Mixed martial arts fighter Jose "Pele" Landi Jons delivered a devastating kick, but the powerful blow snapped his right leg and gave his opponent the victory.
Brian Gassaway benifitted from Landi Jons' misfourtune Thursday night, earning a win in the main event at TKO 32: Ultimatum. "The kick connected with my knee and I heard a loud pop," Gassaway, 36, said after the fight.
"I didn't realize that his leg was actually broke. It's really unfortunate that it ended like, because honestly that might be a career-ending move."
It was the first North American fight for the 34-year-old Landi-Jons, a native of Parana, Brazil.
The MMA veteran is best known for driving his knee into the head of former UFC champ Matt Hughes for a KO win in 2001.
"His kicks are strong, like even when I blocked them they hurt," said Gassaway, a former multiple World Shidokan Karate champion.
Still, Gassaway said he was confident before Landi Jons went down 50 seconds into the second round and the referee stopped the match. Up to that point the fighters had been hesitant in an even match. In the first round, the lack of action stirred boos from the crowd.
"I felt I was winning just because the impact blows were from me," Gassaway said. "He got a couple of kicks in, but besides that I think I was snapping his head back. My heart goes out to Pele. You don't wish that on anybody."
Source: canadianpress.google.com