You only get one Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) debut!
Three rookies made their first walk to the Octagon this past weekend (Sat., March 14, 2026) at UFC Vegas 114 inside the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Impressively, the newcomers went a perfect 3-0 overall — including one brutal one-punch knockout.
Now that the dust has settled, let’s grade their respective performances.
Marwan Rahiki
After an unforgettable fight and victory on Contender Series, 23-year-old Marwan Rahiki made his UFC debut
against Cage Warriors veteran Harry Hardwick.
Rahiki rocked Hardwick in the opening seconds but slipped shortly afterward, allowing the Brit to jump on his back. Rahiki defended well and the fight quickly turned into a kickboxing battle in the center of the cage.
The final 40 seconds of the opening round devolved into a full-on bar fight.
Round two was absolute madness and will likely be in the conversation for Round of the Year by the end of 2026. Rahiki poured on the offense after landing a nasty head kick and came close to securing the finish, but Hardwick survived and fired back, hurting Rahiki in return.
The fight ultimately ended between rounds after Hardwick suffered a broken jaw.
Rahiki is young, exciting, and going to be an absolute joy to watch going forward. The amount of damage he absorbed at just 23 years old is slightly concerning, but that’s often the case with young fighters who rely heavily on their chin.
One thing is clear: if Rahiki’s name is on a fight card, tune in — because it’s probably going to be chaos.
Hey UFC, book Rahiki vs. Hyder Amil ASAP.
Final grade: A
Manoel Sousa
At long last, Manoel Sousa finally made his UFC debut. The Brazilian likely would have debuted much earlier but was stuck under contract with the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
Expectations were high after his incredible comeback win on Contender Series — and he delivered.
Facing Bolaji Oki, Sousa floored his opponent within the first two minutes, though Oki managed to survive the early scare. Sousa hunted for a kimura submission, but Oki defended well and spent much of the opening round on top.
Rounds two and three turned into a wild back-and-forth brawl with both fighters hurting each other multiple times.
With just 50 seconds remaining, Sousa landed a devastating punch that put Oki to slee (watch highlights).
The man is a legit Brazilian Terminator — constantly marching forward and willing to throw down for the full 15 minutes. He may not be the most technical striker, but he has genuine one-punch knockout power and a granite chin, which makes him dangerous at all times.
Also worth noting: Sousa famously knocked out Mauricio Ruffy on the regional scene (and he wants you to know).
This guy is must-watch television.
Personally, I’d love to see some Brazilian-on-Brazilian violence next — maybe against Kaue Fernandes.
Final grade: A+
Hecher Sosa
After an emotional appearance on Contender Series — where Hecher Sosa secured a contract just one day after his father passed away — the Spaniard finally made his UFC debut against Luan Lacerda.
And he showed plenty of promise.
Sosa started aggressively, throwing front kicks, flying knees, and looping hooks. While he initially defended a takedown attempt from Lacerda, the Brazilian eventually got the fight to the mat. Even from his back, however, Sosa remained active and threatening.
Late in the first round, he landed a clean straight right that visibly hurt Lacerda.
The second round played out mostly on the feet, with Sosa getting the better of many exchanges despite Lacerda landing a sharp jab that snapped Sosa’s head back.
In the final round, Lacerda repeatedly attempted to wrestle and control the fight on the ground. Sosa, however, consistently worked his way back to his feet and made Lacerda pay with flashy offense — including step-in spinning backfists.
Sosa ultimately earned a well-deserved unanimous decision victory.
He’s a fun addition to the Bantamweight division and should be involved in plenty of entertaining fights moving forward. The biggest concern is his lack of knockout power, which could make it harder to secure finishes against tougher competition.
Still, the skill set is intriguing.
Next up, I’d like to see him face Timmy Cuamba — preferably on a card in front of a live crowd.
Final grade: B
For complete UFC Vegas 114 results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.
