At UFC Fight Night 82, Latvian-born UFC light heavyweight Misha Cirkunov was working for a choke on Alex Nicholson, when the camera heard an audible snapping noise, and the tough Nicholson tapped. Nicholson had previously sustained a broken jaw, and the pressure of the choke attempt broke it again.
Cirkunov discussed what happened with Tim Bissell for BE. Cirkunov clarified that although the hold was referred to by some as a crank, it was indeed a choke he was going for, and that would have been clear, had it ended as intended, and not when the jaw snapped unexpectedly.
Instead, in the second round, when Cirkunov started to dig, Nicholson’s face contorted. Suddenly there was a can’t-be-unheard sound, and Nicholson tapped, for the first time in his career. He immediately held onto his jaw with concern.
Because Nicholson obviously passed his pre-fight medicals, Cirkunov assumed his opponent was healthy. Cirkunov was explicitly asked if he was targeting the jaw.
“No,” he replied emphatically. “Not at all,”
“It’s actually a choke. A lot of people say it is a neck crank because of the outcome of the fight.”
“It’s … honestly, it’s not something I look forward to doing.”
Cirkunov pointed out that the fans were shocked at hearing the break, but he felt it, too.
“I don’t like doing it,” he said. “I don’t like feeling it, because me, I’m the one who … it’s not like I just hear it, but I actually feel it, because once you do it, you kinda feel the vibration. It’s not something I enjoy doing.”
While Cirkunov expressed great respect for the aptly nickname ‘Spartan’, he did not express pity or regret for the incident.
“It is what it is,” said Cirkunov. “It’s a fight.”
Cirkunov started martial arts with karate and judo as a child in Latvia. At 12 he moved to Canada and began wrestling. That in turn led him to BJJ, which progressed to MMA. Now 28, he hopes to fight again over the summer, perhaps in Europe. Against his next opponent, the grappling-based fighter expects to showcase his striking.
Who ever he fights, keep your hands up.
