Just four months after winning his Bellator debut, former WWE star and current MMA fighter Jake Hager (2-0) was at it again, submitting T.J. Jones (1-2) in the first round of Bellator 221.
Hager, who wrestled for WWE under the name Jack Swagger, got Jones to the ground easily within the first minute of the opening round, and just as he did in his first Bellator bout, ended the night with an arm triangle submission. But this time, he drew the ire of the audience in attendance, and the referee, for refusing to give up the choke after earning the tap out.
https://twitter.com/MysticPabbz/status/1127393311835217921
The crowd continued to boo Hager during his post-fight interview with John McCarthy, which included the former WWE champion clumsily giving a somewhat NSFW answer to what he was feeling after picking up the win.
💪@RealJackSwagger gets the W tonight via submission.
Our main card continues on 📲 @DAZN_USA!
and @SkySports in the 🇬🇧. pic.twitter.com/ARQyXqoPxy— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) May 12, 2019
🗣 "I'm rock hard right now with emotion …" — @RealJackSwagger.
… Sir, this is a @BellatorMMA post-fight interview 😳 pic.twitter.com/XKClhHXdSX
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 12, 2019
“I meant no disrespect, but you’re going to have to make me stop,” Hager said, per MMA Junkie. “I thought the referee was him. You all can boo me all you want, but you’re not in here right now. … I knew once I got on top, he’s not getting up.”
Bellator president Scott Coker responded to Hager’s antics after the fight, asking if there are “heel turns” in MMA. This was the 36-year-old Hager’s second fight after inking a multi-fight deal with the organization.
