VANCOUVER -- Poplar native Hunter Azure defeated Brad Katona by unanimous decision in three rounds (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) Saturday night in his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut at UFC Fight Night: Vancouver.
Azure, a four-time state wrestling champion at Poplar High School, improved his professional record to 8-0 overall. Katona drops to 8-2.
"I think I proved to people that I'm tougher than they think," Azure said in a post-fight interview. "People thought I didn't have very tough fights coming into this, but that's what everyone is going to say when you're climbing the ranks. But I just proved to people (Saturday) that I belong here."
Azure earned a UFC contract through Dana White's Contender Series in July.
"I'm going to keep getting better and keep coming back stronger," he said. "I have to be more well-rounded inside that cage and not just at practice. I'm not trying to rush to get to the top right now."
Hunter Azure is happy with his win but already thinking of what he wants to work on once he gets back into the gym. #UFCVancouver pic.twitter.com/LNiJfwAnJJ— UFC News (@UFCNews) September 14, 2019
