UFC 293 has begun in extraordinary scenes with American fighter Chris Radtke getting booed out of the stadium.
There was drama all over the undercard on Sunday in the hours leading up to Israel Adesanya’s championship defence against Sean Strickland.
The blockbuster card, held at Qudos Bank Arena in western Sydney, was earlier overshadowed by the ugly moment where Radtke had the crowd turn on him after he made a disgusting comment.
Order UFC 293 Sydney: Adesanya v Strickland, Tuivasa v Volkov. Sun 10 Sept. Main Event on Kayo Sports
11am – Fighter booed out stadium after slur
UFC legend Daniel Cormier pulled the microphone away from American fighter Chris Radtke after he dropped a homophobic slur after his win over Mike Mathetha.
Radtke was booed even before the end of the fight after the contest failed to produce any excitement with the fight largely happening on the ground.
Radtke was awarded the win via unanimous decision victory by the judges (29-27 x3) with the “Blood Diamond” disappointing in his day at the office.
Radtke responded in his post-fight interview inside the Octago, saying: “
“It felt great, so f*** all you f****s up in the crowd,” Radtke said.
“Come down and get some you p***y a*** b***h. F*** you.”
He then stuck his middle fingers up towards the grand stand.
Radtke’s post-fight interview was cut short immediately after the homophobic slur and he was escorted backstage. He was booed on his way back to the locker room and reportedly had at a beer cup hurled at him.
Some UFC fighters hit out at the American fighter.
Derek Brunson posted on Twitter that Radtke had “lost his mind”.
“Yeah Radtke’s about to be doing community service at the LGBTQ for the next 6 months,” he posted.
ESPN UFC commentator Alan Jouban also complimented Cormier on putting an end to the interview early.
8am – Weigh-ins produce huge fireworks
It was another fighter on the card who clashed with Adesanya in a surprise twist during Friday night’s weigh-ins after Manel Kape called out City Kickboxing teammate and fellow Kiwi Kai Kara-France.
Kara-France pulled out his scheduled bout with Kape at UFC 293 due to concussion, with rising contender Felipe Dos Santos taking his place.
Kape though called Kara-France out for it on Thursday, prompting Adesanya to stand up and try get in his face as Strickland instead became the surprising mediator for the pair.
“Unfortunately Kai Kara-France is a b***h,” opened Kape.
“The f***ing b***h is in front of me and you are f***ing guilty because this kid’s going to pay. Afraid because, ‘Oh, I have a concussion’, you have three weeks to fight.
“You little f***ing p***y. You have the courage to come here. Stand up motherf***er. Stand the f*** up motherf***er.”
Adesanya was quick to leap to the defence of his teammate and had the Australian crowd’s backing too, with chants of “Kape’s a w***er” ringing out.
“Having f***ing respect,” Adesanya fired back.
“Shut the f*** up b***h. Look at this little midget trying to f*** with me. I will f***ing bury you.”
Strickland, having been the source for so much of the animosity earlier in the week, then stood up to try take matters into his own hands and put out the spotfire.
“Calm the f*** down. I’m supposed to be the a**ehole here Izzy, that’s not your job,” he said.
— foxsports.com.au
FULL CARD (ALL TIMES AEST)
MAIN CARD (from 12pm)
Israel Adesanya (c) v Sean Strickland for middleweight championship
Tai Tuivasa v Alexander Volkov — heavyweight
Manel Kape v Felipe dos Santos — flyweight
Justin Tafa v Austen Lane — heavyweight
Tyson Pedro v Anton Turkalj — light heavyweight
PRELIMS (from 10am)
Carlos Ulberg v Jung Da-Un — light heavyweight
Jack Jenkins v Chepe Mariscal — featherweight
Jamie Mullarkey v John Makdessi — lightweight
Nasrat Haqparast v Landon Quinones — lightweight
EARLY PRELIMS (from 8:30am)
Mike Mathetha v Charlie Radtke — welterweight
Shane Young v Gabriel Miranda — featherweight
Kevin Jousset v Kiefer Crosbie — welterweight
HOW TO WATCH
Fight fans can catch all the action from UFC 293 on Kayo Sports and Main Event.
Order UFC 293 Sydney: Adesanya v Strickland, Tuivasa v Volkov. Sun 10 Sept. Main Event on Kayo Sports