Chokheli demolishes Shahbazyan in 23 seconds on UFC debut to announce himself

Levan Chokheli announced his UFC arrival in emphatic fashion, stopping Leon Shahbazyan in just 23 seconds during a welterweight prelim at UFC Vegas 119 on Saturday in Las Vegas. Referee Kerry Hatley waved off the contest after Chokheli dropped Shahbazyan with a body shot, capping an eight-punch combination that left his opponent with no answer.

The Georgian fighter, a Bellator veteran entering as a sizable favourite, set the tone immediately. A sharp calf kick hurt Shahbazyan early and forced him back to the fence, where Chokheli unloaded with relentless volume. The finishing sequence was swift and decisive — Shahbazyan had no opportunity to recover before Hatley stepped in.

The result improves Chokheli’s professional record to 15-3, a career that includes a 4-3 stint in Bellator. For Shahbazyan, the loss drops him to 12-5 in MMA, extending a difficult run of results for the fighter known as “S.O.G.”

Few UFC debuts have been as commanding. Chokheli’s combination of timing, power, and aggression in those 23 seconds will make the welterweight division take notice.