{"id":290900,"date":"2023-08-30T13:34:53","date_gmt":"2023-08-30T13:34:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=290900"},"modified":"2023-08-30T13:34:53","modified_gmt":"2023-08-30T13:34:53","slug":"mma-star-who-ran-from-cops-for-eight-years-to-face-police-officer-in-cage-fight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/nba\/mma-star-who-ran-from-cops-for-eight-years-to-face-police-officer-in-cage-fight\/","title":{"rendered":"MMA star who ran from cops for eight years to face police officer in cage fight"},"content":{"rendered":"
Mixed martial arts will have its own 'Mean Machine' moment on November 4 when former inmate Shem Rock faces police officer Jaroslav Pokorny.<\/p>\n
In a fight that's been dubbed 'the police vs. the streets', the pair will clash at Manchester's AO Arena as Oktagon MMA makes its UK debut. And this lightweight battle in particular is sure to gauge interest as Rock squares off against the law once more.<\/p>\n
The Liverpudlian went on the run in Asia after a 2014 incident saw him accused of 'burglary with violence and assault'. Rock was only a teenager at the time, and it wasn't until April 2022 – after spending six month behind bars awaiting his trial – that his name was finally cleared.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was on the run for 10 years and I could not come home and see my family," said Rock ahead of what will be his third bout so far this year. "I've been through it all with the police. Until I got a \u2018not guilty\u2019 verdict I had not won a single battle with them, and this fight will be my next one. This is redemption. It\u2019s just like Mean Machine and I'm coming like Vinny Jones.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe pressure will be on me, and that's what I want. I want the pressure. I want the nerves. I want to be the main event – I want this to be the Shem show. I want to go out there and finish this guy in the first round.\u201d<\/p>\n
A friend of UFC fighters Paddy Pimblett and Molly McCann, Rock is out to forge his own path as a star of the MMA scene. His prospects have transformed massively since making his professional debut in Malaysia in 2017, accepting fights in Taiwan and Dubai before finding his way back to home shores.<\/p>\n
Who is the best British mixed martial artist of all time? Let us know in the comments section below.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
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Rock had his first fixture on British shores in Belfast two years ago, though he's since earned victories in London and Bolton. He'll be hoping to add Manchester to his sites of success this autumn, and a majority-home crowd could provide the boost he needs to keep his promising spell alive.<\/p>\n
The bout promises a stark contrast of styles, with Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist Rock (9-1-1) claiming most of his wins via submission while policeman Pokorny (16-10) prefers to stay standing. The Czech veteran has earned three of his last four wins via knockout, though his record took a knock after suffering four straight defeats between 2018 and 2022.<\/p>\n
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The time for talking is almost over as KSI and Tommy Fury will bury their rivarly once and for all as they face off in Manchester on Saturday, October 14th. Logan Paul will also be fighting at the event in front of what is expected to be a sell-out crowd.<\/span> Get DAZN for \u00a39.99 a month and the fight on PPV<\/p>\n Described by Oktagon as a 'legend of the Czech MMA scene' with 12 finishes from 16 wins to date, the law man will be out to end Rock's four-fight undefeated streak. However, he'll have to rely on his own tools if he's to apprehend his target on this occasion.<\/p>\n Also scheduled to fight on the Oktagon 48 card is Akonne Wanliss, a stripper-turned-MMA talent who's currently dating Daniella Hemsley. The adult star made headlines of her own earlier this year after winning an exhibition boxing match with Kingpyn before flashing her boobs in the aftermath.<\/p>\n
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