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Brett Okamoto
Spanish bantamweight Hecher Sosa earned a UFC contract on “Dana White’s Contender Series” on Tuesday, less than 72 hours after the death of his father.
Sosa (14-1) defeated Mackson Lee (9-1) in a lopsided decision in the main event of “Contender Series” in Las Vegas. The 30-year-old elected to carry on with the fight despite receiving news of his father’s death Sunday morning. His father had cancer. Sosa lost his sister to cancer one year ago.
“I can’t talk [to my father] today, but he is the reason I am here,” Sosa said through an interpreter. “He’s the reason I am the man I am, and I will continue to represent him.”
Sosa, of Arrecife, Spain, revealed Tuesday that he was informed of his father’s death as he was cutting weight for the 135-pound contest. He wrote on Instagram that he agonized over the idea his father wouldn’t see him compete in front of White, but that he “came to the conclusion that my father told me before I left, ‘son, don’t worry, we started this together and we will finish it together.'”
Sosa dominated the three-round bout against Lee, and White immediately signed Sosa to the UFC.
“I respect your drive, your resiliency, everything you’ve been through in your life,” White said. “I’m going to give you an opportunity to deliver on your promises to your family.”
Sosa has not lost since May 2022. Nine of his 14 career wins have come via knockout or submission.