UFC Fight Night 38 results: Kenny Robertson chokes out Thiago Perpetuo in quick order

NATAL, Brazil – The submission savvy that brought Kenny Robertson his previous octagon win was again on display as he took on Thiago Perpetuo and earned a quick tapout.

Perpetuo, who was making his debut at 170 pounds after a run at middleweight, won top position early in the fight but was quickly outgrappled and submitted with a rear-naked choke.

The welterweight bout was part of the preliminary card of today’s UFC Fight Night 38 event Ginasio Nelio Dias in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. It aired on FOX Sports 1 following an additional prelim on UFC Fight Pass and ahead of a main card on FOX Sports 1.

Robertson earned the submission at the 1:45 mark of the first round, shortly after he forced his Brazilian opponent to give up his back by taking mount position and raining down strikes.

Perpetuo took the fight to the mat when Robertson slapped him upside the head with a kick, but nearly gave up back mount after a scramble and then found himself on his back, where things quickly went downhill.

The impressive finish was much needed for Robertson, who was outpointed by Sean Pierson at UFC 161. The setback followed a highlight-reel tapout of Brock Jardine at UFC 157 which earned him “Submission of the Night” honors.

“I don’t just go for the submission,” Robertson said. “I went for the head kick, but I guess I didn’t throw it hard enough. I’ve knocked out people before. It doesn’t matter how – I like to finish.”

Robertson (13-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC) now stands at 2-3 in the octagon, while “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil” vet Perpetuo (9-3-1 MMA, 1-2 UFC) has dropped two straight.

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 38 results include:

For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 38, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.

John Morgan contributed to this report on-site in Brazil.