Folayang Survives Broken Nose, Decisions Kwon in One FC
Universal Reality Combat Championship welterweight titleholder Eduard Folayang took a hard-fought decision over Heat champion A Sol Kwon in the One Fighting Championship “Champion vs. Champion” main event on Saturday at Singapore Indoor Stadium.
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Despite receiving a cut over the right eye from Kwon’s shots, “Landslide” pulled ahead in the second and third frames, smashing Kwon with sidekicks and blistering flurries into the cage. For his constant pressure and aggression, Folayang was awarded the unanimous decision, as well as a $5,000 “Fight of the Night” bonus, courtesy of One FC promoter Victor Cui.
With a visibly crooked broken nose, Folayang commented post-fight
that he was confident he would have succeeded regardless.
“Well, I’m always blessed to win,” said Folayang. “I need to fight even though I’m hurt. I know I could win every round.”
Yoshida Grounds, Outpoints Baroni
Yoshiyuki Yoshida grounded fellow UFC veteran Phil Baroni for three rounds and edged him on the scorecards in their welterweight attraction.
Given his historically shaky chin, “Zenko” employed an intelligent game plan of pressuring Baroni against the cage and on the ground, mashing him with short punches from above and sapping the powerful American of his strength. Though Baroni rallied to score punches to the face and body of a backpedalling Yoshida in the second frame, the Japanese fighter’s stifling grappling still controlled the bout, as he took the unanimous decision victory.
A dejected Baroni refused to shake hands or embrace with Yoshida after the final bell, but he was convinced to give a curt bow after a negative reaction from the crowd.
Kelly Chokes Chilson, Stays Undefeated
Universal Reality Combat Championship featherweight champion Eric Kelly handed Mitch Chilson his first career loss, bringing his own record to 6-0 in their featherweight bout.
Explosive from the start, both men came out swinging, until Chilson caught a kick and took the Filipino to the canvas. Kelly eventually reversed to take top position but could not keep the American on the mat. Back on the feet, Chilson and Kelly battled against the fence, until the URCC champion locked in a surprise rear-naked choke during a clinch exchange and put Chilson to sleep at the 3:10 mark of the first round. The unexpected submission not only preserved Kelly's own perfect record but also netted him a $5000 submission of the night bonus.
“For me, I just come here to fight. If there’s a chance to win, I’ve got that opportunity to win,” said Kelly. “I’d like to represent my country, the Philippines, in the UFC.”
Gracie Takes Decision Over Kim
Gregor Gracie, a 2009 Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships bronze medalist, had his hands full against South Korea’s Seok Mo Kim, who endured submission attempt after submission attempt from the Brazilian jiu-jitsu blue blood.
Between eating punches from mount, the tough Kim survived a topside triangle in the first period and tight arm triangles in the second and third. Although the Korean showed no small amount of heart and durability, Gracie’s control and offensive dominance saw him take away the unanimous decision by bout’s end.
“I wish it was over, but he was very slick. He defended very well; he was slipping out of my moves,” said a gracious Gracie. “I guess I have to work harder.”
Moreira Stops Wang in Second
Despite a significant reach advantage and two unintentional eye pokes by Zorobabel Moreira, gritty “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 5 alum Andy Wang toughed out a mauling at the Brazilian’s hands for just over a round in their 159-pound catchweight bout.
Moreira used his lengthy jab and kicks at range, along with vicious elbows in the clinch, to break down the tenacious Wang. The end came when Moreira delivered a number of unanswered punches to the head and knees to the body of a dazed, turtled Wang, prompting a hesitant referee Shimada to step in for the stoppage at 1:59 of round two.
Ng Stops Bo in 45 Seconds
Hong Kong’s Eddie Ng expediently blasted China’s Yuan Chun Bo after a worrisome first few seconds of their bout.
Scoring the takedown right off of the bell, Ng quickly found himself fighting off a Bo guillotine and armbar attempt before landing four crushing punches to his foe’s chin from inside the guard. With Bo stiff as a board, referee Hume had no choice but to call the bout at the 45-second mark.
Debuting Rahman Mauls Ghosh
Debuting flyweights Radeem Rahman and Susovan Ghosh put forth a brief, if brutal, bout that saw the Singaporean maul Ghosh for a first-round technical knockout victory.
What the Indian karateka may have lacked in size and cage experience, he made up for with perseverance, doggedly chasing takedowns as Rahman assailed him with brutal elbows, knees and punches. After a sustained beating of 3:18, referee Hume stepped in to pull off Rahman for the stop. In addition to his first victory, Rahman also brings home an additional $5000 bonus for scoring the evening's knockout of the night.
Colossa Jab Overwhelms Yu
In a lightweight attraction, Vuyisile Colossa notched a win for muay Thai over Sanda practitioner Ma Xing Yu with a stiff jab. Colossa’s jab proved problematic for the Mongolian from the opening moments, allowing the South African to assault a dazed Yu against the cage with punches and knees.
A follow-up jab collapsed Yu at the 49-second mark of round one, forcing referee Hume to dive for the save.
Sityodtong Knee Finishes Mashamaite
Former WBA super featherweight champion Yodsanan Sityodtong had a successful MMA debut, dispatching South Africa’s Daniel Mashamaite with a brutal knee to the face at the opening of the second period.
After acquitting himself on the ground in the early goings of the first frame, Sityodtong stalked Mashamaite with big punches against the cage for the remaining time. A botched Mashamaite takedown to start the second round resulted in a crushing knee to the face, prompting referee Shimada to call the bout at the 14-second mark.
BJJ Ace Issa Outpoints Kim
Starting off the show’s bouts, decorated Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor Leandro Issa went toe-to-toe with Soo Chul Kim in a high-paced bantamweight contest, giving the Korean his first career loss.
Issa impressed with hard low and body kicks, coupled with stiff jabs and lead hooks. Though suffering an early low blow and later a swollen right eye, Kim returned fire with lightning-fast punches of his own, but Issa’s impressive grappling control, ground-and-pound and submission attempts in the latter rounds tipped the scales in his favor for the unanimous decision win.
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