Yannick Bahati has been on the receiving end of a considerable amount of criticism after securing the quickest knockout in Cage Warriors history.
Last night, inside The Indigo at the O2, the 35-year-old went head-to-head with Charles Joyner, in a match-up that delivered fireworks.
With Brad Pickett predicting Leon Edwards will get an ‘early finish’ at UFC London this evening, his teammate, wanted to make sure he grabbed some headlines as well.
And rightly or wrongly, he’s certainly done that.
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Yannick Bahati slammed for ‘cheap shot’ at Cage Warriors 186
In a moment of excitement and controversy, Yannick Bahati secured the quickest knockout Cage Warriors has ever seen, with an absolute peach of a right hand just four seconds in.
However, while the shot was perfectly delivered, it didn’t necessarily embody sportsmanship.
The fighters walked to the center of the cage to touch gloves, and while their hands were still intertwined, the warrior launched a devastating blow that left the unsuspecting Aussie flat on the canvas.
The fight was a rematch after the last contest between the pair ended in a split draw. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the victor celebrated wildly, jumping on top of the cage in a state of euphoria.
Alas, his joyful mood may come crashing down when he reads the online backlash for his actions.
One fan said: “Cheapest shot I’ve seen in a while,” while another questioned: “Did he pull him in on the fist bump and KO him??? Kinda dirty.”
A third added: “Fastest sucker punch.” A fourth wasn’t pleased with the shot, but reminded everyone of one of the most important lessons in combat sports, saying: “I mean both kind of cheap off the glove touch and also defend yourself at all times.”
Yannick Bahati wants Cage Warriors title shot
While some weren’t best pleased with Bahati, the victory has undeniably propelled him towards bigger fights, with the powerhouse calling for a shot at the Cage Warriors light heavyweight title.
In his post-fight interview, he said: “James Webb is a good competitor. We’ve been matched in the past, twice. So, hopefully, in the future, I’ll get a chance to fight James Webb.
“To be honest, for me, it doesn’t matter who’s got the belt. I came here with one thing: to wear those yellow gloves and win that gold belt for my two sons.”
