Sean King III had a remarkable UFC debut that could change the trajectory of his career. At UFC Fight Night 288 held at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, King (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) delivered a stunning 36-second slam knockout against Jessie Rosas (8-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) this past Saturday.
King explained the slam technique, which he frequently employs in his matches, to MMA Junkie. “I really like throws. That’s a big part of my style,” King said. “You’ve probably seen it in highlights from my previous fights — I even executed a trapped-arm throw in my last fight. It’s MMA; if you trap an arm, you can bring your opponent down like that. I didn’t slam him headfirst, but I lifted him up knowing I could lay him down hard by controlling the arm, and it worked out perfectly. A few weeks ago, I was showing my teammates this move because Jesse was attempting a takedown on me. I told them, ‘Don’t bother trying to jolt me to the other side when you have this arm trapped — just lift me and throw me down.’ That’s exactly what I did against Jesse.”
This spectacular victory earned King a $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus, enabling him to make a significant life change. King revealed, “That bonus is huge. I’ve been working construction with my dad a few days a week to keep money coming in. My dad’s been my biggest supporter from day one. I only worked half days so I could train two to three times daily and chase this dream. But with this $100K, I’m done breaking my back — that work is brutal on the body, digging holes and pouring concrete, then still having to train hard afterward. I’m very grateful to get that money, and I’m going to use it wisely. I’m aiming to get another bonus soon. Honestly, with a $50K bonus, I might still be working construction, but now with $100K, I’m officially a full-time UFC fighter.”
Originally slated to appear on Dana White’s Contender Series this season, King stepped in on short notice to fight Rosas at Noche UFC. This quick switch opens the door for him to possibly fight again before the end of 2024, with UFC 335 on December 12 as a target. “We’re aiming for a return by the end of the year,” King said. “We’ll see how the T-Mobile Arena card shapes up. I think I made a strong first impression. The UFC seems to like me and wants to build me up. I’m still young at 22 and 7-0, so I think they see potential and have plans for me. We’ll find out who they match me with next.”
This story first appeared on MMA Junkie: Sean King III a ‘full-time UFC fighter’ after bonus-winning KO at Noche UFC.
Fan Take: Sean King’s explosive debut and quick rise exemplify why young, dynamic fighters keep the UFC exciting and unpredictable. His transition to a full-time fighter could bring fresh energy to the division and inspire others balancing hard jobs with their fighting dreams.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
