After his NHL career is done, Anaheim Ducks’ defenceman Kevin Bieksa may have a future in MMA.
In the latter half of the first period between Philadelphia and Anaheim, the Ducks received the biggest spark they could get thanks to Bieksa. Already down a goal with 3-minutes left in the first period, Bieksa took it upon himself to ignite his boys from Orange County.
Bieksa and Flyers’ defenseman Radko Gudas were sitting in the sin-bin thanks to some unsportsmanlike conduct. After the penalties ended, the two defenders took no time reacquainting themselves. Stepping on the ice, Gudas and Bieksa decided they needed a little more time in the penalty box. Both players decided they would settle their differences with a fight, and the rest is history.
Kevin Bieksa drops Radko Gudas with a one-punch pic.twitter.com/1z1OJxsiKC
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) October 24, 2017
Bieksa and Gudas are no strangers to fighting in the NHL, so this duel would be a marquee matchup between two veterans. They circled around before Bieksa leapt forward, catching Gudas’ face with a Superman Punch.
With UFC 217 coming up on the first Saturday of November, maybe Bieksa was paying homage to fellow Canadian Georges St-Pierre, who was famous for using the Superman Punch in UFC fights.
The one-punch knockout sparked the Ducks, as they would go on to drop the Flyers 6-2.