Martin Nguyen KOs Eduard Folayang, Becomes Two-Division Titleholder in One Championship

Martin Nguyen etched his name in the history books and did so in stirring fashion.

The 28-year-old became One Championship’s first simultaneous two-division champion, as he knocked out Eduard Folayang with second-round punches to capture the lightweight crown in the One Championship “Legends of the World” headliner on Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, Philippines. Folayang succumbed to blows 2:20 into Round 1.

Nguyen, who entered the cage as the promotion’s featherweight champion, countered a spinning attack from Folayang with a clean hook and mopped up what was left with follow-up punches.

In the co-main event, Adriano Moraes submitted the previously unbeaten Danny Kingad with a first-round rear-naked choke to retain his One Championship flyweight crown. Kingad bowed out 4:45 into Round 1.

Moraes entertained a few standup exchanges with the challenger before securing a takedown and settling in side control. Once it hit the mat, the outcome became a forgone conclusion. Moraes advanced to the back in the final minute of the first round, secured his position and cinched the choke for the finish.

Meanwhile, Lakay MMA’s Kevin Belingon took a unanimous decision from Kevin Chung in a three-round bantamweight showcase.

Belingon utilized heavy punch-kick combinations to floor and nearly finish his counterpart twice, once in the first round and again in the third. Those moments overshadowed a strong middle stanza for Chung, as he capitalized on a slower pace, took down the Filipino striker and largely neutralized him on the ground.

The 30-year-old Belingon has rattled off four straight wins since he failed in his bid to unseat One Championship bantamweight titleholder Bibiano Fernandes in January 2016.

In other action, Alex Silva submitted Hayato Suzuki with an armbar 1:22 into the first round of their strawweight clash; Reece McLaren tapped Anatpong Bunrad with a brabo choke 3:08 into the first round of their flyweight encounter; Zhikang Zhao submitted Thai Rithy with a rear-naked choke 2:28 into the first round of their featherweight tilt; Gina Iniong put away Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol with punches 2:12 into the second round of their women’s atomweight pairing; Joshua Pacio knocked out Roy Doliguez with a spinning backfist 38 seconds into the second round of their strawweight match; Chao Xie was awarded a technical knockout via doctor stoppage 1:48 into the first round of his featherweight battle with Kelvin Ong; and Xuewen Peng knocked out Phat Soda with a slam 2:17 into the first round of their strawweight confrontation.