Nick Galanti credits former UFC fighter following 35-second DWCS knockout

Nick Galanti made a splash in his DWCS debut, dispatching Carlos Petruzzella with a devastating right hook and ground-and-pound in just 35 seconds during Week 3 of Dana White's Contender Series 2026. The middleweight (8-1) earned his UFC contract in the opening bout despite entering as a wrestler-first prospect known primarily for his grappling.

Galanti credited his striking development to former UFC and Glory fighter Karl Roberson, with whom he has been training. The knockout was all the more impressive given Galanti's reputation: the wrestling-oriented fighter floored Petruzzella with a right hook and finished him before Petruzzella could recover. Though Galanti had hoped for a head-kick knockout, he was equally satisfied with the hook-assisted finish.

"Everyone says I'm just a grappler, but I have been working with my guy Karl Roberson," Galanti explained post-fight. "The whole time I was calling that right hook. I love that right hook in open stances." Roberson himself holds Contender Series lore, having earned his UFC deal with a 15-second knockout in the show's inaugural 2017 season. Galanti's teammate Luke Fernandez, also trained by Roberson, achieved the fastest knockout in last season's DWCS at 15 seconds, so the lineage of quick finishes and striking development runs deep in their camp.