Main event deep-dive: Garcia blitzes Onama for first UFC headliner win

In his first UFC main event, Steve Garcia delivered a career-best effort, overwhelming David Onama with pressure and output for a round-one TKO at 3:34. From the opening exchange, Garcia marched forward behind southpaw combinations, body work, and persistent kicks. Onama never found rhythm; once Garcia’s left hands began landing, the momentum snowballed. After wobbling Onama, Garcia poured on a barrage of punches that forced the stoppage.

The numbers back up the eye test: Garcia registered a knockdown and landed the vast majority of significant strikes in less than four minutes, while absorbing very little in return. It’s seven straight wins for “Mean Machine,” six by stoppage, and a signature moment that likely propels him toward a top-10 featherweight assignment next.

Co-main: Cortes-Acosta survives chaos, starches Delija late in Round 1

Waldo Cortes-Acosta endured an early, controversial sequence then detonated a counter to knock out Ante Delija at 3:59 of Round 1. After a rough patch and a restart, the Dominican heavyweight’s composure showed: he found his feet, sat down on his right hand, and ended the night with emphatic ground follow-ups. It’s the best win of his UFC run and earned him a Performance bonus.

The co-main showcased why Cortes-Acosta is dangerous in any exchange-heavy fight: durable, calm, and willing to throw with conviction after riding out turbulence. Delija’s first UFC setback will sting, but he remains a credible top-15 threat on any given weekend.

Quick hits: the moments that moved the needle

• Jeremiah Wells def. Themba Gorimbo — Unanimous Decision (29-28 ×3). Wells’ compact counters and clinch nudges muted Gorimbo’s reach. Cardcraft and physicality stole swing rounds down the stretch.
• Yadier del Valle def. Isaac Dulgarian — Submission (rear-naked choke), R1 3:41. After early wrestling looks from Dulgarian, del Valle reversed and finished clean on the back — a composed, undefeated prospect’s statement.
• Charles Radtke def. Daniel Frunza — Submission (rear-naked choke), R3 4:29. Radtke’s relentlessness paid late as he forced scrambles and found the choke after wearing Frunza down.
• Allan Nascimento def. Cody Durden — Submission (anaconda), R2 3:13 (catchweight 130 lbs). Slick front-headlock chains from Nascimento snared Durden; one trap, one turn, lights dim. Bonus well earned.
• Billy Elekana def. Kevin Christian — Technical Submission (rear-naked choke), R1 3:33. Club-and-sub: a thudding counter preceded back takes; the choke rendered Christian unconscious in a referee-positioning controversy.
• Timmy Cuamba def. ChangHo Lee — Unanimous Decision (29-28 ×3). After a tricky start, Cuamba adjusted his entries and found more reliable offense to close rounds.
• Donte Johnson def. Sedriques Dumas — Submission (guillotine), R2 1:25. Johnson’s opportunistic front-choke punished a hurried level change — the kind of quick read that wins bonuses.
• Norma Dumont def. Ketlen Vieira — Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28). A measured, tactical stand-up duel edged by Dumont’s jabs and pocket counters.
• Alice Ardelean def. Montserrat Conejo Ruiz — Unanimous Decision (30-27 ×3). Ardelean’s physicality and top control erased Ruiz’s clinch entries.
• Seokhyeon Ko def. Phil Rowe — Unanimous Decision. Ko’s pace and discipline produced a wide verdict, including a 30-26 card.
• Talita Alencar def. Ariane Carnelossi — Submission (rear-naked choke), R3 4:36. Persistent chain-wrestling finally cracked a stubborn Carnelossi late.

Full results (one line per bout)

• Featherweight • Steve Garcia def. David Onama — TKO (punches), 3:34 R1 • Main event • Performance of the Night
• Heavyweight • Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Ante Delija — KO/TKO (punches), 3:59 R1 • Co-main • Performance of the Night
• Welterweight • Jeremiah Wells def. Themba Gorimbo — Decision (unanimous), 5:00 R3 • 29-28 ×3
• Featherweight • Yadier del Valle def. Isaac Dulgarian — Submission (rear-naked choke), 3:41 R1
• Welterweight • Charles Radtke def. Daniel Frunza — Submission (rear-naked choke), 4:29 R3
• Catchweight (130 lbs) • Allan Nascimento def. Cody Durden — Submission (anaconda), 3:13 R2 • Performance of the Night
• Light Heavyweight • Billy Elekana def. Kevin Christian — Technical Submission (rear-naked choke), 3:33 R1
• Bantamweight • Timmy Cuamba def. ChangHo Lee — Decision (unanimous), 5:00 R3 • 29-28 ×3
• Middleweight • Donte Johnson def. Sedriques Dumas — Submission (guillotine), 1:25 R2 • Performance of the Night
• Women’s Bantamweight • Norma Dumont def. Ketlen Vieira — Decision (split), 5:00 R3
• Women’s Strawweight • Alice Ardelean def. Montserrat Conejo Ruiz — Decision (unanimous), 5:00 R3 • 30-27 ×3
• Welterweight • Seokhyeon Ko def. Phil Rowe — Decision (unanimous), 5:00 R3 • included a 30-26 card
• Women’s Strawweight • Talita Alencar def. Ariane Carnelossi — Submission (rear-naked choke), 4:36 R3

Odds snapshot (editorial)

Closing lines around the broadcast painted Garcia as a modest favorite over Onama (near -135), while the heavyweight bout was close to pick’em with slight tilt toward Delija. Several underdogs — notably Wells over favored Gorimbo and Dumont over Vieira — cashed with disciplined, round-winning tactics. This is context, not betting advice.

What mattered from the rest of the card

• Prospect poise: Del Valle handled an early scramble storm and still finished in under four minutes. Undefeated and composed at 10-0 speaks volumes at 145.
• Front-headlock clinic: Nascimento’s anaconda showed the difference between a hunter and a holder in transitional grappling.
• Club-and-sub fundamentals: Elekana’s finish reminded that power changes phases — a single counter can become back control can become lights-out.
• Scorecard savvy: Cuamba and Ko each widened margins late with effort that judges notice: cage craft, volume, and initiative.
• Durability meets opportunity: Radtke’s late R3 squeeze was earned over 14 minutes of attritional offense. That cardio reserves column matters.
• Dumont’s maturation: Trusted the jab, played the numbers, and banked a razor-thin split in a high-IQ striking match.

Start times & how to watch

The card took place Saturday, Nov 1 locally in Las Vegas, airing in Europe as Sunday, Nov 2 at 01:00 (GMT+2) on UFC Fight Pass (region dependent). U.S. broadcast ran on ESPN+ from the UFC APEX in Enterprise, NV.

Bonuses / notes

• Performance of the Night: Steve Garcia; Waldo Cortes-Acosta; Allan Nascimento; Donte Johnson
• Fight of the Night: Not awarded
• Note: Co-main featured an unusual early sequence before Cortes-Acosta’s KO, adding to the night’s drama.

Interviews & storylines the broadcast hit

• Garcia’s surging finishing form at featherweight, and the call for bigger names after his first main-event win.
• Cortes-Acosta’s resilience and power, plus a public request for a higher-ranked dance partner.
• Prospects to circle: del Valle at 145, Johnson at 185, Alencar’s late-finish persistence at 115.

FAQ

Who won Steve Garcia vs David Onama?

Steve Garcia won by TKO (punches) at 3:34 of Round 1.

Who won the co-main event?

Waldo Cortes-Acosta knocked out Ante Delija at 3:59 of Round 1.

Which fighters earned Performance bonuses?

Steve Garcia, Waldo Cortes-Acosta, Allan Nascimento, and Donte Johnson.

What was the best submission?

Subjective, but Nascimento’s anaconda on Durden and del Valle’s quick RNC were the night’s cleanest grappling finishes.

Where did UFC Fight Night: Garcia vs Onama take place?

UFC APEX in Enterprise (Las Vegas area), Nevada, USA.