Not every fight ends with a handshake and kind words between camps.
The feud between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor is a clear example of a rivalry that did not end with the final bell, especially in MMA.
With so much on the line in a big fight, tempers can flare, and it’s not just the fighters who feel the pressure.
Saturday night’s bout in Liverpool was not fuelled by any intense animosity before the opening bell.
Unsurprisingly, a fighter who wins most of his fights by knockout securing a dramatic finish to claim a world title in front of his opponent’s home crowd was the catalyst for the ensuing ugly scenes.
Nick Ball’s teammate tries to take a swipe at Brandon Figueroa after stunning title win
Brandon Figueroa knocked out Nick Ball in the final round to win the WBA featherweight title on enemy turf.
Ball was attempting his fourth defence of the belt, fighting in front of home fans at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.
Figueroa was already ahead on two of the judges’ scorecards heading into the 12th and capped off his performance by stopping the champion.
It wasn’t just drinks and other objects that found their way into the ring during Figueroa’s celebrations.
A fighter tried to climb through the ropes and get close to Figueroa’s team, managing only a short kick that appeared to catch one of the coaches before security stepped in.
Fans on social media identified him as Andrew Cain, who had earlier stopped Alejandro Jair Gonzalez in Round 9.
In the past, Ball was himself part of a kicking controversy when he lashed out at TJ Doheny last year, yet he managed to avoid a point deduction.
Brandon Figueroa already seems to have plans in place after his title win
The fallout from Brandon Figueroa’s world title win won’t be a major concern for him, as he heads back home with the WBA featherweight belt.
Shortly after his victory, opportunities for his next fight started to come up.
It’s been confirmed that Canelo Alvarez will return to the ring on September 12 in Riyadh, headlining a ‘Mexico vs. The World’ event.
Turki Alalshikh responded to Figueroa’s win by expressing interest in having him included on the card.
He posted on X: “A huge congratulations to Brandon Figueroa for showing his character by taking the risk and traveling to the champion’s backyard to capture the WBA featherweight championship with a great knockout in the final round.
“We want to see you defend your title for the first time on September 12 in Riyadh, when we stage Mexico vs. The World – featuring the return of Mexican superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in the main event.”
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