Rookie Report Card: Grading all Octagon newcomers UFC Kansas City post-mortem

You only get one Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) debut!

Two rookies debuted in “City of Fountains” last night (Sat., April 26, 2025) at UFC Kansas City inside T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The UFC newbies went 1-1, and one of them had a highlight knockout.

It was filthy.

Now that the dust has settled, let’s grade their respective performances below:

Malcolm Wellmaker (9-0) lived up to his hype, delivering a devastating one-punch knockout against fellow prospect Cameron Saaiman in the fourth bout of a finish-heavy UFC card (watch highlights).

True to form, Wellmaker started cautiously, weathering a few calf kicks from the South African. That was the only flaw in an otherwise impeccable performance, as his perfectly timed counter hook sent Saaiman crashing face-first to the canvas.

The statement-making debut served notice to the division: striking with “The Machine” is a dangerous proposition.

Hailing from Georgia, Wellmaker called for a spot on the upcoming UFC Atlanta card. Expect a two-month turnaround for the rising star.

Grade: A+

Gauge Young (9-3) dropped his short-notice UFC debut via unanimous decision to former teammate Evan Elder.

Young’s performance is tough to dissect. It wasn’t poor, but it’s the kind of showing that will likely frustrate him upon review.

Simply put, he was outmatched by a more seasoned and skilled UFC fighter.

The last time fans saw Young, he delivered an all-out war against Quillan Salkilld on Season 8 of Contender Series. This fight, however, he was very hesitant.

“Gee Money” frequently pressed Elder toward the fence across all three rounds but hesitated to capitalize, often absorbing leg kicks instead.

Still, Young showcased impressive takedown defense.

Ultimately, Young displayed potential but faced a highly underrated opponent in the division.

Grade: C

For more UFC Kansas City results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.