Karate Combat president Asim Zaidi intervened directly in a chaotic incident at Karate Combat 47 by subduing a disruptive cornerman with a rear-naked choke, restoring order and earning the crowd’s support.
Karate Combat president Asim Zaidi runs a tight ship.
Zaidi inserted himself straight into the center of chaos Friday at Karate Combat 47 after a cornerman of a fighter kicked off a wild scene.
The incident occurred after Luis Melendez was awarded a unanimous decision win over Will Esparza following a back-and-forth war of attrition.
As Esparza expressed displeasure with the decision, his cornerman stormed into the pit in pursuit of Melendez, igniting a melee that quickly spilled into the crowd.
At that point, Zaidi took matters into his own hands. Rushing the intruder alongside UFC veteran Sam Alvey, he wrapped Esparza’s cornerman up with a tight rear-naked choke, ultimately choking him unconscious.
Things calmed down soon after that. Esparza’s team was escorted out of the building, all while the Florida crowd cheered wildly in support of the Karate Combat president.
“Sleep. No fighting, no fighting. Only in the pit, only the fighters,” Zaidi said afterward.
Watch video of the incident below. The entire event replay can be watched free above.