A UFC fighter was knocked out in the first round on Saturday night after suffering a bizarre injury moments before the fight began.
In one of the most exciting cards of the year, the UFC has returned to Abu Dhabi for an event headlined by the featherweight championship clash between Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway.
Before the two men meet in the main event of the evening, an exciting undercard of fights get underway, including the much-anticipated return of the fan favourite fighter Khamzat Chimaev.
But shortly after the start of the card, one fight was stopped early after a fighter sustained a bizarre injury which lead to him being knocked out in the very first round.
After a crazy wheel kick knockout win and front flip celebration, heavyweight Chris Barnett rose to popularity in November 2021 and quickly established himself as a cult hero.
Following the huge win, the 38-year-old lost his next fight but rounded out 2022 with a victory in what was his last fight before his return on Saturday night after a series of injuries prevented him from returning to the Octagon.
Therefore, all eyes were on Barnett as he fought for the first time in two years, but unfortunately for fans, the American lost the fight by first round KO after seemingly injuring himself in the build-up.
The ‘injury’ appeared to happen while iconic UFC announcer Bruce Buffer was introducing Barnett before the right, as the fighter landed strangely after jumping in excitement.
Once he landed on the ground, Barnett appeared to injure his left ankle, as clearly took a step back after the cage appeared to keep him from falling over.
Prior to the fight, the heavyweight had been recovering from an injury to his achilles, and therefore, the strange landing may have caused the problem to resurface.
As the fight got underway, Kennedy Nzechukwu, Barnett’s opponent, appeared to establish an early lead as he dominated the centre of the octagon.
And as the bout went on, it became more and more evident that Barnett wasn’t operating at 100%, ultimately leading to Nzechukwu winning the fight via TKO in the final minute of the first round.
Featured Image Credit: UFC