Johnny Manziel has found himself back in the win column, but not in the sport that many expected.
The former NFL quarterback won his first-ever MMA fight against social media influencer Bob Menery via first-round TKO on Saturday night at UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Manziel, 33, controlled the fight from the opening bell, throwing a flurry of kicks before securing a takedown. The former Heisman Trophy winner eventually finished the bout after landing several hard strikes from full mount, prompting the referee to stop the fight at 2:16 of the opening round.
After the fight, Manziel said that this will likely be the last time he enters the ring.
"This was good enough for one time," he said.
Manziel starred at Texas A&M, where he was one of the biggest stars in college football history. The Cleveland Browns selected him in the first-round of the NFL draft in 2014, spending only two seasons in the league.
Manziel later continued his career in other leagues, including the CFL, where he played for the Montreal Alouettes in 2018.
The celebrity-filled card was promoted by Brand Risk Promotions, the fight promotion company founded by streamer Adin Ross and known for celebrity and content creator boxing events. Saturday marked the organization’s 14th event.
