In his MMA return, John Hathaway cruised his way to victory at OKTAGON 36.
Before tonight’s meeting with Andre Ricardo, “The Hitman” hadn’t stepped foot inside the Octagon for eight years. His performance was like he never left.
Hathaway put it all on display and showcased what they had been missing to the MMA community. The 35-year-old showcased his grappling, ground control, and ground-and-pound to earn a convincing unanimous decision in Frankfurt, Germany.
The victory marked Hathaway’s eighteenth professional win, dating back to his MMA debut in 2006. The judges scored the fight 30-26, 30-24, and 30-26 in favour of the Englishmen.
After the fight, Hathaway had this to say:
John Hathaway Reflects on Return
“It means a lot. It was a really good, enjoyable kind of fight,” Hathaway said. “Obviously, everyone wishes they got the finish, but it was my first one out in eight years, so I kind of had to put the (work) in, go for the gears and figure out where I was. I’m sorry, everyone, I didn’t get the finish. I tried my best, but obviously it’s been a while.”
Rewinding back the years, Hathaway was once the leading man to win the United Kingdom UFC gold. However, the battle with ulcerative colitis prevented him from competing up until now. The victory was just a reminder to every one of the skills this man has in his locker.
If you were in any doubt of the domination that occurred, Hathaway landed 116 strikes to Ricardo’s two. He also landed a take down on his opponent seven times.
Featured image credits to Oktagon MMA
