Tag: Corey Samuels

Defying the odds: The 10 biggest MMA betting upsets of 2021

Check out the biggest upsets of 2021, according to the oddsmakers.

Who doesn’t love a good upset?

In 2021, MMA saw its fair share of underdogs who defied the odds – in the UFC, Bellator and beyond. While everyone has an opinion of who should win and who should lose, the oddsmakers largely get the final say on what history reflects.

This year, with the help of MMA database Tapology, MMA Junkie has compiled the top 10 betting upsets of 2021. Fights that were eligible were those which numerous major online sports books recognized, and which Tapology recorded prior to line close.

Check out the top 10 MMA betting upsets of 2021 below, per Tapology. Note that only major MMA promotions were included in the tally.

Bellator 261 video: Corey Samuels upsets Isaiah Hokit with 10-second knockout

Corey Samuels tied the record for the fourth fastest knockout in Bellator history with his win over Isaiah Hokit at Bellator 261.

[autotag]Corey Samuels[/autotag] gave [autotag]Isaiah Hokit[/autotag] a rude introduction to professional MMA Friday at Bellator 261 with a lightning-quick knockout.

Samuels (3-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) needed just 10 seconds to flatten massive betting favorite Hokit (0-1 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) with punches, tying the record for the fourth fastest knockout in Bellator history in their lightweight bout at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

Check out the replay of the finish below (via Twitter):

Hokit came into Bellator 261 with some hype behind him due to his amateur wrestling background. He didn’t get to showcase any of his grappling game, though. Samuels knocked him out before he could even get going.

For Samuels, it was the first win of his career stemming from strikes. He said he was prepared for Hokit’s wrestling, but was confident he could find the finish before it hit the ground.

“I knew I had the better striking, but we tried to prepare more so for wrestling,” Samuels said in his post-fight interview with John McCarthy. “I wanted to end it with a head kick, but my shin is a little messed up. So we decided to box him up, and that’s what happened.”

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