ONE FC, Asia’s largest Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organization with a 90% market share, impressed the sold-out crowd in attendance at the state-of-the-art Mata Elang International Stadium with another night of world-class mixed martial arts action. In the main event of the evening, Adriano Moraes demonstrated why he is considered one of the best flyweights in the world by submitting Japanese standout Kosuke Suzuki.
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https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ogw4tb66e3467d5/JtQIQiN8uQAdriano Moraes was relentless in pursuing the takedown from the opening bell, and succeeded on multiple attempts in the first round. The Brazilian came close to a finish with an arm triangle from mount as time ran out. The second round was a battle of technique and agility as Moraes escaped from a crucifix position and Suzuki avoided Moraes’ guillotine choke attempt. Moraes’ takedown in the third round set up an arm triangle choke that resulted in Suzuki tapping out.
Indonesian favourite Fransino Tirta extended his record to seventeen bouts without a loss by overcoming Egyptian Sami Amin in resounding fashion. Tirta, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, took Amin down almost immediately from the opening bell. Tirta was too slick for Amin on the ground and the Egyptian succumbed to a rear naked choke much to the delight of the Indonesian fans in attendance.
The Philippines’ Geje Eustaquio and Japan’s Kentaro Watanabe put on a demonstration of elite level striking as they swapped blows for three rounds. Watanabe appeared to have rocked Eustaquio early in the first round, leading to Eustaquio being more tentative the rest of the round. The Filipino began to throw more striking combinations in the second round, landing several leg kicks and boxing combinations. Eustaquio increased his striking volume in the third round, and won the bout on all three judges’ scorecards.
Aung La N Sang made an impressive ONE FC debut by defeating Egypt’s Mahmoud Salama quickly in the first round. Sang, Myanmar’s first entrant into ONE FC, initiated the grappling exchange by taking Salama down, but Salama immediately responded with a reversal and ended up on top. Sang responded by sweeping Salama and moving straight into mount. His heavy strikes from the mount position were devastating and led to the referee stoppage a minute and six seconds into their battle.
Malaysia’s Ev Ting and Indonesia’s Yohan Mulia Legowo battled each other in an intense back-and-forth featherweight contest. It was Ting who got his hands raised at the end of the bout by finishing Legowo in the first round. Both Ting and Legowo began the bout aggressively, with head kicks and powerful punches exchanged. With less than a minute remaining in the opening stanza, Ting chained together a flurry of strikes that wobbled Legowo, and decisively finished the bout with two knees to the dazed Indonesian veteran.
Muay Thai world champion Dejdamrong sor Amnuaysirichoke demonstrated the effectiveness of world class Muay Thai in mixed martial arts as he put on one of the most exciting bouts of the evening opposite boxer Jomanz Omanz. The pair started the bout with an intense brawl, with Dejdamrong overwhelming Omanz with powerful leg kicks and accurate punches. Omanz was resilient and bounced back from the barrage to take his Thai adversary down, but a failed takedown attempt led to the Muay Thai world champion Dejdamrong raining down devastating elbows and knees, forcing referee Oliver Coste to step in and call an end to the contest with seconds left in the first round.
Gianni Subba re-established himself as a top flyweight prospect by defeating Ruel Catalan of the Philippines. The 21 year-old Subba took Catalan down early in the first round and advanced to the mount position, but Catalan performed an impressive reversal to get on top. Subba wrapped his legs around Catalan to get a triangle choke but could not finish his opponent as the bell sounded to end the first round. Subba secured double underhooks and tried to take Catalan down to start the second round, but Catalan managed to land on top. The Malaysian Subba secured a triangle choke position again, and rained down vicious elbows that forced Catalan to tap out.
Iran’s Mohammad Sotounzadeh proved too much for local favorite Zuli Silawanto as he finished his opponent in the first round. Sotounzadeh, who is a decorated Taekwondo and Muay Thai veteran, dropped Silawanto with a punch. Silawanto attempted an armbar attempt, but Sotounzadeh hoisted Silawanto off the ground and slammed him to the canvas to free himself from the submission. His follow-up strikes knocked the Indonesian out, silencing the crowd and earning Sotounzadeh a knockout victory.
Female Asian mixed martial arts pioneers Desi Rahayu and Ella Tang kicked off ONE FC: ERA OF CHAMPIONS in emphatic fashion. The takedown skills of Desi Rahayu, Indonesia’s first professional female mixed martial artist, proved to be the difference as she made a convincing ONE FC debut by defeating Tang via unanimous decision. She showed off her Judo skills with a throw early in the first round. The tenacious Malaysian Tang thwarted two armbar submission attempts from Rahayu to get back up, but was taken down again to close out the first round. Rahayu started the second and third round in similar fashion by taking Tang down with Judo throws, and spent the majority of both round on top threatening with ground strikes that Tang simply had no response to.
