TLDR
- Jai Herbert defeated Mandel Nallo by TKO at 2:05 of round one at UFC Fight Night 273 in Winnipeg
- Both fighters were knocked down in the opening minute before Herbert secured the finish
- Herbert improved to 4-5-1 in the UFC and bounced back from a split decision loss in March 2025
- Nallo lost his UFC debut after earning his contract on Contender Series in September 2025
- The fight featured multiple knockdowns in just over two minutes of action
Sources: ufc.com | mmajunkie.usatoday.com | mmamania.com
Jai Herbert earned a first-round TKO victory over Mandel Nallo at UFC Fight Night 273 in Winnipeg, Manitoba on Saturday night. The lightweight bout ended at 2:05 of the opening round after a chaotic exchange that saw both fighters hit the canvas.
Nallo came out aggressive in his UFC debut, looking to make an immediate impact. The 36-year-old Canadian landed early strikes that put Herbert in trouble during the first minute of the fight.
Herbert struggled to handle Nallo’s initial pressure but managed to stay composed. The 37-year-old British fighter fired back with his own punches and connected with a right hand that dropped Nallo to the mat.
JAI HERBERT HURTS HIM BAD IN ROUND ONE 🤯
[ #UFCWinnipeg | LIVE on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/B1m7YBh51J
— UFC (@ufc) April 19, 2026
Fight Nearly Stopped Early
Referee Jason Herzog moved in close as Herbert followed Nallo to the ground. Nallo did enough to defend himself and prevent the stoppage, eventually getting back to his feet.
The action resumed with both fighters continuing to exchange strikes. Herbert landed another clean shot that sent Nallo down for a second time.
This time Herbert finished the job. He landed multiple left hands on the grounded Nallo until Herzog stepped in to stop the fight.
“Yo Canada, you enjoyed that or wha?” Herbert yelled to the crowd at Canada Life Centre after the win. “Canada, is that $100 grand or what? C’mon, help me out!”
Herbert appeared to be referencing the $50,000 Performance of the Night bonuses that the UFC awards. He expressed confidence in his finishing ability even after absorbing early damage.
Herbert Ends Losing Streak
“I was coming here to get the finish and that was it,” Herbert said. “So, when he hurt me four times, I knew I was gonna get the finish. He backed me up, and I knew I’d get the counter.”
The victory moved Herbert’s UFC record to 4-5-1 and his overall professional record to 14-6-1. He had lost his previous fight to Chris Padilla by split decision in March 2025.
Herbert has experienced an up-and-down run since joining the UFC. The lightweight has gone 4-4-1 over his last nine fights in the promotion spanning five years.
For Nallo, the loss marked a disappointing start to his UFC career. He entered the fight with momentum after earning his UFC contract with a first-round knockout on Dana White’s Contender Series in September 2025.
Nallo’s five-fight winning streak came to an end with the defeat. The Vancouver-based fighter saw his professional record drop to 14-4.
The bout served as a featured preliminary card fight before the main card began. Despite fighting in Canada, Nallo did not receive strong crowd support from the Winnipeg audience.
Herbert’s win came as part of a card that featured several other first-round finishes. The event took place at Canada Life Centre with coverage provided on Paramount+.
The lightweight division continues to showcase exciting finishes. Herbert’s comeback performance demonstrated his ability to recover from adversity and capitalize on opportunities when they present themselves.
