UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Friends don’t often fight each other in MMA, but it does happen, and that was the case between Said Sowma and Ronny Markes at Bellator 262.
At their weigh-ins faceoff, Sowma and five-fight UFC veteran Markes hugged each other. When the cage door closed behind them Friday night at Mohegan Sun Arena, it was Sowma who scored a quick knockout victory just 1:09 into the first round, which wasn’t easy.
“Ronnie’s actually a friend of mine, so I seen that like, ‘Oh shoot, I gotta finish that so it’s over. It’s done,’” Sowma told reporters afterward. “Luckily the ref saw it quickly and stopped it. Pretty happy about that. …
“It’s very tough. I’ve known (Markes) for a couple years. But this is work, this is our job, just business. He understands that, too. We came to an agreement with each other. Hey, that’s what it is.”
Ronny Markes, left, and Said Sowma at Bellator 262 ceremonial weigh-ins. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)
With the fight out of the way and a big win in his pocket, Sowma (7-2 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) hopes it helps propel him into Bellator’s heavyweight rankings.
“Ronny’s a very big name, I think,” Sowma said. “He’s been around for a while, has a lot of fights. It definitely pushes me up a little bit, close to top 10 at least. Soon top 10? I’m not sure yet.”
You can watch Sowma’s full post-fight interview in the video above.
Said Sowma took no pleasure in knocking out friend Ronny Markes at Bellator 262, ‘but this is work’