In his second main card fight, Tommy “Gun” McMillen remains undefeated after beating Alberto “The Promise” Montes by TKO in a brilliant striking performance on Saturday night at UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs. Usman.
McMillen improved to 11-0 enroute to breaking the record for significant strikes in a three-round match with 252. In what could be a candidate for fight of the year, McMillen received performance of the night. His overwhelming 513 strikes thrown buckled Montes’s knees multiple times throughout the fight as he looked for the finish.
In the first round, Montes landed a knee to the chin of McMillen along with shots that dropped him. However, McMillen recovered, pushing the pace throughout the fight and landing devastating body shots and combinations while Montes fought to stay on his feet. McMillen’s pressure ultimately finished him 3:29 into the third-round by way of punches landed to the head and body.
“I’m the third Diaz brother, so I think it’s only right.” McMillen said after learning from Megan Olivi about his new significant strikes record.
Potential for Tommy “Gun” McMillen to Become a Star
McMillen trains alongside former bantamweight champion “Sugar” Sean O’Malley at Red Hawk Academy under trainer Tim Welch. He now ranks 54 among featherweights in MMA on Tapology and now looks to face a top 15 featherweight at a chance to become ranked.
In two fights in the UFC, McMillen has put on stellar performances winning both by TKO. He is the exact kind of fighter the UFC needs and could present a problem in the featherweight division. With his striking skills and the personality to match, McMillen is a rising star in the UFC and can quickly become a fan favorite.
What is Next for McMillen?
McMillen has fought twice in 2026 and looks to fight a third time with September around the corner.
“I broke an Armenian-Russian just to get in the UFC, I knocked an Italian out for a $100k, I just knocked a Venezuelan boy out for a $100k.” McMillen said in his post-fight interview with Daniel Cormier. “Uncle Dana, Hunter, send me a motherfucking Mexican September 12 in Arizona. I’m coming home!”
His post-fight demand for a Mexican opponent on Sept. 12 Glendale, Arizona card may come to fruition. Fellow RUF nation alum and native of Yuma, Arizona Jose Miguel Delgado put on a masterclass the same night. Ranked #14 in the featherweight division, making this matchup between two rising Arizona featherweights makes sense for NOCHE UFC.
