UFC Vegas 124.
The featherweight took just 67 seconds to replace at short notice Carlos Calderon with a rear naked choke on Saturday at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas. Bashi was particularly pleased to secure the finish without taking significant damage.
Austin Bashi credits repeated rear-naked choke drills for quick win over short-notice replacement Carlos Calderon
“I’m very happy, man. It feels really good,” Bashi told UFC News afterward. “Obviously at any time you can win, and without doing damage and doing it quickly, that’s the best way to get out of a fight. So I’m very blessed and happy that I got it done the way I did.”
The 25-year-old admitted to repeated work at the gym, where he and his trainers practice taking opponents’ backs and securing chokes.
“We’re drilling it day by day,” Bashi said. “We drill it so much in camp that when we come to fight, we’re just familiar with the position, getting behind and finding the neck. My coaches always help me a lot with that. And here I am again in that choke.”
With Calderon entering the game on short notice, Bashi relied on his experience rather than a detailed game plan tailored to his opponent.
“Because this opponent was on such short notice, I didn’t really have a game plan like I used to,” Bashi added. “These are the kind of fights you just come in and you know, just…I’ve been fighting my whole life. So I’m just doing what I know.”
Bashi said he was ready to face anyone
Ultimate Fighting Championship puts in front of him.
“I like competition. I like to fight the best people in the world. So whoever they put in front of me, I’ll fight.”
“I’m always quick out of the gate.” Austin Debt makes quick work of an opponent on short notice Carlos Calderon 1st round with a rear naked choke submission. #UFCVegas124 results ➡️ https://t.co/ZwjgruyZm3 https://t.co/s2QtDktONw
— UFC News (@UFCNews)
November 7, 2026