KO upset proved to UFC he’s more than just submissions

LAS VEGAS – Sam Patterson beat Danny Barlow with a first-round knockout Saturday to open up the main card at UFC Fight Night 253 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Patterson, who picked up his third straight first-round finish.

Sam Patterson def. Danny Barlow

Result: Sam Patterson def. Danny Barlow via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 3:10Updated records: Patterson (13-2-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC), Barlow (9-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC)Key stats: Patterson had +1200 odds to win the fight by knockout.

Sam Patterson def. Danny Barlow UFC Fight Night 253 (via UFC)

Patterson on the fight’s key moment

“I got hit a few times – probably one too many. But I found my range, found my shot. The finish was really the follow-up shot on the way down. I caught him pretty clean on the side of the head to put him out. He was looking for the left hand. He landed the left hand. He has a good left hand, that’s for sure. But I’m pretty sure my right hand put him out.”

Patterson on being well-rounded

“If you do your research, you see that I’ve got (knockout) finishes in other organizations. I’m not just a grappler. I kind of keep it balanced. If my grappling is (going better), I bring my striking (to match). I try to level them out because I want to be a complete martial artist. I don’t want my grappling being elite and my striking being average.

“… This is what they’ll say now: I’ve got great hands. (But) I’ve got great kicks, knees, elbows – I will (eventually) get to show my whole game. I am a mixed martial artist. So when people start thinking I’ve just got good hands, we will see.”

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 01: (R-L) Sam Patterson of England punches Danny Barlow in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on March 01, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Patterson on what he wants next

“I’m still proving myself. Calling people out will come when I hit the top 15. There’s only 14 people in front of you then. So if you want a chance for a world title, there’s no point fighting anyone else apart from the 14 people in front of you. Picking the names will come then. Until then, I’m just proving myself.

“The bucket list would be lovely to fight (at UFC 313) at T-Mobile. That’s a dream to fight in Vegas at the arena. But I’m living my dream right now. Whether the Apex, whether it’s an arena, I’m truly living my dream and I love what I do. I truly do love this game.”

To hear more from Patterson, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 253.