Blood, Grit, and Redemption: Rodrigo Sezinando Earns First UFC Win with Brutal Doctor-Stoppage Finish at UFC Vegas 123
On October 31, 2026, Rodrigo Sezinando delivered a statement performance at UFC Vegas 123, securing the first victory of his UFC career with a second-round TKO win over Sweden’s Theodor Berggren in a welterweight clash at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The victory came after a devastating elbow opened a severe cut on Berggren’s lip, forcing cageside physicians to halt the contest before the start of the third round. [middleeasy.com], [sports.yahoo.com]
For Sezinando, the win represented a major milestone after falling short in the championship bout of The Ultimate Fighter 33. Against Berggren, the Brazilian showcased the well-rounded skill set that made him a highly regarded prospect, blending relentless grappling pressure with damaging ground-and-pound.
Rodrigo Sezinando Celebrates Long-Awaited UFC Breakthrough
Following the victory, Sezinando expressed his excitement over finally earning his first UFC win. The Brazilian made a point of thanking his coaching staff and support team, specifically crediting coach Daniel Kier for helping him prepare for the opportunity.
The emotional post-fight interview reflected the significance of the moment. After years of work climbing through the regional ranks and competing on The Ultimate Fighter, Sezinando finally had his hand raised inside the Octagon on the sport’s biggest stage.
Grappling Dominance Turns the Tide
During the post-fight interview, UFC commentator Daniel Cormier highlighted the key factors that led to Sezinando’s victory.
While the opening round featured competitive exchanges, Sezinando increasingly imposed his wrestling and top control as the fight progressed. In the second round, he secured crucial takedowns and began wearing Berggren down with sustained pressure on the mat.
Cormier noted how Sezinando’s grappling became the defining element of the contest, allowing the Brazilian to dictate the pace and keep Berggren on the defensive. Once Sezinando established dominant positions, he unleashed a barrage of strikes that shifted the fight firmly in his favor.
The Elbow That Ended the Fight
The turning point came late in the second round.
Sezinando explained that he landed a sharp elbow from top position that split Berggren’s lip open. The strike created a gruesome cut that immediately drew attention from officials and medical personnel.
The damage proved severe enough that doctors intervened following the round. After examining Berggren between rounds, they determined the injury was too significant for the fight to continue, resulting in a TKO via doctor’s stoppage at the conclusion of Round 2. [sports.yahoo.com], [cagesidepress.com]
The finish capped off a dominant sequence for Sezinando, who had built momentum through effective wrestling, positional control, and increasingly damaging offense on the ground.
A Career-Changing Victory
The win improves Sezinando’s standing within the UFC welterweight division and marks an important bounce-back performance after the setback he experienced in the The Ultimate Fighter 33 finale.
More importantly, the performance demonstrated the attributes that could make him a difficult matchup moving forward. His ability to combine takedowns, positional control, and damaging elbows proved too much for Berggren to overcome.
With his first UFC victory now secured, Sezinando leaves UFC Vegas 123 with renewed momentum and a growing reputation as a dangerous grappler capable of ending fights through sustained pressure and devastating ground strikes.
For Berggren, the loss marks a difficult setback, as the Swede was unable to recover from the damage inflicted during Sezinando’s dominant second-round surge.
Fight Result
Rodrigo Sezinando def. Theodor Berggren via TKO (doctor’s stoppage due to cut), Round 2, 5:00, UFC Vegas 123. [sports.yahoo.com], [cagesidepress.com]
Sources
- MMA Junkie/Yahoo Sports: UFC Vegas 123 video: Nasty Halloween-esque cut ends the fight
- MiddleEasy: Rodrigo Sezinando Stops Theodor Berggren After Elbow Splits Lip At UFC Vegas 123
- Cageside Press: Rodrigo Sezinando Slices Open Theodor Berggren in First UFC Win
Tags
Rodrigo Sezinando, Theodor Berggren, UFC Vegas 123, UFC Fight Night, UFC Apex, Daniel Cormier, Daniel Kier, Welterweight MMA, UFC Results, MMA News, UFC Interviews, Doctor Stoppage TKO, Ground and Pound, MMA Recap, The Ultimate Fighter 33, UFC Las Vegas, Mixed Martial Arts, Brazilian MMA Fighters
