- Spectacular violence underlined a Cage Warriors event in the UK over the weekend.
- It was an otherwise quiet few days in the combat sports world with no major boxing or UFC cards.
Spectacular violence underlined the latest Cage Warriors event that took place on an otherwise quiet fight weekend for combat sports.
There were no major boxing shows, and the UFC was on a one-week hiatus, leaving regional fight promotions like Cage Warriors to steal the show.
And the UK MMA firm did not just have one highlight-reel to show off; it had several, as Saturday's event featured a flying knee, devastating fists, and a capoeira knockout that might be one of the flashiest ways to end a fight.
Cage Warriors held events on back-to-back days at the weekend, and at Cage Warriors 136 inside Manchester's BEC Arena on April 2, English featherweight Manny Akpan finished Connor Hitchens in the second round during the fifth fight of the 13-bout card.
Akpan, nicknamed 'Black Death,' rotated his body and threw his left leg at Hitchens' head in a move that saw his foot connect with the jaw.
The technique looks so good on video footage that it would not have looked out of place on a video game.
Watch it right here:
Victory advanced Akpan's pro MMA record to four wins (two knockouts, one submission, and one decision) against one loss.
Elsewhere on the card, the Cage Warriors commentator speculated that one fighter may have lost a tooth in the 165-pound match between Finnish fighter Aleksi Mantykivi and Jeanderson Castro.
Mantykivi dazed his opponent with a powerful right hand over the top that put Castro on considerably wobbly legs.
Sensing an opportune moment to finish the bout had presented itself, Mantykivi followed with a textbook one-two that caused Castro to faceplant the canvas.
Watch the brilliant knockout right here:
And, in the main event of the evening, Christian Leroy Duncan sent fans home with a stunning finisher as he inflicted the first loss on Djati Melan's fledgling career with a nasty knee strike that he followed-up with merciless punches.
Melan was in no fit state to continue, and was virtually defenseless when on the ground.
The loss saw Melan's pro MMA record fall to eight wins and one defeat, as Duncan climbed to six wins (four knockouts, one submission, and one decision). He remains unbeaten.
Watch Duncan's win right here:
Cage Warriors events are broadcast on UFC Fight Pass.
It returns June 25 for its next show, which takes place in Belfast.
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