Pavel Andrusca made his UFC debut Saturday at UFC Paris, beating Nathaniel Wood in a featherweight fight he took with just five days of preparation. Wood was widely expected to win. Andrusca won anyway.

Andrusca had gone undefeated before joining the UFC, recognized for his knockout power. He showed no rust despite the short camp. The win over a well-known fighter gives him immediate credibility in the featherweight division from the start.

Taking the fight on such short notice drew attention heading into the card. Few expected him to pull it off, but Andrusca backed up his record. His composure under pressure stood out, especially for someone making a debut.

With this result, Andrusca enters the conversation as a rising contender in the UFC featherweight ranks. Where he goes from here will be worth following closely.