Irish MMA fighter says 'Free Palestine' after defeating Israeli opponent
Irish mixed martial artist Paddy McCorry's victory over Israel's Shuki Farage on Saturday may not have been personal, but it was certainly political.
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After securing a unanimous decision at Cage Warriors 189 in Rome, McCorry draped himself in a Palestinian flag and said 'Free Palestine' before screaming and flexing in celebration.
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'Street justice,' followed by an Irish and Palestinian flag, he posted to social media after, along with a clip showing him appearing to yell into Farage's face as he pummeled the Israeli with the bout's finishing blows.
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In the video, several people in the crowd can be heard chanting 'Free, free Palestine.'
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According to Cage Warriors, the 27-year-old from West Belfast in Northern Ireland, a more experienced fighter heavily favoured by pundits and bettors, was dominant 'from bell to bell.' It improved his pro record to 6-1, all since 2021.
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For Farage, it was his fifth professional bout since 2017, but his first since a 2022 win over Turkey's Bugra Alparslan, a more experienced fighter.
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His only other win occurred in 2017 when he got Russian Sabit Nasive to tap out. His pro record is now 2-2.
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