Bryan Battle vs. Kevin Jousset happened Saturday on the main card of UFC Paris (UFC Fight Night 243) at Accor Arena. Jousset entered the UFC Paris foray looking for his third consecutive win. He kicked off his UFC tenure against Kiefer Crosbie and Kenan Song. This fight marks his first of the year. Meanwhile, Battle stuck to his nickname and took the fight. Not just to the French welterweight, but also to the crowd!
The duo didnโt waste time getting into the early exchanges. Bryan Battle clinched after a set of combos, looking to drag the Frenchman. However, City Kickboxingโs Kevin Jousset, similar to their standout fighter Israel Adesanya, is proficient in spatial control. The 31-year-old Judoka did well not to stray from his feet and control his pocket despite blows to the head.
Battle was way better in range. However, the Team Carolina Combat Sports & Fitness star kept himself open to exchanges and waited for a return serve. The hard-chin brawler and freestyle expert did not sway. He ate low shot after shot and still stayed in the phone booth, trading punches. This is the trend now, to stand and duke it. While the opponent answered well with a 1-2 combo, Battle kept up the pressure.
You can’t boo Battle.pic.twitter.com/ZtwM2VFdyB
โ Jed I. Goodman ยฉ (@jedigoodman) September 28, 2024
“I know y’all didn’t think The Butcher was going to lose to a French dude!”@BryanBattle10 with a LEGENDARY post-fight interview ๐ #UFCParis pic.twitter.com/zlZ2fad7Pz
โ UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) September 28, 2024
The fighter kept up to his moniker, โThe Butcherโ tagged him with a left, and then one again, and kept boxing up Kevin Jousset. Bryan Battle defeated him via TKO (punches) โ in R2 at the 3:47 mark. However, thatโs when the boos got even louder. Battle embraced the hate and flipped off the crowd. As such, the matter has gone quite viral.
Fight fans react to Bryan Battleโs profound profanity
It was a given that Saturdayโs UFC Paris (UFC Fight Night 243) would have a lively crowd. From an electric start to the night, the crowd came alive like it always does in Paris. A thunderous big left hook crumpling Gabriel Miranda and knees steamrolling veteran Matt Frevolla. It was a matter of ages that got everyone hyped.
One would think Charles Oliveira lookalike Bryan Battle (even the desk duty commentators dub him Oliveira from Carolina) would get some love, too. But the landmark of love was not so kind to the โButcher.โ The TUF: Season 29 alum winner had won back-to-back bouts.
Bryan Battle had some pent-up aggression about Ange Loosa letting loose and milking an eye poke in their last outing. A -172ย listed bettor favorite, Battle had to stick to that notion and win this one. Hence, the UFC Paris fighter pieced up crowd-fave Kevin Jousset well from range. However, the crowd kept booing him. Bryan Battle took to the mic, before flipping them off.
As such, his sentiments riled up a lot of fans, present or otherwise. Here are a few top reactions to Battle (12-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC).
Battle lock of the week. Everyone better be watchin out for him
โ cool moves (@moves_cool) September 28, 2024
Battle born ๐ฅ
โ zachorama (@zachorama_) September 28, 2024
Bryan battle is a monster broโฆso much volume, such accuracy and there was some serious heat packed on those fistsโฆ. pic.twitter.com/3cXEdV66vE
โ Ackshat (@ackshat1) September 28, 2024
Thats how you win the crowd over
โ pawellwitt (@pawellwitt) September 28, 2024
And said fu to the crowd๐คฃpic.twitter.com/3ZKeWPsBdx
โ Knockout of the day (@KOofTheDAY) September 28, 2024
Guess he really wanted to make a memorable impression ๐คฃ๐คฃ๐คฃ
โ The Consumer (@OneTrueConsumer) September 28, 2024
Bryan Battle, spitting venom to the French in France after beating down a French dude is legendary trash talking.
โ Lex Jurgen (@Lex_Jurgen) September 28, 2024
His clinch game and boxing broke Jousett
โ NucIear (@Nuclearloll4) September 28, 2024
Close enough welcome back do Bronx
โ Cooper (@cooper_601662) September 28, 2024
As expected, some fans have noted that this was a foolhardy way of playing heel and winning the crowd. If at all, one had to wonder if he was called Bryan Love!
Surprisingly, though, many others have taken a liking to the battle-hardened Battle. A few have even quipped that this locks the 30-year-old as an immediate top contender, cutting a venomous spill promo on foreign soil. All in all, his actions are quite viral. No press is bad press if it gets one talking, perhaps.