UFC 139 Results: Michael McDonald Happy to Not Get Punched in the Face

Bantamweight up-and-comer Michael McDonald is the youngest fighter on the UFC roster, but he certainly didn’t fight like it Saturday night at UFC 139.

The 20-year-old defeated UFC newcomer Alex Soto in spectacular fashion during the Spike TV preliminary fights. It took him just 56 seconds to walk out of the cage a winner as he knocked out Soto with violent punches.

“It just feels so good to get out of there without getting punched in the face,” McDonald told MMA Heat’s Karyn Bryant. “He kicked me really hard...I’m very impressed by how hard that guy kicks, but other than that, I’m so glad that my face is still okay.”

Bryant tried to push him into admitting that he would like to show off more of his skills, but he didn’t bite.

“No,” he laughed in response. “Not at all. I like to get out of there as fast as possible!”

Despite his young age, McDonald has already been fighting professionally for four years, racking up an impressive record of 14-1 during that time. Many believe that he is on the path to becoming one of the true studs in the UFC bantamweight division, but he is not looking for any special treatment.

“I don’t want to go on any kind of fast track. I’m 20 years old,” he said. “It’s not like I’m 30 years old and I’ve got a couple years of a window to make my name. I have 10, 15 years. I’m in no rush. Whatever the UFC tells me, that’s what I want to do. I want to stay in this company and whoever they tell me to fight, that’s what I’m going to do.”

His young age is a great asset he has over the competition, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been paying attention to the stars of the past.

“When I saw Bas Rutten on Inside MMA, in the backstage room, as soon as he came in, I had never even met the guy before, but I jumped up and I was like ‘Bas Rutten?!’ and I ran over and gave him a big hug,” he laughed. “Everyone was like, ‘Do you know this guy?’ and I was like, ‘No, I’ve never met him before!'"

McDonald has a great future in front of him and there is plenty of time to realize his potential. But with this kind of determination, skill and sponge-like ability to soak up information, it may happen sooner than later.