Under helgen möttes Maximo Blanco och Akira Corassani inne i oktagonen, då ”UFC: TUF 18 Finale” gick av stapeln i Las Vegas. Mötet fick sig ett snabbt avslut då Akira efter 25 sekunder in i matchen tog emot ett knä på näsan, när han fortfarande låg ner.
Maximo trodde att domaren bröt matchen för att han hade vunnit, och i sin glädje firade han med en bakåtvolt. I slutändan var det dock så att Blanco diskats, och nu ber han om ursäkt för firandet och det otillåtna knät, via ”FOX Sports”:
I remember landing two or three punches, and took him down. Then, I think I thought about throwing a left kick to the leg for a moment, but stopped, then, just a moment later, when I thought Akira was up, I unleashed a knee instead. I was only thinking about finishing the fight early.
At that point, I honestly didn’t realize the knee I threw was illegal. I actually didn’t know why the fight was stopped. I don’t understand English so I didn’t really quite understand what referee told me at the neutral corner. I am not making any excuse here but when adrenaline is pumping its hard to understand the language I am not familiar with. So when he waved off the fight, I actually thought I won by a doctor stoppage. Then, my manager came to me told me I am disqualified.
No more back flip for me. Unless I am told okay by my manager after the fight. I promised this to Sean Shelby as well. I am shamed about that back flip.
I felt shamed. So I went over to apologize to Akira, and he asked me ’What happened?’ in Spanish and I could only say, I am sorry, that knee wasn’t unintentional but it was illegal so I am the one who needs to take the blame here.
I actually wanted to apologize to Akira again in the dressing room but by the time I went over to his dressing room he was gone. So I would like to say here again, Akira, I am very sorry about what happened. The only thing I can say is I am very sorry. The fans, UFC, Akira, and everyone, they all deserve better. I will promise that this will never ever happen again.
Maximo har nu förlorat tre av sina fyra senaste matcher, och i dagsläget är det oklart vem han får ta sig an härnäst.
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