(And he sticks the landing on the celebratory backflip! Props: notohous)
It looks like the end of the line for Jamie Varner. The former WEC lightweight champion fought in the main event of Friday night’s Titan Fighting Championships 20 show in Kansas City, and lost a unanimous decision to a 9-1 Nebraska-based prospect named Dakota Cochrane. Cochrane came into the fight on just three days’ notice, replacing Varner’s original opponent Alonzo Martinez — who was pulled from the fight due to legal troubles — and won all three rounds on all judges’ scorecards.
After the fight Varner tweeted, “I gave fighting another shot I need 2 thank u guys 4 ur support! But I just don’t have it anymore. Love u all but ull never c me fight again.” Shortly after, he deleted the message, so who knows. The loss increases (decreases?) Varner’s record to 1-1-4 over the last two years. No matter what the future holds, Varner can be secure in the fact that he was once responsible for the greatest victory dance in the history of MMA.
Things didn’t fare much better for Strikeforce vet Brett Rogers, who is a free man while awaiting sentencing on his domestic-assault case. Fighting in Friday’s co-main event, Rogers dropped a split decision to UFC/Bellator journeyman Eddie Sanchez. Sanchez snapped a two-fight losing streak, while the Grim falls even further into irrelevance. Rogers has now lost four out of his last five fights, the lone victory being a gassy decision win over Ruben “Warpath” Villareal last October.
Also, some dude named Andrew Whitney opened the show by putting another dude named Laramie Shaffer on his highlight reel. Video is at the top of the post, in case you haven’t figured that out yet. Full results from Titan Fighting Championships 20 are below…
– Dakota Cochrane def. Jamie Varner via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
– Eddie Sanchez def. Brett Rogers via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
– Anthony Gutierrez def. Shane Hutchinson via submission (anaconda choke), 1:04 of round 1
– James Krause def. Sean Wilson via submission (guillotine choke), 2:39 of round 1
– Justyn Riley def. Alex Huddleston via TKO, round 2
– Andrew Whitney def. Laramie Shaffer via KO, 0:21 of round 3