Over and over again, rising MMA fighters are informed of the importance of differentiating themselves from the pack. Sometimes, it’s difficult and fighters act a fool to supplement substantial interest.
But for Manny Akpan, he will not need to do such things – all because of his Cage Warriors 136 knockout against Connor Hitchens. If he does nothing else in the near future, he will always be known as “the guy who hit that ridiculous roundhouse kick,” because that’s exactly what he did.
Was it luck? Was it a perfect analysis of timing? Was it a combination?
None of those questions really matter in the end. The bottom line is Akpan (4-1) wrecked Hitchens (6-2) with a violent, face-plant-inducing roundhouse kick that ended their featherweight bout at the 4:36 mark of Round 2.
After Akpan stuffed a takedown from Hitchens, the two fighters bounded upward. As he looked to back off and reset, Hitchens dashed away – but directly toward Akpan’s power side. Akpan made him pay as he spun and landed the knockout blow, which you can watch below.
Manny Akpan just unleashed one of the best KOs I've seen so far this year. Stunning finish at #CW136 pic.twitter.com/do39dVisZ2
— Simon Head (@simonhead) April 2, 2022
Cage Warriors 136 took place Saturday at BEC Arena in Manchester, England, as the second of a two-day doubleheader for the promotion.
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