Bektic makes triumphant return to Octagon with 1st-round submission

Fighting for the first time in almost 500 days, featherweight Mirsad Bektic got right back to work.

Bektic used his size and grappling to make sure that short-notice replacement opponent Russell Doane didn't pull off what would have been the upset of the night at UFC 204 in Manchester, England. There was simply nothing that Doane could do to escape Bektic's grip, and he was forced to tap out to a rear-naked choke at the 4:22 mark of the first round.

The 25-year-old Bektic has been plagued by injuries since a TKO-win over Lucas Martins in May 2015, but his performance on Saturday reminded everyone why he's being projected as a future contender. He is now 4-0 in the UFC and 11-0 overall.

Doane was doing the promotion a solid by taking this fight on just five days' notice after Bektic had two other opponents fall through. Coming up from 135 pounds to face Bektic, it became obvious that Doane was at a physical disadvantage.

Once he scored a takedown, the larger Bektic didn't give Doane any room to breathe. He held on to Doane's back until he could drag him to the mat and hunt for the fight-winning choke.

Doane loses for the fourth straight time and he hasn't tasted victory since a split-decision win over Marcus Brimage over two years ago.