Search icon

MMA

21st Aug 2016

WATCH: Artem Lobov took a page out of the Diaz brothers’ book in victory over Chris Avila

SBG's answer to the Stockton Slap

Darragh Murphy

There’s nothing more degrading when, in the middle of a mixed martial arts bout, you find yourself on the receiving end of a bitchslap.

It’s the ultimate insult and shows dismissive disdain for the striking acumen of an opponent, and the Diaz brothers excel at it.

But it was a protege of MMA’s favourite siblings who was on the wrong end of the technique at UFC 202 on Saturday night.

Chris Avila was hoping to set a positive tone for Stockton fighters with a victory over SBG featherweight Artem Lobov but found himself outclassed on the feet by ‘The Russian Hammer’, who took a unanimous decision.

And Lobov had such little respect for Avila’s power that he opted to slap the promotional newcomer on numerous occasions in the second round.

“I call it the Shamrock,” Lovov told At The Buzzer after the fight.

And there we were laughing at the UFC’s attempt to get some traction behind the phrase ‘The Shamrock Slap’ on Friday night.

Lobov shut us up!

Massive Mayo v Tipperary preview plus a big interview with Eamon McGee in the latest GAA Hour.Subscribe here on iTunes