Ihor Potieria proved he belongs with overwhelming force.
The Ukrainian was one of two hopefuls to nail down an Ultimate Fighting Championship contract during Week 5 of Dana White’s Contender Series, as he dismissed the previously unbeaten Lukasz Sudolski with punches in the first round of their light heavyweight feature on Tuesday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Potieria (19-2) brought it to a close 3:41 into Round 1.
Sudolski (8-1) fired off a few thudding inside leg kicks but struggled to manage distance. Potieria engaged him in the clinch and worked punches, elbows and knees along the fence.