A cocky fighter's plan to goad his opponent backfired when he got knocked out with the very next punch
- Santo Curatolo dropped Dilshod Zaripov immediately after his opponent tried to goad him.
- Zaripov was making a gesture to suggest Curatolo thump him.
- The clip below shows that you should be careful what you wish for.
A cocky fighter's plan to goad his opponent backfired when he got knocked out with the very next punch.
It all went down at the Cage Fighting Fury Championships, a regional combat sports promotion that holds events on the east coast of the USA.
Its latest event, CFFC 98, took place at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the co-main event match between Santo Curatolo and Dilshod Zaripov attracted attention because of its unconventional ending.
Most fighters, you see, defend shots when fists are flying in their direction.
But not Zaripov, and not on Saturday. Zaripov was getting caught and decided to drop his hands and taunt Curatolo.
Curatolo needed no second invitation to throw more heavy leather at Zaripov.
He threw a lead shot that was more akin to a distance-measuring feint, before following it up with an incredible hammer of a right hand.
That follow-up blow was so powerful it left Zaripov flat on his back in a vulnerable position.
With the referee undecided on whether to call the match off, or let it continue, Curatolo initiated ground-and-pound by throwing two fists at Zaripov from top position.
And that was all it took to instigate the referee's stoppage.
It was all over, and Zaripov learned a valuable lesson.
Watch it right here:
With the victory, Curatolo advanced his pro MMA record to six wins (five knockouts and one submission) against one loss.
Elsewhere at the Cage Fury Fighting Championship event, Yohan Lainesse won the promotion's welterweight championship after beating Evan Cutts in the second round thanks to punches to the body.
Lainesse remains unbeaten, having advanced his flawless pro MMA record to seven wins (five knockouts and two decisions).