Nathaniel Wood’s Generous Gesture
Nathaniel Wood, a fighter from London, has decided to return the financial penalty that his recent opponent, Jose Delgado, incurred for failing to meet the required weight limit prior to their matchup in Abu Dhabi last month. Delgado was penalized 20 percent of his fight earnings as he tipped the scales at one pound over the featherweight threshold of 146 pounds.
Sportsmanship in Action
Usually, when a fighter misses weight, the fine is directed to their opponent; however, in a rare show of sportsmanship, Wood opted to give back the money to Delgado. He expressed this decision through an Instagram post where he addressed criticism from fans who said he should have lost the fight. Wood stated:
“I gave him his weight miss purse back. Personally, I was a bit annoyed about him missing weight because he shouldn’t be competing at this weight class. I think he’s too big for 145 pounds, which is likely why he missed. But it was just one pound over, and Delgado fought valiantly. He deserves his earnings.”
Fight Overview
At 32 years old, Wood faced Delgado, who is 27, as the underdog in their fight but managed to secure a victory via unanimous decision—a close outcome that prompted mixed reactions from fans and commentators alike. Some observers believed that Delgado could have been rightly awarded the win. Wood himself reflected on the match, stating:
“In my opinion, I won. Delgado took the first round, I took the second, and the third was pivotal; I believe I earned that round.”
Although he pointed out that upon reviewing the fight, it was indeed a tight match that could have swayed either way.
Looking Ahead
With this victory marking his third consecutive win in the featherweight division, Wood is now looking ahead, calling out for a fight against the 12th-ranked competitor, Patricio Pitbull. As excitement grows in the MMA community surrounding Wood’s next steps, he continues to establish himself within the sport while showcasing remarkable sportsmanship for returning the fine to his fellow fighter.
