A Star Is Born as Montana's Own Rules the UFC

The lights were shining bright in the octagon on Saturday night as UFC Fight Night took place in Oklahoma City. As fans prepared for Great Falls native Tommy McMillen to take on Venezuela's Alberto Montes, a buzz could be felt in the air as if the tide of the UFC was about to shift.

As introductions began, the hype only grew.

UFC Fight Night: Tommy McMillen vs. Alberto Montes

Tommy McMillen's confidence was apparent from the beginning as fans began loudly cheering before the announcer could get his name out.

Once the bell signaled the start of the first round, it only took about twenty second for the Oklahoma City crowd to start chanting the first of many "Tommy! Tommy! Tommy!" chants.

And it wasn't just the fans talking.

McMillen constantly taunted and provoked Montes throughout the fight, reminding longtime fight fans of UFC legends and brothers, Nick and Nate Diaz.

McMillen almost the put the fight away early, staggering Montes with about a minute and a half left in the first round before knocking him into next week with a shot that Montes dazed with under a minute to go.

Cue the "Tommy! Tommy!" chant once more.

The two fighters exchanged devastating blows to wind down the first round with McMillen taking a shot that knocked him down for a brief moment. He got right back up and immediately went back and forth with Montes as they exchanged taunts and more trash talk.

The second round began right where the first round left off and yup, you guessed it: the round began with more "Tommy!" chants.

McMillen wowed the commentators with his insane cardio and ability to maintain his aggressive pacing. Despite taking hits to the face and having a bloody nose, McMillen maintained pressure on Montes and drew waves of cheers with each strike and high knee.

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Chants of "USA!" began rumbling the arena with around two and a half minutes to go before morphing into more chants for Tommy. As the second round ended, McMillen got into Montes's face for a little bit of trash talk.

The hype for McMillen continued to build as the fight headed toward its dramatic conclusion.

UFC Fight Night: A Star is Born

By this point, the crowd was waiting for McMillen to give something to go nuts for and he almost delivered at around 4:30 to go in the third round when Montes laid on his back as McMillen delivered strikes and taunts that included telling Montes: "Get up you little (expletive)!"

McMillen backed away so Montes could get up and by this point, the crowd was like a pack of hungry wolves waiting for fresh meat to drop at the center.

McMillen knew he had them in the palm of his hand.

Once back up, McMillen sent the crowd into a frenzy by shotting Montes double middle-fingers that once again, was very reminiscent of UFC legends Nate and Nick Diaz.

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McMillen then threw a barrage of fists with a variety of kicks to a crowd waiting for Montes to drop.

With 1:54 left in the third round, McMillen shoots one more middle finger at Montes before hitting him with a pair of punches that puts him on his back before he gets up to McMillen bombing him with strikes.

The official finally jumps in to stop the beatdown at 1:31 in the third round, giving McMillen the victory and the crowd erupts.

Tommy McMillen Announces It's His Time

In his post-fight interview, McMillen made it known he is ready for the next challenge by ramping up the crowd.

"Listen I'm a real American Gangster (expletive), I broke an Armenian Russian just to get in UFC, I knocked an Italian out for $100k, I just knocked a Venezuelan boy out for $100k, Uncle Dana, Hunter, send me a (expletive) Mexican September 12th in Arizona, I'm coming home!"

As confident as he is, he is not without gratitude. McMillen gave thanks to his team and promised he would defend his right to fight from any challenger.

"I train with the best mixed martial arts team in the world, Tim Welch, Suga Sean O'Malley back in Arizona, they were by my side this whole camp, we have a group of killers coming up under us, and it's me being a crazy kid that likes to fight I'm surrounded by the right people and I'm grateful to be in the position I'm in and I'll be damned if I let another man step in this (expletive) cage and take the blessings I've been earning."

With his stellar performance, ability to get a crowd behind him (and quick!), and maintaining his undefeated streak in dominant fashion, there's no question McMillen is officially a star.

Next up? World champion.