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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Blue Corner

Video: Rakim Cleveland punts a head, shakes a tail feather for a title

Rakim Cleveland may have had a rough run of things a couple or three years back, but that all was in the rearview mirror Saturday.

Cleveland (22-13-1) launched a left kick to the head against Kelvin Fitial (15-10-2) and sent him straight to the canvas, out cold, in their vacant heavyweight title fight for B2 Fighting Series in Kentucky.

After Cleveland landed the perfectly placed kick, he knew there was no need for any follow-ups. Instead, he turned around and in Blues Brothers style, he shook his tail feather to start the celebration of his new belt.

Check out the vicious head kick below, courtesy of the Dream Sports Management Instagram account.

In 2018, Cleveland picked up a win at PFL 2 on the heels of two knockout wins over former UFC fighter Houston Alexander. But then things took a turn for him. He lost four straight under the PFL banner in the 2018 and 2019 seasons, including three by submission.

But now Cleveland has three straight wins on the regional circuit – and a title to show for it, too. His fight with Fitial came after a fight against former UFC heavyweight Yorgan De Castro fell through at CES MMA 63.

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