More often than not, any beef between fighters is squashed once the final buzzer rings out.
But when there is genuine dislike between competitors, that sense of closure can not be manufactured just because a referee sees enough.
There was no love lost between Alex Oliveira and Will Brooks in the run-up to their lightweight meeting at UFC Portland, due in no small part to the fact that Oliveira came in at 161.5lbs at the weigh-ins (more than 5lbs above the lightweight limit).
I'm still here to fight. pic.twitter.com/nBQbUf4Ugp
— Will Brooks (@ILLxWillBrooks) September 30, 2016
As ‘Cowboy’ Oliveira took to the scales, Brooks posted the above video to Twitter and slammed his opponent as “unprofessional”.
Oliveira didn’t appreciate that the former Bellator lightweight champion didn’t accept his apology and he let him know after he claimed a TKO victory once the Octagon door slammed shut on Saturday night.
As the referee called a halt to proceedings after some ground-and-pound from the Brazilian in the third round, Oliveira taunted a visibly rocked Brooks.
Alex Oliveira ended @TRILLwillbrooks‘ winning run with this TKO…but things turned ugly after fight! #UFCPortland https://t.co/53af6Vsvza
— BT Sport UFC (@btsportufc) October 2, 2016
When Brooks got to his feet, he responded to the gesture by throwing his gumshield in the direction of the man who had just beaten him and Oliveira revealed after the fight that he did not regret his celebration.
“I think that he deserved even more,” he told MMAJunkie after the bout.
“I was happy for the win, but I was choked on it – on all the disrespect he showed me yesterday – and it ended up coming out.”
All we can say is thank God for Herb Dean.
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