Jay Alderete explains crotch grab after Smotherman finish

Undefeated bantamweight prospect Jay Alderete has no regrets about his controversial celebration after choking out former UFC fighter Cameron Smotherman at Fury FC 121.

Alderete flattened Smotherman with a head kick before securing a brabo choke finish in the second round of their Houston matchup. He followed the stoppage with a crotch grab directed at his unconscious opponent, then ran to the cage and exchanged words with Smotherman, who had to be restrained by security as the scene turned chaotic.

What sparked Alderete's celebration

The 19-year-old told MMA Fighting that Smotherman had dismissed him before the fight, claiming he had never heard of Alderete and did not understand the hype surrounding the prospect. After the finish, Alderete made sure Smotherman would not forget. "I ran up, and I told him, 'I told you you were going to remember the name today,' and I mean he just crashed out," Alderete said. "They dragged him out of the cage. He runs back in, tries to sneak attack me."

Alderete defended the crotch grab by pointing to what he says was provocation from Smotherman's corner during the fight. He claims friends and family of his opponent were standing on chairs and directing vulgar gestures at him throughout the bout. "One dude's raising his stuff at me, right? He's doing a crotch grab at me," Alderete told the outlet. When asked if he regretted his response, Alderete was blunt.

The finish pushed Alderete to 6-0 with five stoppages since his debut last year. Smotherman, who was cut from the UFC last month on a three-fight skid, fell to 12-8. The former UFC bantamweight went viral earlier this year after passing out on the scale ahead of a cancelled bout with Ricky Turcios at UFC 324.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Jay Alderete explains crotch grab celebration after beating Cameron Smotherman