Dana White hands UFC deal to 22-year-old following controversial 15-second KO

Modestino Rodrigues, a 22-year-old mixed martial artist, has been given an Ultimate Fighting Championship contract after a controversial 15-second knock-out in the middleweight bout at Dana White's Contender Series Week 4. Rodrigues, who has been away from his family for nine months training for the fight, took just 15 seconds to drop opponent Brandon Holmes and finish him with follow-up shots.

However, the stoppage was met with controversy as referee Chris Tognoni intervened while Holmes was still conscious and actively defending. Despite the controversy, Dana White deemed it one of the most controversial stoppages in DWCS history and decided to offer Rodrigues an opportunity on the biggest stage in MMA. Rodrigues expressed his gratitude for the sport changing his life and credited his hard work and dedication for his success.

He emphasized that he never imagined he would be on the biggest stage in MMA and thanked the sport for giving him a chance.