Robert Valentin broke through for his first UFC victory in powerful fashion, submitting Julien Leblanc in the opening round at UFC Fight Night 273 at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The Swiss middleweight, who entered the bout on a three-fight losing streak in the UFC, locked in a rear-naked choke at 2:22 of Round 1 to halt Leblanc. With the win, Valentin improved to 11-6 in MMA and 1-3 in the UFC, while Leblanc dropped to 10-3 overall and 0-1 in the promotion.
An emotional Valentin used his post-fight moment to dedicate the performance to his late mother. "I never cry, but I dedicate this fight to my mom," Valentin said. "She died during my last fight week and I know she's watching me. I love you. I worked so hard to get this first win in the UFC, and I want to thank everyone who stood by me when I was down. ... We've been through so much. I cannot express how I feel right now. Always believe in yourself and keep working."
The victory marks a significant turnaround for Valentin, who had lost his first three UFC appearances before breaking through in Winnipeg.
