Toowoomba MMA star Tom ‘Big Train’ Nolan’s debut fight in Las Vegas ends in a first round knockout and ticket to the UFC

The 23-year-old Toowoomba product dreamt of being a UFC fighter, and it took less than two minutes to achieve that dream.

Toowoomba’s MMA star Tom “Big Train” Nolan is on top of the world after a brutal first round knockout in his first Las Vegas bout.

The win provides the 23-year-old with his dream – a contract UFC contract.

Nolan went into the lightweight fight on the Dana White Contender Series Seven against experienced Austrian fighter Bogdan Grad as short priced favourite but the Austrian had a record of 11 and one and it was to be Nolan’s biggest fight of his burgeoning career.

However, in just one minute and 20 seconds of the first round Grad lay unconscious on the canvas after falling victim to a vicious left hook from the Toowoomba fighter.

It was a sweet victory for Nolan who claimed Grad had been “trash talking” him in the lead-up to the bout.

“It felt awesome,” Nolan said.

“And to do it against an opponent that was trash-talking me for weeks, it couldn’t have been better.”

Toowoomba's Tom "Big Train" Nolan has won his first fight in Las Vegas and a UFC contract.

Later, after being handed an official UFC contract by Dana White, a more subdued Nolan said he knew he was going to win by knockout.

“I knew this was going to happen, I saw this happening out the back, I was envisaging it,” he said.

“I was just throwing that left hand on a pad and, yeah, it came to fruition, so I knew it was going to happen.”

Asked what his immediate future held, Nolan was direct.

“I’m going to keep knocking people out and that’s going to keep building my reputation,” he said.

“And, my teammates are going to be out here soon too, I guarantee it, and they’re going to be knocking people out.”

Promoter Dana White couldn’t hide his admiration for the 23-year-old Toowoomba product as he handed Nolan his first official UFC contract.

“6’3 (1.9m), 155lbs (70kg), he’s the extreme killer, only 23 years old,” White said of Nolan.

“The only thing I have to say about this kid is – you have a bright future, Tom Nolan.”

Toowoomba MMA fighter Tom Nolan after winning a points decision against Trevor Sinclair at Carara Stadium on the Gold Coast in 2021.

Watching the fight from the relatively safe distance of the City Golf Club in Toowoomba, Tom’s proud father Kevin Nolan said he was always worried when his son stepped into the ring, but he was confident of this fight.

“I’m always a bit concerned but I just knew he’d win even though he was facing one of the best in the world,” Kevin said.

“Tom is so professional in his approach to fighting and training.

“He’s wanted this so much all along, I couldn’t be happier.”

Tom Nolan’s older brother Luke Nolan was at the fight in Las Vegas had a quick word with his little brother as he left the ring.

“It’s f--king awesome over here,” an obviously excited Luke Nolan told The Chronicle.

“Tom said he feels at home.”

After celebrating the win, Tom Nolan will meet with his management in the coming days to plan his future career as a UFC fighter.