Demetrious Johnson Seizes Flyweight Crown in ONE on Prime Video 1 Headliner

Demetrious Johnson remains quite mighty.

The 36-year-old AMC Pankration cornerstone took the undisputed One Championship flyweight title by force, as he struck down Adriano Moraes with a straight right hand and follow-up flying knee in the fourth round of their ONE on Prime Video 1 headliner on Friday at Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore. Johnson (31-4-1, 4-1 ONE) drew the curtain 3:50 into Round 4.

Moraes (20-4, 11-4 ONE) frustrated “Mighty Mouse” on the ground for much of the first two rounds but did not escape unscathed. Johnson stayed active from the bottom and hacked open a gnarly cut above the Brazilian’s right eyebrow with a sneaky elbow strike. Momentum shifted noticeably in Round 3. Johnson pieced together exquisite combinations, mixed in a backfist at short range and battered his counterpart’s body with knees from the clinch. He continued to pile up points in close quarters in the fourth round, moved out into open space and buckled Moraes with a straight right. The Brazilian careened towards the fence, where he was met with a perfectly timed flying knee that ended his title reign. Johnson, 36, has won 17 of his past 19 bouts.

Related » One on Prime Video 1 'Moraes vs. Johnson 2' Play-by-Play & Results

Gaiyanghadao Kicks Stop Harrison

Nong-O Gaiyanghadao chopped down Liam Harrison with crushing leg kicks, as he retained his undisputed ONE muay thai bantamweight championship with a first-round technical knockout in the co-main event. Unable to get back to his feet, Harrison (90-25) met his end 2:10 into Round 1.

Gaiyanghadao (264-54) zeroed in on the Englishman’s base from the outset and never relented. He pieced together a few one-twos, fired his jab and tested the water with more than one partially blocked head kick but never strayed far from his target. Gaiyanghadao buckled his colorfully-tattooed challenger with some shin-to-knee contact, then dropped him with a subsequent low kick that resulted in the stoppage.

Undefeated Almeida Submits Grishenko

American Top Team’s Marcus Almeida disposed of Kirill Grishenko with a heel hook in the first round of their heavyweight feature. Grishenko (5-2, 3-2 ONE) raised the white flag of surrender 64 seconds into Round 1, as he suffered his second defeat in as many appearances.

Almeida (4-0, 4-0 ONE) swept the Belarusian off his feet with a kick to the lower leg, continued to probe for openings on the feet and made his move on a takedown. The multiple-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion attacked the leg, locked in the heel hook and prompted the tapout before Grishenko knew what hit him.

The 32-year-old Almeida has finished all four of his opponents inside one round.

Aliakbari Rebounds, Mauls Cerilli

Rizin Fighting Federation veteran Amir Aliakbari put away former Cage Warriors Fighting Championship titleholder Mauro Cerilli with elbows in the second round of their heavyweight showcase. Cerilli (14-5, 2-3 ONE) succumbed to blows 4:02 into Round 2.

Aliakbari (11-3, 1-2 ONE) slowly wore down the Italian brute with repeated takedowns and sustained ground-and-pound for much of the first round. He advanced to a topside crucifix late in the period, left Cerilli with significant damage to his face and appeared to be closing in on a finish when the bell sounded. Aliakbari executed another takedown in the middle stanza, progressed to half guard and closed it out with a burst of short elbow strikes.

The win was Aliakbari’s first since March 2019 and snapped his two-fight losing streak.

In other action, Superlek Kitmookao (130-29) dispatched Walter Goncalves (66-8) with a knifing vertical elbow strike 1:35 into the first round of their flyweight muay thai world grand prix semifinal; Panpayak Jitmuangon (248-41) wrecked Savvas Michael (44-5) with a right hook and follow-up head kick 10 seconds into the second round of their flyweight muay thai world grand prix semifinal; Zebaztian Kadestam (14-7, 6-4 ONE) cut down Iuri Lapicus (14-2, 2-2 ONE) with a devastating right uppercut 57 seconds into the first round of their catchweight clash at 189 pounds; Itsuki Hirata (6-1, 5-1 ONE) laid claim to a unanimous decision over Heqin Lin (15-4-1, 2-2 ONE) in a three-round catchweight affair at 119 pounds; and Diandra Martin (11-3) took a unanimous verdict from Amber Kitchen (18-6) in a three-round muay thai pairing at a 128-pound catchweight.