Entertainment is all the time likely when Charles Jourdain is on a UFC card.
The Octagon is back in Canada for a UFC Fight Night at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena on Saturday night, where some notable contenders and native favorites might be in motion.
Before Reinier de Ridder and Brendan Allen headline, the likes of Kevin Holland, Manon Fiorot, and Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera may have their next fights. But they’re unlikely to get the identical sort of reception as Jourdain.
The Canadian fan favorite has been inconsistent contained in the UFC but rarely fails to thrill when he enters the cage. That was definitely on display in December 2021, when Jourdain ended his seventh UFC fight in wild fashion.
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Charles Jourdain once sent fans crazy with a fight-ending ‘Sparta kick’
Jourdain is about to make the walk for the second fight on the UFC Vancouver important card. After a successful drop to bantamweight last trip, which saw him earn a performance bonus for submitting Victor Henry, ‘Air’ will next face 135-pound veteran Davey Grant.
The Canadian will look to secure his first winning streak within the division, and may he accomplish that feat, fans can likely expect some wild moves along the best way.
Jourdain isn’t any stranger to pulling anything and every part from his locker, and that included one move straight out of a movie back at UFC Vegas 45 almost 4 years ago.
Puffed up as his three-round contest with Andre Ewell drew to an in depth, Jourdain threw a wild flurry after the 10-second clapper sounded before following it with a spinning kick. After screaming at his opponent, Jourdain floored Ewell with a front kick within the last second.
Many fans on social media quickly compared the move to the ‘Sparta kick’ from the 300 film.
“THIS IS SPARTAAAAAA”
“Charles Jourdain won via third round TKO (Sparta kick) 4:59”
“What an ending to the fight for Charles Jourdain. A wheel kick to the face followed by a Sparta kick.”
“Charles Jourdain just closed out the ultimate round by screaming ‘COME ON’ then delivering a nasty THIS IS SPARTA kick!”
“Charles Jourdain just did a Sparta Kick to finish the fight and I stood up and clapped for some reason.”
“SPARTA KICK TO END THE FINAL ROUND. Charles Jourdain, take a bow!”
Jourdain ultimately had his hand raised by means of unanimous decision.
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Charles Jourdain tells UFC Vancouver opponent he has ‘no idea what’s coming’
By the sounds of things, Jourdain is planning some similarly memorable moments at UFC Vancouver.
Ahead of facing Grant in front of his home fans at Rogers Arena, ‘Air’ told E. Spencer Kyte for UFC.com that his opponent cannot possibly be prepared for what is going to await him.
“I’ve got so many tools in my pocket, which is fun because I do know my opponents are watching tapes of me a yr ago, my first fight at ’35, or previous fights,” Jourdain said.
“I’m like, ‘You might have no idea what’s coming to Vancouver, my friend.’ … It’s the primary time in my profession that I’ve felt like a professional athlete because during this past yr, I used to be all the time in contact with the UFC PI, and I feel stronger than ever, stronger than after I was at ’45.
“I feel like knowledgeable, however it’s not what I say, it’s what I do, and (in Vancouver) I’ll give you the option to (show) all that work,” he added.