Rolando Dy and CJ de Tomas, both second-generation fighters, were planning on making a good first impression in their Ultimate Fighting Championship debuts. However, both fighters succumbed to their respective opponents in the preliminary card of UFC Fight Night Singapore: Holm vs. Correia, Saturday evening at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore.
Eye poke spoils Dy’s debut
Rolando Dy’s (8-5-1) debut with the biggest promotion in the world did not go as planned, as an eye injury brought an abrupt end to his fight against Alex Caceres (13-10). Caceres won by TKO due to doctor’s stoppage in a bout that lasted 10 minutes.
The son of famed boxer Rolando Navarette took this fight two weeks before the event.
Caceres, a 16-fight UFC veteran, was comfortable on his feet to start the bout, landing an array of kicks and short punches to keep distance from Dy.
A huge left by the former Ultimate Fighter contestant knocked the Filipino down to rack up the points. As “Dy Incredible” tried to get up, Caceres swiftly grabbed his opponent’s back and tried a rear naked choke attempt.
After getting a feel of Dy, Caceres continued his attack to open the second stanza, but an inadvertent eye poke called for break midway through the round. With Dy’s approval, the fight continued as Caceres continued to punish Dy.
During the round break, the doctor’s checked on Dy’s eye. “His vision is okay but his right eye is closing,” the ringside physician said, declaring that Dy was unfit to continue.
Dy’s four-fight winning streak was snapped due to the loss.
De Tomas’ perfect slate blemished
In a battle of two debuting prospects, URCC Flyweight Champion CJ De Tomas (6-1) was outclassed by Naoki Inoue (11-0) in a unanimous decision loss (26-30×4).
De Tomas had missed weight a day before.
Unlike in his past bouts, the 20-year-old Filipino went toe-to-toe with Inoue, figuring in a scramble to open the bout. But Inoue was able to gain advantage by taking De Tomas’ back. De Tomas luckily survived multiple submission attempts by the Japanese grappler to end the round.
In contrast to their opening round, the second round started on the stand-up, but an ill-timed takedown attempt by De Tomas was stuffed by Inoue, gaining his opponent’s back once more. Instead of going for a rear naked choke, Inoue battered De Tomas with punches. After trying to lock another RNC, Inoue quickly shifted his body to lock in a mounted triangle choke. With De Tomas not giving in, Inoue went for another choke and an arm bar attempt to close out his dominant round.
Needing to end the fight to win, De Tomas, a five-year veteran, rained elbows on Inoue in the third canto but fatigue took over later on as Inoue was able to drag him down for a take down. Inoue was able to gain full mount and poured in some more punches. De Tomas reversed from his back and even attempt his only submission attempt but Inoue just shrugged it off and end up on top.
