Tommy McMillen

McMillen turned this into a pace fight and Montes eventually broke. He pressed forward from the first bell at a breakneck rate, banking body shots and head strikes that compounded over two-plus rounds, then hurt Montes late in the third and raised the output until the referee stepped in at 3:29.

Key moments

• Set a breakneck pace as the aggressor from the opening bell.
• Accumulated body and head strikes across the first two rounds.
• Hurt Montes late in the third and forced the stoppage at 3:29.

McMillen's UFC debut in Las Vegas was loud from the opening exchange and ended with a first-round stoppage of Manolo Zecchini. He had to survive real counters on the way in, but once the fight settled into pocket exchanges his pressure and body work carried the round.

Key moments

• Won his UFC debut by first-round TKO at 3:57.
• The fight turned into heavy exchanges early rather than a slow-feeling debut.
• A body knee and follow-up punches finished Zecchini before the round ended.

McMillen stayed unbeaten on Contender Series by edging David Mgoyan in the first decision of his professional career. It was the right kind of test because he had to absorb danger, keep scrambling and still win rounds instead of relying on another quick finish.

Key moments

• Won a majority decision after three rounds on Contender Series.
• It was the first time in his pro career that he needed the scorecards.
• The victory pushed him from regional finisher to UFC signee.

McMillen defended his RUF main event slot by submitting Dumar Roa in under two minutes and keeping the finish streak intact. The quick choke fit the recent pattern: force a scramble, take the back and end the fight before the opponent can reset.

Key moments

• Submitted Roa at 1:58 of the opening round.
• Closed the regional headliner without letting it become a longer striking fight.
• Moved to 8-0 with a fourth straight first-round finish.

McMillen made the Genier Penagos fight a short night by snapping on a guillotine almost immediately. A 70-second submission over another unbeaten regional name kept the momentum sharp heading into bigger bookings.

Key moments

• Won by guillotine choke just 1:10 into round one.
• Never needed a second phase once the opening grappling sequence appeared.
• Extended the undefeated run with another fast finish.

McMillen kept his hometown momentum rolling by submitting Josh Wright in the first round in Great Falls. It was another example of how quickly the regional fights tilt once opponents have to defend the initial wrestling and front-headlock pressure at the same time.

Key moments

• Submitted Wright at 2:13 of round one.
• Finished another Fusion Fight League booking in front of the local crowd.
• Started the three-fight 2024-25 run that carried him to Contender Series.

McMillen closed 2023 by headlining in Great Falls and forcing Dustin Winter into another quick front-headlock finish. The bout stayed at featherweight, and once Winter had to react to the pressure, McMillen wrapped the guillotine and ended it inside two minutes.

Key moments

• Submitted Winter with a guillotine at 1:41 of the opening round.
• Headlined Fusion Fight League's Tommy Gun Returns card in Great Falls, Montana.
• Kept the regional finishing run moving without needing a second round.

McMillen's pro debut ended with a rear-naked choke over Benjamin Hollier on the Rising Stars 2 card in Great Falls. Starting his paid career with a first-round finish set the template that much of his regional run would follow.

Key moments

• Won his professional debut by rear-naked choke in round one.
• Opened the pro record on Fusion Fight League's Rising Stars 2 card.
• Began the unbeaten run with the same grappling finish he kept returning to on the regional circuit.