Debuting Zebastian Kadestam became the first man to stop Luis Santos in ONE Championship
Former Pacific Xtreme Combat Welterweight Champion Zebaztian “The Bandit” Kadestam had a ONE Championship debut to remember, stopping former welterweight championship challenger Luis Santos with 2:18 left on the clock with knees, Friday night at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore.
Kadestam, who fights out of Legacy Gym Boracay, raised his record to 9-3.
“I do not think I have ever fought like that before,” the fighter who hails out of Sweden said. “I was waiting and waiting because I could feel his power, especially in the first two minutes. He had power in everything. He was fast in his hands and knees. My plan was to attack a lot more, but I could also see him gas early.”
Early jitters seemed to affect Kadestam in the early-going of the bout, as Santos had clear control of the cage, keeping distance with heavy leg kicks while taking the former PXC fighter down with ease to close out the opening round.
By the second round, Santos was gassed but still had enough power to take the Swede down, laying on his opponent for the majority of the stanza.
Faced with a do-or-die situation, Kadestam needed to go all out in the final round. After stuffing a Santos takedown, Kadestam was able to gain top advantage on the Brazilian. But instead of laying on top of Santos, Kadestam went for the kill, blasting his opponent with three huge knees to the head — the second knocking the Brazilian out for good.
Kadestam had just stopped one of the world’s top welterweights, and instantly put himself in the welterweight title picture in one of the biggest upsets in ONE Championship history.
Story and Photo from ONEFC.com
