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.

So this happened after we went off air from #LFA36 last night. Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/WNlrNA9Za1

— AXS TV Fights (@AXSTVFights) March 24, 2018

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.

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.”

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