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Published 08:05 7 Jul 2018 BST
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But he saddled up again - Smullen always does - and he made it back to Las Vegas, this time for a UFC debut.
The Wicklow native was fighting in the lightweight division against the undefeated Luis Pena who went on to take his professional MMA record to 5-0-0 after a first round submission victory.
A mounted guillotine choke from Pena was the undoing of Smullen in the end but the rangier opponent had the advantage on foot as well, able to pick off the Irish man with long, accurate punches.
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1015402759388971009
Smullen had never lost a pro fight either before this encounter but Pena got a grip around his neck and there wasn't much he could do about it from then on.
https://twitter.com/Maldobabo/status/1015403891805114368
Given his record, given his rise, given his undoubted promise, this is only a bump in the road for Richie Smullen who was tasked with a mountainous challenge for his UFC debut.
It's the first time an Irish fighter has made the breakthrough onto the promotion since Charlie Ward did two years ago now so, for that, the country owes a debt to Smullen in some sense but, having left the win behind him, you just know he's going to be working harder than ever now.Former UFC fighter shot dead while out for evening walk
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