UFC Paris witnessed a bizarre incident at the lightweight showdown between Chris Duncan and Bolaji Oki. Duncan and Oki opened up the prelims of the annual UFC event in France. The two prospects delivered a highlight-worthy performance that lasted nothing more than four minutes into the first round. Here is what happened:
Chris Duncan entered the bout as an underdog against Bolaji Oki. The 28-year-old Belgian has a reputation for being a dangerous striker with heavy hands. Oki, a.k.a ‘The Zulu Warrior’ started the fight aggressively. He threw powerful combinations and attempted to assert control early. However, Duncan was resilient and strategic. He patiently weathered the storm of Oki’s heavy offense.
Oki’s striking defense is a known weakness, and Duncan exploited this. Midway through the first round, Duncan seized an opportunity during a grappling exchange and locked in a guillotine choke. The submission was tight, and Oki was unable to escape, ultimately falling unconscious.
Tragically, neither Duncan nor referee Loic Pora realized that Oki was unconscious. After tiring his arms out, Duncan let go of the choke, and Oki was still unconscious. He informed a clueless Loic Pora, who then stepped in and stopped the bout. This gave the Scottish fighter his first victory by submission in the UFC, that too in the very first round.
It also marked a significant rebound for Duncan, who had suffered a submission loss to Manuel Torres earlier this year. The win at UFC Paris not only highlighted Duncan’s striking but also showed his grappling prowess, adding another dimension to his game. Interestingly, Duncan revealed in the backstage interview that he had stepped into this fight with an injury. However, ‘The Problem’ refused to elaborate further.
Netizens react to Chris Duncan’s submission victory over Bolaji Oki at UFC Paris
Chris Duncan’s ability to absorb punishment, adapt mid-fight, and finish his opponent decisively caught the attention of fans on social media. Many observed that Oki went out just moments before Duncan let go of the choke. Unnecessary damage is sadly part of the sport. However, bad stoppages always anger the fanbase unlike any other.
Fans react to Chris Duncan choking Bolaji Oki unconscious at UFC Paris (Image via X)The Bobby Green vs. Jalin Turner fight in 2023 left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth. Duncan’s submission win over Oki remains the same. People went to the comment section to share their thoughts and reactions to the submission. Here are some of the reactions from X:
Why are the refs even there? He was looking right at him smh
— pawellwitt (@pawellwitt) September 28, 2024
not even checking his arm if they were both asleep 🤦🏽♂️
— tvballa (@tvba11a) September 28, 2024
I’ve seen it before, but it’s a weird lil thing that I don’t fully understand lol. I always liken blood chokes to kinking a hose, and sometimes when you unkink it it still takes a little bit for the water to start flowing, yk?
— JDK (@JDillaThaKilla) September 28, 2024
Nah, he was out just before he let go of hold
— Mr. Achilles (@TDAchilles) September 28, 2024
Nah. He just went out at the last second he posted. Still had a little bit of blood flow to the brain and then slumped
— Trill E. Nelson (@atomtheartist) September 28, 2024
Sudden intake of oxygen most likely made him pass out , it happens but I haven’t seen it in Mma before
— John (@JomnUfcThoughts) September 28, 2024
This win at UFC Paris has added to Duncan’s reputation as a tough and relentless fighter. He showed that he could turn the tide in his favor even when facing aggressive strikers like Oki. The loss exposed some vulnerabilities in his defensive game for Oki, particularly when facing versatile opponents. It will be interesting to see how the two fighters perform in their next upcoming fights.
