Middleweight Eryk Anders usually makes short work of his MMA opponents. In compiling an 8-0 record as pro, Anders has won six of his fights in the first round.

But Anders didn't predict a first-round win for his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut on Saturday night, instead saying he'd try to push the pace and wear down veteran Rafael Natal with an eye toward a third-round victory over a tiring opponent.

Anders didn't have to wait that long.

The former Alabama linebacker knocked out Natal at the 2:54 mark of the first round.

ROLL TIDE!



Eryk Anders, on short notice, just put himself on the map with a big KO over Rafael Natal! https://t.co/TkzFqCzgVf — FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) July 22, 2017

Anders was an injury replacement in the fight, which was part of "UFC on FOX 25" at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. He found out less than two weeks ago that he was moving up from the Legacy Fighting Alliance.

Anders won the LFA middleweight championship on June 22 in his previous fight before debuting under the banner of the world's biggest MMA promoter with a bang on Saturday night.

Natal's record dropped to 21-9-1.

Anders got Natal in trouble with a headkick and finished him with a pair of lefts to the jaw.

Anders played for Alabama for the final time in the Crimson Tide's 37-21 victory over Texas in the BCS national-championship game to cap the 2009 season. Anders led Alabama with seven tackles, including a fumble-causing sack of Texas quarterback Garret Gilbert with the Tide holding a 24-21 lead. Courtney Upshaw recovered the loose football for Alabama at the Texas 3-yard line with 3:02 left in the game, and the Tide rolled on to its first national title under coach Nick Saban.