Tough UFC debut for Wicklow man Richie Smullen

An Irish man hasn't won a UFC debut since Joseph Duffy in 2015.

And, although there will remain high hopes for Arklow's finest Richie Smullen, the submission king found himself at the wrong side of a submission on Friday night. It's been a hell of a ride for the SBG fighter who made The Ultimate Fighter lineup after a wonderful gesture from Artem Lobov, only to see himself eliminated in the most unfortunate of circumstances. But he saddled up again - Smullen always does - and he made it back to Las Vegas, this time for a UFC debut. The Wicklow native was fighting in the lightweight division against the undefeated Luis Pena who went on to take his professional MMA record to 5-0-0 after a first round submission victory. A mounted guillotine choke from Pena was the undoing of Smullen in the end but the rangier opponent had the advantage on foot as well, able to pick off the Irish man with long, accurate punches. https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1015402759388971009 Smullen had never lost a pro fight either before this encounter but Pena got a grip around his neck and there wasn't much he could do about it from then on. https://twitter.com/Maldobabo/status/1015403891805114368 Given his record, given his rise, given his undoubted promise, this is only a bump in the road for Richie Smullen who was tasked with a mountainous challenge for his UFC debut. It's the first time an Irish fighter has made the breakthrough onto the promotion since Charlie Ward did two years ago now so, for that, the country owes a debt to Smullen in some sense but, having left the win behind him, you just know he's going to be working harder than ever now.