Makwan Amirkhani scored a first round submission win atUFC 251 on Saturday.- Amirkhani separated his featherweight opponent
Danny Henry from his sense inside the Flash Forum at "Fight Island ," Abu Dhabi, but then showed great sportsmanship after. - Rather than celebrate, the submission specialist checked to see if Henry was okay and then tried to help him regain consciousness, before bowing.
- Watch the submission and the respect below.
FIGHT ISLAND — A submission specialist helped his UFC opponent regain consciousness after he choked him out in the very first round of a preliminary bout at UFC 251 on Saturday, July 11.
Makwan Amirkhani showed technical brilliance in applying an anaconda chokehold midway through the opening frame of his featherweight match against Danny Henry at the first of UFC's much-hyped four "Fight Island" events on a quarantined section of Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.
But rather than celebrate the highlight-reel victory, Amirkhani's first concern was to check to see if his opponent was okay.
He then lifted Henry's legs above the fallen fighter's heart level, which aids blood flow back to the brain and can help regain consciousness. Amirkhani then bowed.
It was a great display of sportsmanship inside the behind-closed doors Flash Forum venue — a purpose-built arena from the Abu Dhabi tourism authority to provide the UFC with a place the company can hold international events during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Watch Amirkhan's submission and act of sportsmanship here:
—UFC (@ufc) July 12, 2020
Or here if you're in a different region:
—UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) July 12, 2020
Victory advanced Amirkhani's record to 16 wins (one knockout, 11 submissions, and four decisions) against four losses.
It is the fourth time he's triumphed using the anaconda choke.
Read more:
UFC boss Dana White expects Conor McGregor to come out of retirement next year