WATCH: Bizarre Knockout Celebration Ends In Suspension And Fine

Legacy Fighting Alliance is a relatively small MMA promotion, but on Saturday, one of their fights went viral.

Drew Chatman achieved a bizarre knockout over Irvins Ayala. Then proceeded to flip off Irvins’s back in celebration, earning himself a disqualification, a suspension, and a lot of media attention.

On Monday, Chatman told MMA Fighting how everything happened from his perspective:

“I threw a kick, he tripped me and as he came down, I moved my knee in a certain position and he had hit his chin to my knee. At that moment, it happened so fast that my instincts just kicked in and I started punching. As he fell down to the floor, it was almost like I couldn’t believe he was out, because it happened really quick. My natural reaction was just to get up.”

Chatman then explained the celebration in a similar way – he was on autopilot.

“Normally, I celebrate my fights. If you see all my amateur fights, I’m doing flips, I’m doing cartwheels or whatever the case may be. I didn’t think before I did it. I just jumped and did a flip. So it was almost like subconsciously I did what I normally what I would do celebrating a victory that I normally get.”

He has been suspended 90 days by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) and his $500 purse has been withheld per the disqualification. Chatman said he did not have a problem with this sanctioning, in fact he seemed quite contrite.


Strength Wars Movie

Chatman apologized to his opponent, the promotion, and the commission.

“I want to apologize to Irvins Ayala. He was a good opponent. And he brought the fight to me. And he had a lot of heart. It was not a good move on my part as a martial artist. And I want to apologize to the California athletic commission, because they laid down the rules, they gave a great understanding and they do their job very well. Also, to Legacy, LFA, because they gave me a great opportunity to display my skills and it was a good platform.”

Frankly, his apology and explanation fits with the footage. He seemed to truly be moving reflexively. The mind goes to strange places during a fight, and his actions did not seem premeditated or even conscious.


“I’m not ever gonna be perfect. But I will guarantee you this: It will never happen again.”

For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on FacebookTwitter, and Instagram.