When Zachary Reese got the call to step in on short notice for UFC Vegas 111, few expected him to make much noise. By the end of the night, the newcomer had not only silenced those doubts but left the Apex crowd roaring with one of the slickest submissions of the evening.

Taking on Jackson McVey, another fighter hungry for redemption, Reese found himself in trouble early. McVey came out aggressive, landing crisp elbows in the clinch and opening a cut above Reese’s left eye. The pressure was relentless, the kind of pace that often breaks a late-replacement fighter. But Reese stayed calm, using just enough movement and footwork to keep himself in the fight while waiting for McVey to overcommit.

That patience paid off in the second round. Reese timed a level change perfectly, dragging McVey down and quickly transitioning to back control. From there, it was textbook execution — hooks in, forearm under the chin, and squeeze. Within seconds, McVey tapped, and the referee waved it off.

It was a huge moment for Reese, who came into the fight needing a defining performance after a rocky start to his UFC tenure. The victory marked his first official win inside the Octagon, and the manner in which he earned it — resilience under fire followed by a flawless finish — made it even sweeter.

BACK ON TOP 🔝@Savage185Reese earns the 2nd RD submission at #UFCVegas111 pic.twitter.com/eEvmIZZQBF

— UFC (@ufc) November 8, 2025

After the bout, Reese was visibly emotional, thanking his coaches and promising fans that this was only the beginning. “I’m just getting started,” he said in the post-fight interview. “Give me a full camp next time, and I’ll show you the real me.”

For a fighter who answered the phone just days before the event, the message was loud and clear: Zachary Reese belongs here. His short-notice triumph not only reignited his career but also lit up a card that was desperately in need of an early spark — and he delivered it in emphatic fashion.