Verbal Submission Win for Jamie Varner At XFC 16

Featured | Written by: Christopher Reitman | Published in: Fighters

Feb 10, 2012 - In what was a very emotional showing at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium-Coliseum in Knoxville, Tenn, the former World Extreme Cagefighting Lightweight Champion, Jamie Varner, scored a first round TKO over Drew Fickett during Xtreme Fighting Championships 16.

Just 10 seconds into the match Varner, landed a big overhand right that sent Fickett to the ground. Following him down for a little ground-and-pound, he forced Fickett to verbally submit. The 160-pound catch-weight match billed as “High Stakes” lasted less than 41 seconds.

“We knew if we hurt him, we’d be able to finish him ... The right hand was kind of the game plan, to work off my jab. A combination of timing and luck and opportunity”Jamie Varner

In the post fight interview with HDNet analyst and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran Pat Miletich, Varner recognized Fickett as an inspiration, mentor and friend.

“Honestly, I was scared, even though I thought I was better than him ... Drew Fickett is the guy that got me into this sport. I was a junior in high school and I went to a fight, and I saw him fight–he was a wrestler, he was well rounded, he had all this heart. I looked up to him before I knew him and all I wanted to do was meet him. I had the opportunity to meet him, he took me under his wing and taught me how to train. I love the guy. I wouldn't be here without him."Jamie Varner

In his prefight interview, Varner said that this fight would put him back on track to a UFC contract. With this dominant win and maturity he showed following the fight, that certainly is a possibility.