Jimmy Hinel talks odd ending in CFFC debut, looks for more in return: 'I want to showcase all of my skills'

Hinel bested a game Tyree Sutton at CFFC 141 but is hoping for a more dynamic performance next time out.

TAMPA, Florida – Things didn't exactly start the way Jimmy Hinel was hoping at CFFC 141, getting cracked by a Tyree Sutton right hand in the opening seconds, but when it was all said and done, the light heavyweight impressed in his promotional debut.

The intriguing matchup streamed live on UFC Fight Pass from the Florida State Fairgrounds, and it was Sutton who scored at the start, a mistake Hinel admits he must correct moving forward. That said, Hinel recovered quickly as wrestling standout Sutton followed with an immediate takedown attempt.

"I've done that a few times," Hinel said with a laugh. "That's just on me. He got me right in the eye. It was a good, straight, clean punch. I threw a lazy kick, I think. He caught me in the eye. It led him right into where he wanted to be, so it was a little bit of just, 'OK, well we knew what was going to happen.'

"We studied his film in the past, so we kind of expected that but didn't expect it right away, but yeah, man. He cracked me. Gave me a nice, clean punch to the face. I've got to stop doing that."

That opening series would be the last real highlight for Sutton on the night, as he did score a few takedowns in the first round but struggled to keep Hinel on the floor and then largely found himself stuck on the outside as he worked from against the cage.

Entering the second round, Hinel anticipated a similar approach from Sutton and felt more prepared than he did in the first.

"I went to the corner, and we knew that we didn't win that one, but I kind of knew what he was going to come out and do for the second round, so we sharpened up a few little things with the underhook, just be patient until I can get the time, and that's kind of what happened," Hinel said. "Elbows opened up some holes."

Indeed, a constant barrage of elbows did give Hinel an opportunity to dig underhooks and wrench Sutton off the cage and down to the canvas. From there, Hinel set up an arm-triangle choke that looked initially very tight. To his credit, Sutton defended well, but Hinel kept looking to tighten up the hold, and at the 4:25 mark of the second frame, referee Andrew Glenn halted the matchup.

The finish was formally announced as a TKO, but Glenn indicated inside the cage that it was a verbal submission through a scream of pain that led to his decision.

Hinel admits he wasn't sure exactly what happened during the sequence but was confident he was getting a submission one way or another.

"I just felt the choke," Hinel said. "I started to put the choke in. That's something that I like to do. Our people know that once I get on top, it's a little hard to get me off, but I didn't know what happened. I just felt someone tapping me on the shoulder to get up. I felt the ref just telling me to get up, and at that point, when they intervene, it's not my job to say 'good' or 'bad.' I'm just like, 'Oh, I got the win.'

"I thought that he went to sleep. I didn't know. All respect to him. I hope he's not hurt. I hope he had a good Easter with his family, good flight home and everything. It's the name of the game, right? He's going to punch me, I'm going to punch him. He's going to choke me, I'm going to choke him. I'm just glad that I came out on top through the training and the rigorous camp kind of came to fruition."

With the win in his CFFC debut, Hinel (4-1 MMA, 1-0 CFFC) rebounded from the first setback of his professional career and now looks like a prospect to watch in the promotion's light heavyweight division.

With CFFC expected to return to Florida this summer, Hinel is hoping to get a spot on the card, and this time, he wants an opportunity to show even more of his skills.

"I'm a little sore from the fight," Hinel admitted. "The fence is not a padded wall, and he grinded me pretty good, but I'm back in the gym. Everybody is super happy, and it's a good feeling to be like, 'OK, cool. Here's another step on the ladder,' but I have tunnel vision. I'm ready to go again.

"I want to get healthy, fight again, and go through a whole set of new challenges and do what I need to do best. I love to fight. Let's just get out there and go again. I want to showcase all of my skills – on the jiu-jitsu, on the wrestling – with my striking, exchange a little bit, come in and out. I want to see how Jimmy gets better. That's what I'm excited for."