Christian Echols just scored one of the biggest upsets of 2022.
Echols (3-2) needed less than half of a round to brutally knock out All-American wrestler Pat Downey (1-1) with a vicious uppercut on the preliminary card of Bellator 289, which took place Friday at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
Echols was listed as high as a 15-to-1 underdog by some oddsmakers heading into the contest. His decorated opponent was listed as high an overwhelming 25-to-1 favorite, however momentum turned early in Echols’ favor when he sent Downey reeling with a left hook in the opening minutes of the bout. “The Vanilla Gorilla” then pounced with punches and eventually finished his handiwork with a monstrous uppercut that dropped Downey to the canvas at 2:27 of the first round. Watch replay of the fight above.
The finishing sequence can be seen below.
Christian Echols flattens Pat Downey with a huge uppercut to spring the upset #Bellator289
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) December 10, 2022
(via @BellatorMMA) pic.twitter.com/KFQUu4BKIG
“Vanilla Gorrilla style, baby!” Echols said afterward.
“When I felt that land, I just knew — that’s the one, baby. I knew it was there and I followed up, ended the fight in impressive fashion for my Bellator debut.”
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