Donte Johnson proved that size doesn’t always matter on Tuesday night.
The 6-0 prospect overcame a massive 6in height disparity to knock out Darion Abbey (9-5) at Dana White‘s Contender Series 79.
Johnson is one of the shortest heavyweights to ever grace the Octagon, standing just 5ft 8in tall.
But he only needed 64 seconds to blast through 6ft 2in Abbey.
The 26-year-old was on Abbey like a rash from the get-go and had him in trouble early doors courtesy of a looping left.
As Abbey backed up against the cage, Johnson continued his onslaught to close the show with a series of uppercuts to his grounded foe.
The demolition job impressed UFC president Dana White, who was seen nodding with approval as the camera panned over to him at cageside.
White later confirmed that he had signed Johnson to MMA‘s premier promotion, although whether the 209lbs heavyweight will continue to mix it with the big men is yet to be seen.
“I’m open to anything from 170 all the way up to heavyweight,” Johnson said post-fight.
“I’m capable of getting down there [170lbs].
“Yeah, that’s really as big as they come. 6ft 6in, 226lbs.
“I’m ready for whatever, but as we go along, we will make smarter business moves.
“I haven’t weighed 170 since middle school, to be honest.
“I can make 185, for sure. 170, we’re gonna have to see.”
Who received a UFC contract at DWCS 79?
Johnson was one of five DWCS fighters to receive a UFC contract.
Middleweight Ryan Gandra (8-1), featherweight Marcio Barbosa (17-2), and unbeaten light heavyweight Abdulrakhman Yakhyaev (7-0) all punched their way into the UFC roster with first-round knockouts.
Meanwhile, Manoel Sousa (13-1) took out Cristian Perez (13-2) inside three rounds to boost the UFC’s stacked lightweight division.