March 26, 2026, 9:15 p.m. ET

Colton Loud continues to let his performances speak for themselves.

Seemingly allergic to rounds with digits beyond the number one, Loud (7-1) quietly built up a lengthy resume of first-round finishes. With his most recent outing, however, he may have made the noise necessary to turn the heads of the UFC brass.

At Fury FC 117, Loud needed only 22 seconds to put Jacob Martos (4-2) to sleep with a D’arce choke from when the opening bell rang.

“I definitely think I’m ready,” Loud recently told MMA Junkie. “I’ve trained with guys who’ve fought in the UFC, and I feel ready for it. When I watch them on TV, they don’t look that impressive to me. I’m 8-0 in finishes with one loss, and I’m ready if they call.”

Born in Texas, Loud was inspired by martial arts films and picked up training as a way to deter bullies. He trained under UFC alum Mark De La Rosa at Genesis BJJ in River Oaks, Texas, but eventually relocated to Omaha, Neb., where he continues to build on an already solid foundation.

“My finishing ability, speed, and versatility (separate me),” Loud said. “I watch guys in my weight class, and a lot of them go to decisions, or they’re slow, or they hit hard but aren’t fast. I feel like I’m one of the most well-rounded fighters in the division. I have a 100 percent finish rate with eight pro fights, and I’m dangerous everywhere. A lot of guys in the UFC at my weight class aren’t.”

Loud, 25, has been competing since 19. He went 7-1 as an amateur before he turned professional in 2022. He shot up the regional ladder to claim Peak Fighting gold, but stumbled in his second title defense with a loss to underdog Jesse Tafoya. However, lessons were learned, and he grew.

“I lost, but I don’t really feel like I lost,” Loud said. “There was a lot going on. I was injured and not mentally there. I shouldn’t have fought that night, but I did. I learned from it and moved forward. I believe I beat that guy nine out of ten times. It was like slipping on a banana peel.”

The UFC wants finishers – and Loud, a finisher, wants the UFC. What seems like a perfect match hasn’t been made yet by Mick Maynard. But his manager, Oren Hodak, is just one phone call away.

“Best case scenario would be short notice because you’re automatically in,” Loud said. “If not, I’ll fight on the Contender Series. If that doesn’t happen, I’ll take another regional fight. I’m not staying inactive. I believe I’ll keep winning no matter who they put in front of me. I just want to stay active and gain experience.”