UFC bantamweight fighter Ailin Pérez sparked controversy Saturday night with an unusual victory celebration following her win against Daria Zhelezniakova at UFC Paris.
Pérez, who secured a first-round submission victory, immediately stood up and performed a celebratory dance in close proximity to her defeated opponent, who was still on the ground recovering from the match.
The Argentine fighter continued her dance as Zhelezniakova slowly got to her feet, and repeated the performance after the referee officially declared her the winner. Pérez’s team joined in the celebration, mimicking throwing money towards her.
This is not the first time Pérez has engaged in such post-fight antics. She performed a similar celebration after her decision victory over Joselyne Edwards in June, suggesting this may be becoming her signature victory dance.
The celebration comes after a challenging lead-up to the fight for Pérez, who missed weight at the official weigh-in earlier in the week. She appeared visibly distressed before being led off stage by an official at that time.
UFC officials have not yet commented on Pérez’s post-fight behavior. The incident has sparked debate on social media platforms about sportsmanship and appropriate victory celebrations in mixed martial arts.
Pérez’s win improves her professional record and potentially positions her for higher-profile matches in the bantamweight division. However, the manner of her celebration may overshadow her in-ring performance in public discourse.
