Moises Ilogon fell short of hoisting the Philippine flag aloft at the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday evening.
The 23-year-old Cagayan de Oro native tasted the first defeat of his professional career at the hands of South Korea’s Lee Seung Chul in a strawweight MMA clash at ONE Friday Fights 74.
From the moment the bout began, “The Lion King” found himself on the defensive. Lee, who’s known for his aggressive style and impeccable ground game, wasted no time in taking the encounter to the mat.
Using his strength and technical prowess, Lee neutralized Ilogon’s attempts to establish control in the standup department, a key area where the Filipino standout had hoped to dictate the pace.
Pinned to the canvas, Ilogon faced relentless pressure from Lee, who unleashed a barrage of strikes.
Refusing to go down without a fight, Ilogon dug deep into his arsenal, searching for submission opportunities. He first attempted an armbar and then transitioned into a Kimura lock, but Lee’s defense proved too formidable, thwarting every advance.
Just as Ilogon seemed to find his rhythm and create space to bring the fight back to his comfort zone, disaster struck.
A powerful right cross from the South Korean landed flush on Ilogon’s face, sending the Filipino to the canvas.
Smelling blood, Lee pounced on his downed opponent, unleashing a flurry of strikes.
Ilogon, determined to survive, turtled up in an effort to protect himself. However, Lee’s relentless offense left referee Kemp Cheng with no choice but to stop the contest at the 2:49 mark of the first round.
The heartbreaking defeat downgraded Ilogon’s once-perfect record to 3-1, marking a significant setback in his budding career.
Meanwhile, Lee improved to an impressive 8-1, maintaining his 100 percent finishing rate.
