After seeing his comrades fall one by one earlier in the night, Danny Kingad put on a performance beyond his years in the semifinal bout of the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix, Friday evening.
Kingad survived a valiant stand by late replacement Reece McLaren to pick up a split decision win during ONE: Dawn of Heroes at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
“I feel so happy because I am at the finish line. Isa pa! Isa pa!” said Kingad, who will take on the winner of the bout between Demetrious Johnson and Tatsumitsu Wada.
The match was too close to call during the first two and a half rounds of the three-round affair.
The 23-year-old Baguio-native dug deep, though, sealing the deal with a huge takedown with 2:24 left.
For good measure, Kingad took the Fil-Aussie grappler a minute later. The Team Lakay standout then rained on knees to McLaren’s body before closing out the match with short elbows and shoulder bumps.
Besides advancing to the finale – which is scheduled to take place this October during ONE: Century in Japan – Kingad went up to 13-1.
McLaren, who replaced Kairat Akhmetov, fell to 12-7.
In a muay thai match, Rodlek Jaotalaytong smashed late replacement Andrew Miller via a third-round knockout.
Jaotalaytong raised his record to 127-40. Miller replaced Chris Shaw, who suffered an injury as he was preparing for the bout.
ONE: Dawn of Heroes results
August 2, 2019 – SM Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City
- Flyweight World Grand Prix semifinals: Danny Kingad def. Reece McLaren via split decision
- Bantamweight Muay Thai bout: Rodlek Jaotalaytong def. Andrew Miller via KO (right straight, Rd 3 :49)
