Sheldon Westcott (photo via UFC.com)

By Kelsey Mowatt

Sheldon Westcott took out Edgar Garcia in the opening round at UFC 195, and in doing so, ended a two fight losing skid and secured his first UFC win.

Westcott took Garcia to the mat not long into the fight, and from there, brought about the stoppage with ground-and-pound strikes. It was a big victory for the welterweight, and it also meant a lot for his teammate Mitch Clarke, who Westcott was quick to credit afterwards.

“It was great. Sheldon is an exceptional athlete and it was just a couple of adjustments that we made when he was training here,” Clarke relayed on Full Contact Fighter Radio recently, while reflecting on Westcott’s win. “The game plan was, when we wanted to take him down, was to go for the legs, and because he was a state champion wrestler, and that he’d have good hips, was to climb up the body and get that body lock.”

“He did it perfectly,” Clarke added. “He kept his underhooks nice and high. Once it hit the ground he listened perfectly…Sheldon did his thing and it was awesome to watch.”

Westcott made it to the finals of the TUF Nations competition in 2014, but was decisioned by Elias Theodorou. Then in April, 2015, the St. Albert fighter lost by UD to Pawel Pawlak. So, there was a lot riding on the line, as Westcott went hunting for his first UFC win on January 2nd.

“It was great for me to be part of someone’s journey, and their first win,” noted Clarke. “It’s great to see someone achieve their goals, achieve their dream, and to be able to do it so well. I’m really happen for Sheldon.”

With the win, Westcott moved his record to 9-3-1. For more on Clarke, and his plans to return to the Octagon in the coming months, head here.