As UFC light heavyweight champ Jamahal Hill and lightweight star Bobby Green looked on, featherweight fighter David Onama put on a great show for the fans at Jacksonville Arena in Florida. He took on Gabriel Santos in a three-round bout and it was everything that the fans expect from a barn-burner. While there were moments when Santos looked like he might show his elite grappling and get a submission, Onama was just too slick on the night.
The bout almost went the distance as David Onama and Gabriel Santos had a great and forth bout. In terms of total strikes, Onama landed 30 strikes in total with 27 significant strikes. Santos, on the other hand, landed more with 33 total strikes. But his significant strikes were fewer with 25. Santos also had 2 submission attempts and landed 1 successful takedown.
🏹 @DavidOnama145 with a MASSIVE KO #UFCJacksonville pic.twitter.com/AYdx6npuuO
— UFC (@ufc) June 24, 2023
But it was also evident that Onama was much sharper inside the Octagon with better striking skills. Time and again, the 29-year-old landed heavy shots and made his opponent sutter. But, at the 4:13 minute of the third round, Onama landed the KO blow and put out his opponent to improve his MMA record to 11-2. However, what happened afterward, stole the spotlight.
David Onama channels his inner Israel Adesanya at UFC Jacksonville
David Onama paid tribute to Israel Adesanya at UFC Jacksonville with his post-fight celebration. At UFC 287, Israel Adesanya knocked out Alex Pereira to regain his middleweight title. After the KO, Adesanya imitated the Brazilian fighter’s arrow celebration and used it as a tool of revenge. Izzy previously lost to Poatan thrice and finally got his sweet revenge with a KO of his own.
This looks familiar 🏹🥶#UFCJacksonville pic.twitter.com/55JMoH8w2P
— UFC (@ufc) June 24, 2023
Hence, imitating Pereira’s celebration was the perfect way to set the record straight. It ultimately became a legendary moment and David Onama paid tribute to that with his celebration after knocking out Gabriel Santos viciously. And, needless to say, fans online went berserk for the celebration and expressed their joy. But there was a certain portion of the fanbase that was not so positive about the move.
Here are some fan reactions on the matter
So cringe, at least when Izzy did it it made sense.
— 𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚝 (@Halvani7) June 24, 2023
Adesanya did it better and it made sense why adesanya did it. This just doesn’t make any sense but seem cringe. It’s like when people say “let’s wrestle let’s wrestle”
— Absconded Llama (@abscondedllama) June 24, 2023
He’s not him but that was a solid finish
— aden (@Aden522) June 24, 2023
It was cool when Izzy did it given the history, but this was just so tryhard and cringe
— Goshinby (@Goshinby) June 24, 2023
I think he might be an Izzy Adesanya fan 😂
— Connor 🇾🇪🐝 (@confcum123) June 24, 2023
After the bout, David Onama told Daniel Cormier that he was only improving and would become a title contender in the future. So what was your take on the performance? Let us know in the comments down below.