- Casey O’Neill won her bout at UFC 305 in Perth
- Defeated Luana Santos on points on Sunday
- Had a message for Rachael Gunn after bout
Aussie martial artist Casey O’Neill has celebrated her win at UFC 305 by impersonating Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn in the Octagon – then taking a cheeky shot at the Olympic breakdancer.
Gunn became one of the biggest stories of the Paris Games when she was widely mocked for her routines, which included her mimicking a kangaroo and using the ‘sprinkler’ dance move.
The 36-year-old then saw fans rally behind her after she opened up on the mental toll the trolling had taken on her.
On Sunday, local time, O’Neill defeated Brazil’s Luana Santos at Perth‘s RAC Arena – and celebrated the judges’ unanimous decision by pulling out some of Raygun’s headline-making moves.
The 26-year-old burst into tears when the win was announced to the crowd, then fell to the mat, lay on her side and bent at the waist as she threw her hands down to her feet, impersonating one of Gunn’s most widely repeated manoeuvres.
She then jumped up to her feet and held her hands up to her chest, palms down, in a nod to Gunn’s now-famous kangaroo move – which has also been described as looking like a tyrannosaurus rex.
O’Neill then used her post-fight press conference to take a sly shot at Gunn.
Aussie martial artist Casey O’Neill (left) scored a unanimous points victory over Brazil’s Luana Santos at UFC 305 – but her celebration stole the show
The Aussie fighter impersonated breakdancer Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn after the judges’ scorecards were read out
O’Neill even mimicked Gunn’s world-famous kangaroo impersonation (pictured)
Asked how she rated her breakdancing in the Octagon, the Queensland-based fighter said, ‘I give that a 10. I think I did better than she did in the Olympics.
‘I think if they do bring it [breaking] back for 2028 I might need to take an MMA hiatus and go get a gold medal.’
In a heartfelt message posted to her Instagram page last Thursday, Raygun admitted that the online abuse has been ‘pretty devastating’.
‘I didn’t realise that that would also open the door to so much hate which has frankly been pretty devastating.
She also asked people to stop ‘harassing’ her and her friends and family, and to ‘respect their privacy’.
And while some opted to respond with negative comments, which Daily Mail Australia has chosen not to publish, swathes of fans rallied behind the university lecturer.
‘Hope your mental health is doing well,’ one Instagram follower said. ‘Take care of yourself first, much love.’
‘Ignore the haters, you are amazing,’ said another fan. ‘Be very proud. You’re a true fun loving Aussie. Right up there with Steven Bradbury as a sporting legend. Never to be forgotten.’
Pictured: Rachael Gunn performs the original kangaroo move during her routines in Paris
‘Raygun’ received a lot of support from fans after she opened up about the toll online trolling took on her after her widely panned performances at the Games (pictured)
‘I stand with you Rachael,’ said a third follower. ‘You already know.’
A fourth fan wrote: ‘You’re an icon. Have a good break!’
Another fan posed a comment to the trolls: ‘She gave us all a laugh, why the hatred?’
O’Neill’s victory came after she suffered two straight losses she said left her in a dark place.
‘I think only fighters understand really what it feels like coming off a two-fight loss. It is more than just a bad day at work. It is like an identity crisis,’ she said after the win.
‘You have to go back and make sure you’re secure in yourself and everything. It takes a lot of work. I’m grateful all the work paid off tonight.
‘It was probably one of the harder things I’ve ever had to do. Sorry, I’m really emotional because this meant so much to me.’
