Determined Seiya Matsuda Downs Mikhail Gritsanenko at ONE Friday Fights 57

A slow start did nothing to slow down Seiya Matsuda in his ONE Championship debut.

Multiple takedowns, ground-and-pound and a near submission carried the unbeaten Blue Dog Gym export to a split decision over Mikhail Gritsanenko in a ONE Friday Fights 57 catchweight showcase on Friday at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. Two of the ringside judges struck scorecards for Matsuda (4-0, 1-0 ONE), who was overcome by emotion following the three-round battle at 163 pounds.

Gritsanenko (3-2, 0-1 ONE) leaned on deft footwork and sharp counterattacks throughout much of the first round, where he let fly with two- and three-punch combinations, occasionally punctuating them with thudding kicks to the body. It was not enough to throw Matsuda off the scent. The 28-year-old organizational newcomer took down Gritsanenko in Round 2, moved to the north-south position and locked in a kimura. Pain contorted the Russian’s face, as he tried and failed to free himself from the maneuver for well over a minute before he was saved by the bell. Matsuda struck for another takedown in the third round, achieved full mount on multiple occasions and eventually slid behind his opponent while making a brief pass at a rear-naked choke. Gritsanenko survived, only to lose on points.

The setback was Gritsanenko’s first since Sept. 17, 2017.

Meanwhile, onetime Olympian Akari Ogata put away Raqobat Club rep Khozhiniso Komoldinova with punches in the third round of their catchweight clash at 163 pounds. Ogata (1-0, 1-0 ONE) brought it to a close 1:16 into Round 3, as the Japanese judoka made a strong first impression in her promotional debut.

Komoldinova (2-2, 0-1 ONE) greeted her counterpart with powerful right hands, a picture-perfect double-leg takedown and elbow-laced ground-and-pound in the first round. However, the Uzbekistan native lost her way from there. Ogata wore down the 24-year-old prospect in the middle stanza, where she trapped her in the corner and unleashed a series of knee strikes to the body. She executed a takedown early in Round 3, climbed to the back, flattened out Komoldinova and cut loose with unanswered punches until the job was done.

The loss snapped Komoldinova’s modest two-fight winning streak.

In other action, Panrit Lukjaomaesaiwaree earned a unanimous decision over Alexey Balyko in their three-round catchweight muay thai headliner at 140 pounds; Shakhriyor Jurayev put down Numpangna Eaglemuaythai with a standing elbow strike 23 seconds into the second round of their catchweight muay thai co-main event at 140 pounds; Donking Yotharakmuaythai wrecked Chalongsuk Jacksonmuaythai with a right uppercut 54 seconds into the second round of their 132-pound catchweight muay thai showcase; Songpandin Chor Kaewwiset, 16, laid claim to a unanimous decision over Wanchuchai Kaewsamrit in a three-round catchweight muay thai attraction at 126 pounds; Sungprab Lookpichit buried Yodnamnuea N and P Boxing with punches 66 seconds into the first round of their 112-pound catchweight muay thai affair; Soe Lin Oo dispatched Fabio Reis with a left jab 1:42 into the second round of their bantamweight muay thai scrap; Parham Gheirati wiped out Otop Or Kwanmuang with punches 62 seconds into the first round of their bantamweight muay thai altercation; Moe Htet Aun took out Tomoya Maruyama with a counter right hand 2:50 into the third round of their 140-pound catchweight muay thai encounter; and Tuan Tran cut down Yuya Jonishi with punches 56 seconds into the third round of their catchweight muay thai clash at 152 pounds.