Manziel secures MMA debut victory in Las Vegas

Former NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel has successfully transitioned into mixed martial arts, securing a victory in his debut bout on Saturday night. The 33-year-old competed at the UFC Apex Centre in Las Vegas, defeating 38-year-old social media influencer Bob Menery by technical knockout just over two minutes into the contest.

The match was promoted by Brand Risk Promotions, an organisation established by streamer Adin Ross that specialises in pairing celebrities and content creators for combat sports events. While the entity is primarily known for celebrity boxing matches, this event featured a mixed martial arts format, with Manziel landing multiple strikes before the official waved off the match.

Manziel’s performance was described as dominant, with a video clip from Sports Illustrated highlighting his control during the brief engagement. The victory adds to a resume that includes a Heisman Trophy and selection as the 22nd overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. His professional football career spanned only two seasons before he was cut by the Browns in 2016, during which he recorded 1,675 passing yards and seven touchdowns.

This bout took place more than a decade after Manziel’s last appearance in the NFL. Following his departure from the Cleveland Browns, he played professionally in multiple other leagues before shifting focus to this new athletic endeavour. The event marks a significant departure from his earlier career trajectory, moving from gridiron football to the regulated environment of combat sports.

Following the win, Manziel indicated he likely will not participate in another fight to preserve his undefeated record. He characterised the bout as a rare one-off side quest in his athletic career, suggesting a definitive end to his involvement in mixed martial arts for the foreseeable future.