Issue 110

January 2014

Brit Luke Barnatt defied the odds to defeat Andrew Craig in Manchester – and bagged himself a $50,000 bonus in the process

Middleweight Luke Barnatt’s rear naked choke victory over American Andrew Craig during the UFC Fight Night 30 prelims in Manchester, UK, in October truly announced his arrival inside the UFC Octagon, while also boosting his bank balance.

With Chael Sonnen, who flew in especially to coach Barnatt after the pair clicked working together on TUF 17, in his corner, the six-foot-six Brit almost stopped Craig, from Houston, Texas, via strikes twice en route to the victory, which was eventually secured midway through the second round. 

Despite starting the bout as the betting underdog, Barnatt dominated the fight against Craig who himself entered the arena on the back of the biggest win of his career in July when he outlasted fan favorite Chris Leben at UFC 162. But

he was never in command of this contest.

“He’d never been finished and I said I was going to finish him – and I did it. I’m ecstatic,” buzzed Barnatt, now 7-0.

“I got a bit premature, thinking I’d stopped him with a knockout in there. But I saw it through and got the finish in the end with the submission instead.

“I thought he was out twice, actually. Two knockouts and one submission in one fight, that’s got to be some kind of record.” 

Of the submission finish, he added: “I’m a tall, gangly guy and so I just sort of rolled around on top of him until I was able to get his back. Then I sunk the choke in deep and I think he was still a little bit dazed. In fact, he actually tapped against the cage rather than against me. But once it was in I knew he would have to tap.”