Once thought of as a can’t-miss prospect, Tyson Pedro has faced his share of injuries and inconsistency, damping the excitement that once surrounded him. Now, the 31-year-old Australian light heavyweight aims to improve upon his 5-4 record in the Ultimate Fighting Championship as he faces Dana White’s Contender Series graduate Anton Turkalj in a featured UFC 293 attraction on Saturday at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. Pedro, who began his career with a perfect 6-0, has lost four times in seven appearances since then. His last fight was at UFC 284, where he lost a unanimous decision to former Cage Warriors Fighting Championship titleholder Modestas Bukauskas on February 11.
As Pedro prepares for his battle with Turkalj at 205 pounds, let’s take a look at five defining moments in his career thus far.
1. Pressure Cooker
Pedro made an impressive promotional debut at UFC Fight Night 101, winning a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus for his first-round rear-naked choke submission of The Ultimate Fighter Season 23 finalist Khalil Rountree on November 26, 2016. The Australian quickly ended the fight in just 4:07, as he capitalized on a takedown and never let Rountree regain his footing. Pedro climbed to full mount, took Rountree’s back, flattened him out, and secured the fight-ending choke to the delight of the nearly 14,000 fans in attendance.
2. No One-Trick Pony
At UFC 209 on March 4, 2017, the still-undefeated Pedro defeated former British Association of Mixed Martial Arts champion Paul Craig with a series of first-round elbows, finishing the fight 4:10 into Round 1. Luring Craig into a clinch, Pedro effectively targeted his head with standing elbow strikes and his body with knees. After flooring Craig with a straight right hand, Pedro quickly transitioned to half guard on the ground, moved to a topside crucifix, and rained down elbows until the referee intervened.
3. Checked Aggression
Experienced fighter Ovince St. Preux handed Pedro his first loss with a first-round straight armbar submission at UFC Fight Night 132 on June 23, 2018. Despite dominating the early action, Pedro’s aggression would be his downfall. After St. Preux recovered from an early head kick and straight right, he denied Pedro’s takedown attempts, took control in top position, and isolated Pedro’s right arm, securing the fight-ending submission 2:54 into Round 1.
4. Overshadowed by an Icon
Facing Brazilian legend and former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC Fight Night 142 on December 1, 2018, Pedro suffered a third-round TKO loss. The Australian nearly finished the fight early, but Rua managed to survive and recover. Rua relied on takedowns and top control in the second round, and an early leg injury in the third round ultimately doomed Pedro. Rua landed a heavy overhand right, prompting the referee to step in and stop the fight just 43 seconds into the final round.
5. Capabilities Intact
After a three-year layoff, Pedro made a successful return at UFC Fight Night 205, defeating Isaac Villanueva with a first-round leg kick and follow-up punches on April 23, 2022. Knee surgery and various injuries had kept Pedro out of action for 1,239 days, but he quickly found his rhythm once in the Octagon. After a low blow temporarily halted the action, Pedro capitalized on his leg kicks, eventually sending Villanueva to the canvas. A quick burst of unanswered right hands forced the referee to stop the fight with just five seconds remaining in the opening round.