Steve Bosse, Sean O’Connell… thank you very much.
The pair of light heavyweight sluggers went to war on Saturday night for our entertainment and it will go down in history as an all-time classic.
Most would have expected the fight to finish within the opening round, given the knockout proclivities and desire to stand and bang of both men.
OHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! https://t.co/YEaadumrDS
— UFC (@ufc) June 19, 2016
O’Connell enjoyed the better of the early exchanges, stiffening Bosse up but the chin of the former ice hockey enforcer held up and he gritted his way back into the contest.
O’Connell somewhat punched himself out and was exhausted in the second round but that didn’t stop him from swinging for the fences while Bosse came close to getting the finish.
The third round was a taxing test of conditioning but both men refused to take a backwards step despite being pushed to their absolute limits.
It came to a head with 20 seconds remaining when both warriors high-fived and left every last breath in the centre of the mat.
Bosse was technically named the winner by decision but it’s hard to call O’Connell a loser in this, one of the greatest fights of all time.
OMG!!!! That just happened!!!! @FS1
— danawhite (@danawhite) June 19, 2016
What the hell kind of water is in those water bottles!!! These dude heart and chin for dayz!! @UFC #ufcottwa
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) June 19, 2016
https://twitter.com/BrianStann/status/744382204726251520
It's like Bosse eats punches then gets better…. awesome lol
— Big Ben Rothwell (@RothwellFighter) June 19, 2016
How is Bosse still conscious? #ufcottawa
— The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) June 19, 2016
Damn RockmSock'em these guys are going for it Bosse has got a chin and what incredible recovery Still 1 min left what a 1st rd
— Big Ben Rothwell (@RothwellFighter) June 19, 2016
Steve Bosse was knocked out there. Apparently Sean O'Connell is gonna have to do it twice.
— Mike Chiappetta MMA (@MikeChiappetta) June 19, 2016
https://twitter.com/JESnowden/status/744539709565710336
Staggeringly beautiful classic 3-rd brawl between Bosse & O'Connell at 205lbs… amazing heart from both #UFCOttawa …Refuse to score that
— Gareth A Davies (@GarethADaviesDT) June 19, 2016
Amazing Fight from these beasts! Holy hell Bosse v O'Connell @ufc @UFC_CA #ufc
— Alex Chambers (@alexchambersmma) June 19, 2016
Oh this fight!!! Just face smashing all around. Rd 2 had bosse landing the better shots and dropping o'connell. 1-1 and AWESOME #UFCOttawa
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) June 19, 2016
