Fighters Only

Issue 198

June 2023

Usually, this feature highlights a spectacular piece of fight photography that will go down in the annals of history. But, for this month’s “Money Shot” we’ve got a little piece of history of a different kind.

That’s because Bellator 293 proved to be a double celebration for English light heavyweight Luke Trainer, who picked up a huge win over Sullivan Cauley, then proposed to his girlfriend, Holly, in the middle of the Bellator cage during his post-fight interview.

With “Big” John McCarthy acting as an impromptu master of ceremonies of sorts, Trainer dropped to one knee and asked for Holly’s hand in marriage. A shocked and emotional Holly could barely speak, but eventually said yes, as the arena at the Pechanga Resort and Casino applauded and cheered in approval.

"Holly, soon-to-be Trainer, she is my person. She’s everything to me," said Trainer later that night.

"I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to do it. None of her friends are (here). I thought, live TV on Showtime… I’m going to make a very happy husband. She’s the love of my life. I wanted to do that because I wanted to make my girl feel special.

“I know she’s going to be mad at me because she was a blubbery mess, and she would’ve preferred to do that without BBC Sport and Showtime Sports taping. I knew bringing her into the cage would (make her feel special), so I did just that.”