The UFC world was eagerly awaiting the debut of Zimbabwean-born New Zealander Mike Mathetha, who has secured worldwide attention with his "Blood Diamond" stage name. 

But the hype deflated almost instantly as Mathetha was brutally choked unconscious by Jeremiah Wells on the preliminary undercard. 

Kiwi star Israel Adesanya takes on Robert Whittaker in the UFC 271 main event in Houston, Texas, which also features Aussie Tai Tuivasa in one of the biggest fights of his career against cult-hero Derrick Lewis. 

Mathetha fights out of City Kickboxing, the Auckland-base of Adesanya, where he was the UFC middleweight champion's training partner. 

However, his UFC debut didn't go to plan. 

Mike Mathetha aka 'Blood Diamond' being submitted by Jeremiah Wells in their welterweight fight during the UFC 271 event at Toyota Centre. Photo / Getty Images 

Veteran UFC journalist Damon Martin speculated in a Twitter post that Mathetha may have been rushed into such a high-profile fight simply because of his teammate connection to Adesanya. 

"Jeremiah Well gives Blood Diamond a rude welcome to the octagon by choking him unconscious with a rear-naked choke in the first round," Martin posted. 

"Everyone advances as their own speed so there's no right or wrong amount of fights but that being said, it felt like he got a look largely being Adesanya's teammate." 

Blood Diamond showed some tough defence when taken down, but was ultimately easily submitted in the first round. 

"I seen his eyes go back," Wells said inside the Octagon. 

"The choke was in." 

- by Tyson Otto, news.com.au