5 times the action threatened to continue after a UFC fight ended
MMA has always prided itself on being a highly respectful sport. While the UFC often markets its fights around grudges, the hatchet is mostly buried in the octagon after a fight.
Sometimes, though, it seems like UFC fighters simply can’t let their grudges go after a fight is done. On occasion, things have continued after the final buzzer.
Chaos in the arena. People getting arrested during the fallout. https://t.co/f97xqZl1eT
Often this is down to some kind of perceived disrespect. Other times it’s because a fighter simply can’t accept that they’ve come out on the wrong end of things.
Whenever it happens, though, while it is entertaining, it can also paint the UFC in a pretty bad light. This means that the fighters involved often have to suffer some repercussions.
With this in mind, here are five times that the action threatened to continue even after a UFC fight had finished.
#5. Anthony Smith vs. Ryan Spann – UFC Fight Night
The most recent entry to this list took place just this past weekend at the UFC Fight Night event. Strangely enough, it occurred in a fight that hardly seemed to have a lot of personal animosity around it going in.
Usually one of the more mild-mannered fighters on the UFC’s roster, Anthony Smith was matched against Ryan Spann in the main event of this UFC Fight Night. He seemed to have a major chip on his shoulder.
Spann hadn’t exactly talked a lot of trash leading up to the fight. Apparently though, the fact that he’d claimed that he didn’t care about Smith’s previous experience, wins or main events got under the skin of ‘Lionheart’ – big time.
When it came to fight time, Smith looked more fired up than he’d ever done before. He took the action to ‘Superman’, engaging him on the feet in a brutal striking war in the first round.
Spann attempted to fire back, but looked outgunned by his more ferocious opponent. When Smith finally dropped him, he wasted no time in finishing him off with a rear-naked choke.
But ‘Lionheart’ wasn’t done there. After referee Herb Dean stepped in to stop things, he decided to stand over Spann and hurl abuse down at him, seemingly not willing to end the fight there.
Spann then leapt to his feet and lunged for Smith, forcing UFC officials to flood into the octagon to separate the two fighters. Cooler heads finally prevailed as they shook hands and buried the hatchet.
😳 @LionheartASmith is heated and wants his RESPECT! #UFCVegas37 https://t.co/GHx9MsxIBV
Post-fight, though, Smith explained his actions. He stated that due to the length of time he’s spent in the sport, he merely wants his peers to respect him, something he felt Spann hadn’t done leading up to their clash.