Be honest: There’s a good chance that you remember the best moment of your favorite team’s existence not just by what happened on the field or court, but by how those you were watching with reacted.
(This may also apply to worst moments, but let’s not resurrect those right now.)
UFC 261 in Jacksonville Saturday night gave us … well, a lot of moments to react to. Some were gruesome. Others, like the one below, left octagon-side observers surprised and awed in the most delightful way.
And, in a beautiful moment, it left one fighter weeping tears of joy.
Let’s start at the beginning, though. Here’s Rose Namajunas delivering a very sudden kick to the head of previously undefeated Zhang Weili in the first round of their 115-pound title fight.
Grande!!! #RoseNamajunas ♥ pic.twitter.com/npVsopxwVg
— Juan (@elmascapo124) April 25, 2021
Which led to this instant classic reaction from the broadcast crew that included Joe Rogan.
— Omar Andrade (@xXPatsmanXx93) April 25, 2021
🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/DOABWZFru7
— 2x Tweet Felon 🤐 (@keepit_1) April 25, 2021
Yeah, you’re going to see this as a meme, friends. Just be ready for it.
The best reaction to this fight, though, came a few moments later when Namajunas officially reclaimed the belt she’d lost in 2019.
She shook up the world again 🙌 @RoseNamajunas #UFC261 pic.twitter.com/ZGlvoFHi5v
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) April 25, 2021
Sports!
The great reactions don’t end there. Weili congratulated the new champ and vowed to “become a new me.”
All class.
