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MMA

18th Mar 2017

Gunnar Nelson comes up with some magic as he smokes Alan Jouban in London

A master at work

Darragh Murphy

It’s been said time and time again but don’t be fooled by Gunnar Nelson’s seemingly disinterested facial expressions.

The man is a terrifying human being once the Octagon door slams shut.

Nelson is the most composed fighter in the whole of the UFC and he gets less worked up during his cage fights than you do when you realise your office’s water cooler is empty.

What we’re saying is, he seldom gets worked up but, when he turns it on, ‘Gunni’ is an absolute world-beater.

On Saturday night at UFC London, Nelson welcomed Alan Jouban into his own office and put a beating on ‘Brahma’.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRoRAJeDIDn/?taken-by=gunninelson&hl=en

The gameplan was clear for both men – Jouban wanted to engage in a kickboxing match while Nelson wanted the fight on the mat.

Iceland’s Nelson got his way midway through the first frame and he seamlessly transitioned to mount.

The rear naked choke seemed an inevitability but Jouban survived. Just!

However it all went downhill once the second round arrived as Nelson uncorked a straight right down the pipe that took Jouban’s legs from under him.

A head kick followed but, as his tendency, Nelson opted to draw the tap from his opponent rather than pummel his way to a stoppage.

He dragged Jouban to the mat, sunk in a guillotine and that was all she wrote.

It’s nothing short of beautiful to watch.