LAS VEGAS — Dexter native Travis Bartlett suffered a first-round knockout to kickboxing specialist Tyrone Spong as part of the debut World Series of Fighting mixed martial arts program held Saturday night at Planet Hollywood.
The light heavyweight (205-pound) fight, Bartlett’s first in more than two years, was one of five fights on the main card that were televised nationally on the NBC Sports Network.
The highly touted Spong, a two-time international kickboxing champion born in Surinam, used those skills to take control of the cage in the opening minute of his MMA debut.
Spong then used a straight right hand to Bartlett’s jaw to end the bout at 3 minutes, 15 seconds of the first round.
Bartlett’s professional MMA record fell to 8-3 with the loss. It was the first fight in a three-fight contract he signed with the WSOF earlier this fall.
