Ex-stripper MMA star risks disqualification as he copies infamous Israel Adesanya celebration after 48-second KO win over bitter rival

Akonne Wanliss added insult to injury after his latest win.

The former stripper, who trains with UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards, ended his rivalry with Sahil Siraj in 48 seconds at OKTAGON 56 on Saturday night.

Wanliss put Siraj to sleep with a clean left hook and landed two unnecessary follow-up shots before the referee was able to wave things off at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham.

However, it was his next action that could’ve seen him disqualified.

The boyfriend of influencer boxer Daniella Hemsley, who infamously flashed the audience following a win last year, celebrated in a similar X-rated fashion.

Thankfully, he kept his clothes on, but Wanliss did shout in the face of his stricken opponent before going behind him and making a thrusting motion.

Wanliss was ushered away from the scene by the referee, who opted against punishing him for mimicking ex-UFC champion Israel Adesnaya’s antics following his win over Paulo Costa.

After almost 12 months of vitriol, the two MMA stars met on Fight Island for the middleweight title at UFC 253 in September 2020.

‘The Last Stylebender’ knocked out Costa in two rounds before celebrating by ‘humping’ him from behind in a now-famous petty post-fight display.

Wanliss and Siraj’s ugly beef has been bubbling away all year.

3

3

The two men were originally supposed to fight in March, but their matchup was called off at the last minute after Wanliss was attacked by people from Team Siraj.

Viral footage shows the 8-2 Englishman being accosted and even headbutted by ex-UFC fighter Reza Madadi, who has since been hit with a lifetime ban from OKTAGON events.

“The fight was cancelled because his corner had no confidence in him and decided to literally gang up and rush me,” Wanliss told talkSPORT MMA.

“It got rescheduled because I can’t not have this fight happen. I still want to go out there and do what I was saying. April 20, I get to unleash the force on Siraj.

“He will be KO’d in round one.”

After delivering on his pre-fight prediction, Wanliss now moves one step closer to becoming OKTAGON’s Tipsport Gamechanger welterweight champion and taking home a massive slice of the €1 million prize pot.

Hopefully, his next fight will go ahead without so much drama.