Aleksandar Rakic claims he was "sucker-punched" by former opponent Jimi Manuwa when the pair crossed paths at UFC London.
Rakic, who brutally knocked out Manuwa in the Brit's final UFC fight three years ago, was in the English capital as a guest fighter for last weekend's event. The Austrian claimed that after the event finished at The O2 arena, he crossed paths with his former foe Manuwa when leaving his seat. Rakic claimed that Manuwa approached him from behind and punched him, but missed his head and instead connected with his neck.
“Jimi Manuwa, you piece of s***. You son of a b****. What a p**** move you did last night on me. Guys, I would just let you know that after the event at UFC London, the security was escorting me to the transfer back to the hotel, and ‘Mr. Still Sleep’ was sitting in my row at the end of the row, so I needed to pass by," Rakic explained.
WARNING: Strong language
"I pass by and he talked to me something – I didn’t really pay attention. I have nothing to do with that guy. For me, this is over. So I started to turn away and he sucker-punched me. Even in that close range he couldn’t catch my head. I think he caught me with the forearm on my neck. The security was so fast here and they separated us.
"What a f****ng p**** move. You knew that I would be alone in London by myself. You know that I had surgery nine weeks ago and you did this. Man, you’re such a bad loser. I want the people to know what a piece of s*** you are. I’m going to stay in your head forever. I retired you, I knocked you out and the world saw that. So happy retirement, ‘Mr. Sleep.’”
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The pair reignited their rivalry last October when Manuwa called for a rematch against Rakic on Twitter, only for the Austrian to mock him by replying: "I'm still sitting on that bonus I got from knocking you out, do you need any money?". Manuwa vowed to make Rakic pay for his taunt, firing back: "Sometimes you need luck and it was with you that night, just make it's with you when I see you. Keep the same energy."
Manuwa, who ended his UFC stint with four consecutive losses, addressed the incident by writing to Rakic: "The fight is the fight and we all win and lose which is part of it. When you try to talk s*** months after the fight on Twitter like every one of the keyboard warriors I promised you I will slap you when I see you. I saw you last night, how dare you think I wouldn’t."
