The lightweight clash between Terrance McKinney and Chris Duncan took place on the preliminary card of UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs. Yan 2, held on December 6, 2025, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The matchup had originally been scheduled for 2023 before visa issues forced Duncan to withdraw, making this long-awaited meeting between two dangerous finishers one of the most anticipated bouts on the prelims.
As expected, the fight exploded into action from the opening bell. McKinney stormed across the Octagon with his trademark aggression, landing a flying knee that immediately got Duncan’s attention. Sensing an opportunity, McKinney unleashed a barrage of punches and high kicks, forcing Duncan onto the defensive. For the first minute, it appeared McKinney was moments away from another spectacular first-round finish as Duncan absorbed several clean shots while trying to weather the storm.
Duncan remained composed despite the early adversity. Instead of panicking, he patiently waited for McKinney’s pace to slow and began firing back with crisp counters. A powerful right hand snapped McKinney’s head back and shifted the momentum. Duncan then closed the distance, initiating a clinch where he landed a crushing elbow that dropped McKinney to the canvas. Rather than rushing recklessly, Duncan maintained heavy pressure with accurate ground-and-pound as McKinney struggled to recover.
With McKinney hurt and attempting to scramble, Duncan smoothly transitioned to the front headlock position. He wrapped his arms around McKinney’s neck and arm, locking in a tight anaconda choke. McKinney fought the submission briefly, but Duncan rolled into the choke to increase the pressure, leaving McKinney with no avenue of escape. McKinney tapped at 2:30 of the first round, giving Duncan a dramatic comeback victory by submission (anaconda choke).
The victory showcased Duncan’s toughness, composure, and submission skills. After surviving McKinney’s explosive opening assault, he turned the fight completely in his favor through intelligent adjustments and relentless pressure. For McKinney, it was another reminder of the risks associated with his all-action style, while Duncan continued to build momentum in the UFC’s stacked lightweight division with one of the most exciting comeback finishes of the event.