Frank Fertitta III, co-owner of the UFC, was caught on camera reacting in intriguing fashion, appearing to slam down the UFC belt, in the immediate aftermath of Conor McGregor's knockout win over Jose Aldo at UFC 194.
Here’s a look at how Fertitta, sat above the second letter "M" on the canvas, reacted, per Bleacher Report’s Jeremy Botter:
Interesting reaction from Frank Fertitta after the KO. Slams down the UFC belt. pic.twitter.com/btjwFxcuzI
— Jeremy Botter (@jeremybotter) December 13, 2015
As noted by Tom Ngo of 5th Round, Fertitta—who co-owns the brand with his brother Lorenzo—rarely liaises with the press, leaving his sibling and UFC President Dana White to deal with the media. Therefore, the motive for his reaction is unclear.
It was certainly a conclusive result, which drew plenty of emotive responses from fans across the world, as McGregor etched his name into the annals of the UFC with a stunning win.
Here’s a reminder of the remarkable finish to the fight, the Irishman flooring Aldo with the first punch he landed, just 13 seconds into the bout:
If you're just waking up, the @UFC has a new Featherweight Champion! Congratulations @TheNotoriousMMA! #UFC194 https://t.co/LZHSuvAHFh
— BT Sport (@btsport) December 13, 2015
McGregor’s remarkable rise in the sport has brought MMA to an entirely new demographic, ensuring even casual sports fans are well aware of his exploits in the UFC. It means 2016 looks set to be one of great prosperity for the brand as the UFC continues to grow in stature in all corners of the world.
You suspect McGregor, now the undeniable face of the sport, will be central to any further progress made. The Irishman may be a divisive character, but he’s a showman, a stellar performer and a competitor seemingly set on breaking new ground in the sport. As such, he's likely to make the Fertitta brothers a lot more money in years to come.
