Norman Parke verbally accepts offer to exact revenge for teammate’s title defeat

Just like that, Norman Parke could have himself another title fight.

After those back-to-back controversial bouts against Mateusz Gamrot, Norman Parke is riding a two-fight win streak. He defeated Lukasz Chlewicki at KSW 43 before beating Myles Price in a rematch at Brave 12 in Belfast. The next fight may have presented itself at BAMMA London on Thursday night where Parke cornered teammate Rhys McKee. Unfortunately for 22-year-old McKee, he came up on the wrong side of a unanimous decision (30-27, 30-25, 30-25) in the main event. The Antrim prospect lost his lightweight title to Terry Brazier, who's nearly a decade his senior. Aside from a rear-naked choke attempt from McKee that very nearly put Brazier out the first round, Brazier had the better of the exchanges on the ground, where the fight mostly played out. The Englishman passed his way to mount several times throughout the fight. However, McKee toughed it out until the final buzzer sounded. McKee had quite a bit of success on the feet in the third round, but Brazier countered a spinning kick to take him back down to the ground again. From the top position, he completely dominated again.

Already the promotion’s welterweight champion, Brazier became a two-weight champion by beating the Northern Irishman.  After picking up his ninth-consecutive win, Brazier had nothing but positive things about McKee.

“That was the best fighter I’ve come up against by far. I thought it was going to be a lot easier than it was. Props to the kid, he’s a great fighter. I’m sure at some stage he’ll get the title back.”

https://twitter.com/BAMMA/status/1012476528645505029

The seed

After the fight, Parke sent McKee some words of encouragement on Twitter. He also congratulated Brazier on his accomplishment.

"Proud of you brother, just a learning curve to where you will be, your attitude to the game at your age is on another level, big congrats to Terry on your performance tonight."

Meanwhile, backstage at the event, Brazier was trying to secure a fight against Parke. He called the former TUF champion out in an interview with Combat 365.

"I don't want to be a gatekeeper. I'm not going to stick around and fight off the other lightweights. If someone else takes a contract - Norman Parke - someone like that who would make it worthwhile and it's a good fight, good match-up, good money, then I'll stick around." "100% yeah (I'd stay at lightweight to fight Norman Parke."

The fight looks like it may be a runner. Parke was quick to verbally accept the offer on social media. https://twitter.com/norman_parke/status/1012611785269145600 He couldn't let the opportunity pass without scoring a dig on his arch-rival Gamrot though. Gamrot bit his finger in their first encounter, a foul that went unpunished as he successfully defended his KSW strap. Their second clash in Dublin ended in a controversial No Contest after Parke was unable to continue following his second eye-poke of the night. He was also punched by an opposition cornerman after the official decision. https://twitter.com/norman_parke/status/1012648214477066241 Watch this space.