helped the featherweight finally leave his construction job in the past to commit full-time to MMA. 

"That sh*t's ruthless on your body. Digging, shovels, freaking digging holes, doing whatever, pouring concrete. That's brutal, and then you've got to still go train two or three times after that," King told MMA Junkie. "But with the $100K, we nothing but full-time UFC fighter, baby."

The American was initially scheduled to compete in DWCS season 10. But issues with fighting against his own teammate ended the conversation before the bout even got off the ground.

King then accepted the Rosas fight on short notice, showcasing his adaptability and grit. The undefeated rising talent surely does not want to sleep on that momentum. 

What's Next for Sean King III?

Sean King III hopes to extend his 7-0 streak with another appearance before the year ends. Speaking with MMA Junkie, the breakout star revealed his plans for a potential showdown on the UFC 335 fight card on December 12. The featherweight is confident in the impression he has left in his first UFC matchup.

With both an impressive professional overall record and entertaining finishes to back that statistic, King might be on his way to becoming the next hot talent on the UFC roster.