Drakkar Klose’s Fight Plan for UFC Austin: Striking with Joe Solecki instead of Wrestling

AUSTIN, Texas – Crafting a detailed scheme, Drakkar Klose and his team strategized their approach to face Joe Solecki at UFC on ESPN 52.

“We knew he was a tough guy on the ground and worked diligently on a plan to avoid exposing my back to him,” Klose told MMA Junkie post-fight. “It paid off. He didn’t get there.”

Anticipating a grappling match, Klose’s preference was to engage in stand-up fighting. He briefly discussed this with Solecki during their ceremonial weigh-in faceoff at Moody Center in Austin, Texas, thinking they were in agreement.

When Klose found himself needing to escape from Solecki’s hold in the first round, he lifted and slammed him, resulting in what is arguably one of the most devastating knockouts in MMA history. The impact of the slam was visually striking, and Klose secured a fight-ending knockout just 101 seconds into the bout, becoming only the second fighter to knock out Solecki.

Klose received a $50,000 bonus for the knockout which was the 13th slam KO in the UFC’s 30-year history. The momentum from this highlight-reel slam has Klose eying his next match on UFC sizzle reels. He mentioned wanting to fight on March 9th at UFC 299, but expressed his desire to stay active on his own terms.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 52.

Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie