Bryan Battle embraced preventing in enemy territory, however he wasn’t essentially attempting to make enemies after his newest win at UFC Paris.
However viciously knocking out native favourite Kevin Jousset instantly put him at odds with the group so the previous Final Fighter winner took benefit of the second by erupting throughout his post-fight interview and providing the followers a two-finger salute as he celebrated his victory. Following his win, a message on Twitter went viral claiming that Battle was being fined $250,000 for his actions and he was being banned from competing in France once more.
The one downside? The publish got here from a parody account on Twitter, however the reality by no means stopped anyone from overreacting and even Battle acquired caught off guard when he heard the information.
“I knew it wasn’t an actual factor or it wasn’t one thing I had heard of,” Battle instructed MMA Combating. “I’m like $250,000 superb, banned from Paris? That’s loopy. I used to be like I’m wondering who gave them this info?
“However because the day goes on, persons are leaving feedback and it’s rising, rising, rising after which considered one of my pals stated no [that was a parody account]. I noticed Chael Sonnen did a complete video [talking about the punishment] and folks within the feedback had been like ‘Chael, it’s essential to verify your sources.’ That was humorous.”
Whereas it didn’t take him lengthy to determine the message got here from a parody account, Battle already had an concept that he was coping with faux information thanks to a different fighter who adopted him with an equally inflammatory post-fight interview.
“I knew there was no method I used to be getting fined, and [Renato] Moicano wasn’t getting fined,” Battle stated referencing the UFC Paris headliner after he completed Benoit Saint Denis. “He truly was speaking in regards to the authorities.
“I stated some goofy shit. I used to be playing around as hell. Moicano was speaking about actual life issues in order that’s the true heel of the night time, in France no less than. However that was humorous as hell. Once more, any type of consideration, any type of power, we’ll take it. I’m not being choosy about what goes out.”
Parody or not, Battle had enjoyable with changing into infamous for no less than one night time.
“It’s a kind of issues, I’ve not brazenly denied it one time,” Battle stated with amusing. “I’m identical to letting it experience. It’s humorous. Individuals assume I’m at battle with the nation of France! Individuals thought it was harmful for me in France.
“Now granted, they had been throwing stuff at us once we had been strolling again by means of the tunnel, however as soon as I acquired by means of the tunnel, all of the French individuals had been cool as hell.”
Most of the responses to the supposed superb and ban from France praised Battle for the viral second within the octagon with a whole lot of followers excited to see him embrace his new “heel” persona.
In skilled wrestling, the time period heel successfully means villain or unhealthy man and Battle had a sense he must tackle that position it doesn’t matter what when he agreed to face a fighter from France on the UFC Paris card.
“Individuals are like ‘Bryan with the loopy heel flip,’ however the actuality of it’s, there’s nobody who’s mad at me for actual,” Battle stated. “If I’m the heel, I’m the cool heel that folks root for. It’s a humorous factor, too, in that scenario you haven’t any alternative however to be the unhealthy man. You’re in another person’s home.
“I’m wondering what it’s going to be like going again to Las Vegas. Like I’m not going to be a dickhead for the sake of being a dickhead. That may be the distinction between me and a whole lot of guys. I’m not going to exit of my approach to be a heel. I’m not going to exit of my approach to be obnoxious and imply but when it’s what it requires, I’m going to allow them to have it.”
Battle received’t have to attend lengthy to seek out out about how the group goes to react to him together with his subsequent combat already booked for UFC 310 on Dec. 7 when he faces Randy Brown on the ultimate pay-per-view present for 2024.
Don’t count on him to exit of his approach to rile up the group simply so he can hold taking part in the unhealthy man however no matter will get individuals excited is what he desires to provide to them.
“I believe it’s much less me being a foul man and extra simply talking my thoughts,” Battle stated. “Individuals are figuring out with what I’m saying.
“Good man, unhealthy man, heel, face, all that stuff, I’m right here for the power. No matter’s going to get the group essentially the most invested into the combat, that’s what I would like. It elevates the combat. I liked it.”
