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Johnny Manziel: More than a decade after playing his final NFL game, former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel returned to competition in a different arena and celebrated a victory in his mixed martial arts debut.
Manziel, 33, earned a first-round stoppage win over social media personality Bob Menery, 38, on Saturday night at the UFC Apex Center in Las Vegas.
The former football star delivered a dominant performance throughout the brief contest.
After securing the stoppage, Manziel celebrated inside the ring, marking a successful start to his MMA career.
The victory represented a notable moment for Manziel, who has remained a recognizable sports figure since his NFL playing days ended more than 10 years ago.
His transition from football to mixed martial arts drew significant attention from fans and social media audiences ahead of the event.
Johnny Manziel displayed a range of mixed martial arts skills during his debut bout on Saturday night.
The former NFL quarterback landed several effective body kicks and successfully secured a takedown during the contest.
Manziel continued to control the action on the ground.
He delivered a series of powerful strikes from the full mount position before the referee stopped the fight at the 2:16 mark of the opening round.
Following the victory, Manziel indicated that his venture into mixed martial arts was likely a one-time experience.
Speaking after the fight, he suggested he had no plans to return to the cage, saying the opportunity had been enough for him.
The win capped a successful MMA debut for the former Heisman Trophy winner, who attracted significant attention with his transition from football to combat sports.
The event was promoted by Brand Risk Promotions, a combat sports organization founded by Kick streamer Adin Ross.
The promotion has built a reputation for organizing crossover fights that feature celebrities and online content creators in combat sports matchups.
Manziel first rose to national prominence during his standout college football career at Texas A&M University.
He was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Despite high expectations, his NFL career lasted two seasons. During that span, Manziel threw for 1,675 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Browns released him during the 2016 offseason, bringing his tenure with the franchise to an end.
Years after leaving professional football, Manziel returned to the spotlight with his successful mixed martial arts debut, adding a new chapter to his athletic career.
After his NFL career ended, Johnny Manziel continued playing professional football in other leagues, including the Canadian Football League.
Manziel also remained in the public spotlight through media projects focused on his football journey and personal life.
In 2023, he was featured in Untold: Johnny Football, an installment of Netflix's Untold documentary anthology series.
The episode examined his rapid rise to stardom and the challenges that followed during and after his football career.
Saturday's event also featured a high-profile co-main event between former NBA players Lance Stephenson and Michael Beasley.
Stephenson secured a victory by first-round submission in the mixed martial arts matchup.
The bout added another crossover attraction to a card that brought together athletes, celebrities, and online personalities in combat sports competition.
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