LAS VEGAS – Jacob Malkoun had a lot of doubt to clear heading into UFC on ESPN 22.

After getting stopped in just 18 seconds by Phil Hawes in his promotional debut at UFC 254, Malkoun (5-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) faced another knockout artist in Abdul Razak Alhassan at UFC on ESPN 22 this past Saturday.

In what likely was a must-win situation, Malkoun prevailed with a dominant win over Alhassan, stifling the power puncher with his grappling. Malkoun is one of former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker’s main training partners, so it was a matter of leveling up on the big stage and that’s exactly what he was able to do.

“He’s got a decent name, he’s beaten a few guys in the UFC, knocked out a few people – but there was never a question about my skill set,” Malkoun told MMA Junkie and other reporters following UFC on ESPN 22. “My coaches believed in me more than I believed in myself, really.

“They just put it in my brain. I’ve always had a high skill set. I train with Rob Whittaker all the time, so I know where I am. But I’ve just got to prove it on this stage. It’s easy to train and be good in the gym, but to get in the cage and do it is another thing, and I just showed that, proved to myself that I can do it.”

With only six pro fights under his belt, Malkoun knows he still has plenty of room to grow. He has no intention of rushing into another fight and is happy to get an adequate amount of time to make advancements in his game, before booking another fight.

“I just want to get better first,” Malkoun said. “I don’t want to keep jumping in. I’ve got a lot of gaps to fill. There’s no easy fight in the UFC. I can’t just keep jumping and say, ‘Oh, I’m the best’ because I won one fight. I’ve got to keep getting better. So whatever the coaches think (I should do next), we’ll go back, regroup, and we’ll see what happens from there.”