Three Filipino fighters fell to their opponents in highly entertaining fights, all by finishes, Friday at the Stadium Putra in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Gonzales TKO’d in ONE Championship debut
Ramon Gonzales opened the match with an off-balance spinning hook kick that Chan Rothana immediately took advantage off. Rothana connected with a few shots before a sweep by Gonzales for a stand-up. Another off-balance spin kick by Ramon Gonzales. With Gonzales on the ground, a scramble between the two fighters followed with Gonzales trying to go for a heel hook on Rothana. The Cambodian GP runner-up pounds on Gonzales with hammer fists and short elbows that eventually opened up the Filipino. No choice for the referee but to stop the contest with just 12 seconds to go in the opening round.
Evolve’s Gannaway outgrapples Lakay’s Osenio
In just the third match-up between the top two MMA camps in Asia under the ONE Championship banner, April Osenio of Team Lakay made a commendable professional MMA debut but eventually succumbed to the grappling skills of Evolve MMA’s Kirstie Gannaway.
Osenio, a late replacement for another Filipina fighter Jujeath Nagaowa, displayed great heart in escaping various submission attempts by her opponent in the opening round of the match. Kirstie Gannaway immediately cornered Osenio into the cage and then was able to pull guard. The Evolve MMA standout switched from half guard and later was able to take April’s back. After a brief choke attempt, Gannaway was able to mount Osenio. The Filipina managed to sweep and gain top position over the Singaporean. Gannaway tried to stand but in doing so, Osenio landed a huge soccer kick that landed square in her opponents face. Osenio was not able to take advantage of her dazed opponent and her opponent ended up almost taking Osenio’s arm before the round ended.
It was all Gannaway in the second round of the match. After a headlock attempt by the wushu champion, Gannaway let her momentum take both fighters down and eventually taking the Filipina’s back. Kirstie Gannaway synched in a deep rear naked choke for an immediate tap out with 2:10 to go in the second round.
Bullos trips and taps to Ev Ting
After entering the ONE Championships with a 7-1 win-loss record, Seldaf MMA Club standout Cary “the Prince” Bullos will continue to look for his first win in the promotion after succumbing to a guillotine choke to the hometown favorite Ev Ting.
Bullos and Ting started the match with the two getting into a stand-up affair. A superman punch by Bullos almost knocked down Ev Ting, but the Malaysian was able to recover by clinching “the Prince.” Ting utilized his kicks to stay away from the Filipino but Bullos was still able to counter with clean body shots. Ev Ting connected with body kicks to end the first round.
In the second round, Ev Ting moved forward with aggressive striking to corner the Filipino. Once cornered, Ting was able to clinch his opponent and successfully connected with a leg trip. Ev immediately synched a tight guillotine choke to end the match at the 1:05 mark.
GIF by ZombieProphet
ONE Championship 25: Age of Champions Results
March 13, 2015 – Stadium Putra, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Featherweight bout: Ev Ting (9-2, Auckland MMA) def. Cary Bullos (7-3, Seldaf MMA Club) via submission-guillotine choke (Rd2, 1:05)
Atomweight bout: Kirstie Gannaway (2-0, Evolve MMA) def. April Osenio (0-1, Team Lakay) via submission-rear naked choke (Rd2, 2:10)
Bantamweight bout: Chan Rothana (3-1, Selapak) def. Ramon Gonzales (1-1, Hyper MMA) via TKO-ground and pound (Rd1, 1:20)
ONE Championship 26: Valor of Champions
ONE Championship will return to Manila on April 24, 2015. Announced for the event is the ONE World Welterweight Championship match between the unbeaten champion and former Olympian Ben Askren facing Brazilian Luis “Sapo” Santos (61-9-1). Two Filipino fighters are also on the card as Philippine National Games amateur wrestling champion Mark Streigl (13-1) makes his ONE Championship debut and Submission Sport standout Eugene Toquero (5-1) squaring-off against Indonesian Brianata Rosadhi (1-1) in flyweight action.
*Photos from ONE Championship
