Eight years ago, Anthony Wint was an aspiring linebacker with the New York Jets.
Now, he's exploded onto the scene in another professional sports arena.
Wint was sensational Saturday night in his UFC debut, choking out Terrence Chapman via arm triangle in 4:29 of the first round of their heavyweight bout at UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs. Rodrigues in Sacramento, California.
"I tell ya what, y'all in trouble," Wint, 31, told Michael Bisping inside the octagon after the win. "Boy, y'all in trouble. Y'all let me in here."
Wint, who played two games for the 2018 Jets, improved to 8-0 in his mixed martial arts career, doing so with his fourth straight win inside the first round. Wint had won his previous three via knockout, but pivoted from the script to record his second career submission win. Officially it was a technical submission, as referee Herb Dean stopped the bout after Chapman (5-2) went limp.
"It wasn't the game plan, but we got it done," Wint said of winning via sub rather than strikes.
While all signs point to this being the beginning of Wint's days in the UFC, Saturday night was the culmination of a remarkable run in less than two weeks' time. Just 11 days earlier, Wint defeated Matthew Adams via technical knockout in only 34 seconds on Dana White's Contender Series, which earned him his UFC contract.
Wint won't speed into another fight, but promised that his improvement will be quick.
"Just know I'm not going be the same version of Anthony Wint next time I get in this cage," he said. "Whoever signs the contract, y'all gonna be in trouble, believe that."
Wint quickly took the center of the octagon, feinting early and often, eventually striking with a jab to the body and then a leg kick, which he used to aplomb in his previous bout.
The feeling-out process continued before both connected on jabs. Wint landed another leg kick and then forced a clinch that led to him wrestling Chapman down to the ground. Working in half-guard, Wint left his left arm open for a Chapman Kimura attempt. Wint continued to work into a guard and gave Chapman some more time to work on the arm. Eventually Wint got his arm free but was warned by Dean for punching to the back of the head. Suddenly, Wint flexed some astounding power, working swiftly into an arm-triangle choke, cinching it in and letting his strength do most of the work. Chapman did not tap, going unconscious instead as Dean pulled Wint off.
Said Wint, who made his pro MMA debut in April of 2023: "I'm gonna keep getting better."
