Las Vegas — Even lightweight George Staines himself didn’t expect to knock someone out with a slam, but that’s what happened on the Contender Series on Tuesday.
Staines (11-0) put away Loai Abushaar in just over a minute in the card’s headliner, after which the Liverpool-based fighter admitted that “I was surprised that I knocked him out with it. I think when you’re slamming someone, you should slam him into the floor, you know what I mean? But never in a million years did I think I’d spark someone with a slam to the floor.”
Speaking with media outlets including Cageside Press, the teammate of Paddy Pimblett noted that it was “very cool to have made history right there” after earning the first slam KO on the show.
Staines was ribbed mercilessly by Pimblett throughout his post-fight appearance, leading him to jokingly ask “Can someone kick him out?”
Apparently, it’s just another day when you’re a teammate of Paddy “The Baddy.” “Yeah. This is literally common behavior for him,” laughed Staines. “Very, very common. Bullying. Bullying.”
Staines spoke with Cageside Press about the level of competition he’s faced up to this point.
“I think for a while I’ve been ready for the UFC. I’ve always fought the best kid that’s been given to me,” said Staines, noting that he’d performed against “two undefeated fighters back-to-back, a 12-0 who was scouted to be one of the best prospects outside the UFC in Marcelo Marques, and then Conor McCarthy. If any of you just watched his win in Cage Warriors in Dublin, what a spectacular win. Great knockout. So he’s gonna be here probably in the UFC soon.”
“Marcelo Marques, he’s ready to be in the UFC as well. So I’m beating guys I could have been fighting in the UFC. I think I’m ready for any challenge, and I think I’ll tear through this lightweight division at quite a quick, rapid rate and get some ranked opportunities quite quickly.”
Watch the full Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10 Week 8 post-fight press conference with George Staines above.