Jake Hager won his first two fights in Bellator. He then faced his biggest challenge yet in Anthony Garrett at Bellator 231, who had a size advantage over Hager. However, the match ended in a way no one could have anticipated.
Hager’s fight ended in a no-contest after Hager hit Garrett with multiple knee strikes in the groin.
The referee ended the fight at 1:56 into the fight. Naturally, this decision was met with negative reception. Garrett simply could not carry on following so many knee strikes.
Following the fight, Hager addressed the low blow during a post-Bellator 231 press conference. Here is what he said:
“I’m obviously disappointed with the finish tonight. I didn’t think I hit him at all. Is it something I’d be interested in running back? I don’t know. It didn’t seem like he wanted to fight tonight, so what’s going change the next time? Is he really going to want to fight next time? I’m a competitor. I’m a fighter. I’m doing so much right now trying to get myself better. For him to do something like that? Whatever.”
“We all have cups on out there,” Hager said. “I didn’t feel a cup. You can watch it back. I saw his leg lift up from the knee. But I can’t control that. It’s something that I’ve got to move on from. Like I said, I’m here to fight. I just don’t think he was tonight.”
“I believe he wanted out of the cage, yes. You saw how he reacted after the first one. That was clear. It hit him right in the arm, so I think that’s all that needs to be said about it. He didn’t want to be in there any more.”
It is a wonder how Chris Jericho will use this on next week’s AEW Dynamite.
Jake Hager fight ends in a no contest when he knees his opponent in the dick #AEW pic.twitter.com/emL9OHLZWI
— Dan Why-Ner IS FREE (@DanWeiner) October 26, 2019
