Brian McGrattan fights Daniel Maggio in rematch after brutal KO (Video)

The last time Brian McGrattan of the AHL San Diego Gulls fought Daniel Maggio of the San Antonio Rampage, he took a punch that knocked him out and sent him face-first to the ice. 

The sight of McGrattan, one of the NHL’s most popular pugilists over the last several years, sprawled out and unconscious left many shaken, and (as expected) opened up another debate about the relevancy of fighting in an age of concussion awareness and player safety.

McGrattan, however, was steadfast in his belief that the incident would not change his job or his approach to it. 

“When I lose like that, that doesn’t change anything for me. That’s not going to change the way I approach going to the rink, change how I’m going to play,” said McGrattan, who has been in the AHL all season after being acquired by the Anaheim Ducks. “It’s not going to change anything. I’m always ready for something like that to happen. That’s why maybe I’ve won so much … You’re going to lose. You’re going to lose bad some times.”

McGrattan would miss eight games after the fight, but was in the lineup for Tuesday night’s game against the Rampage. So was Maggio for San Antonio. You can imagine where it goes from here:

Rematch!

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So McGrattan gets a measure of revenge here, connecting a few times and eventually forcing Maggio to the ice. (While fighting with a face shield, but we digress…)

McGrattan was given a fighting major and a misconduct. He returned to score the final goal in the Gulls’ 6-2 win.

We imagine some of you are applauding the way these two went back at it despite the horrific results of the previous fight. We imagine some of you are reacted in horror after seeing the way these two went back at it despite their previous fight. Such is hockey in 2016.  

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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at [email protected] or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

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