Heavyweight Igor Subora, debuting strawweight Natalie Gonzales Hills, and featherweights Jimmy Yabo and Edward Kelly had high hopes entering ONE’s Pride of Lions event held at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang Street, Singapore. However, all their hopes were shattered at a blink of an eye as all fell to their opponents in the first round of their fights.
“The Kilapino” falls prey to Angela Lee’s twister submission
Going into the bout, 27 year old Filipino-Australian Natalie Gonzales Hills had a wealth of experience behind her compared to Singaporean Angela Lee. A slight mistake though resulted to a first round submission loss for the debuting Filipina as she tapped to one of the rarest submission holds in MMA, the twister.
Hills was aggressive to start the match-up as she knew she had the upperhand in the striking department against Evolve MMA’s brightest young star. A flurry of rights hand and knees by the Filipino-Australian in the clinch marked the first 30 seconds of the bout. Showing her striking prowess, “the Kilapino” tried a crescent kick and a spinning back fist combination that barely glanced her opponent. A huge right hook was then landed by Hills that knocked Lee to one knee.
Smelling blood, Hills dragged Lee to the ground but proved to be a vital error as Lee is an accomplished Brazilian Jiu Jitsu grappler. After just ten seconds on top, Lee swept her oppont for the full guard and was able to mount her opponent with 3:23 left in the opening round. Hills gave up her back and tried to roll past her. However, Lee had other plans in mind as she locked in a twister, a submission that twists the opponent’s spine, and at the 2:24 mark. Hills had no other recourse but to tap.
With the win, Lee stays perfect with a 3-0 slate while Hills falls to 2-3.
Titanic clash ends with Subora flat on his back
Don’t blink!
In a quick clash between two heavyweights, the stucky 40 year old Hong Kong-resident Alain Ngalani needed just a minute and nine seconds to send Ukranian Philippine-resident Igor Subora crashing to the mat.
Subora preyed on Ngalani to start the contest but kicks by “the Panther” distanced himself from the Ukranian. A huge left body kick by Ngalani stunned Subora while huge body punches and a overpowering right knocked Subora down. Still feeling the effects of the kicks, Subora crumbled to the mat, leaving his head prone to hammer fists. The referee had seen enough punishment as the match was stopped with 3:51 still left on the clock in the first round.
Alain Ngalani evens his record at 2-2 while the 35 year old Ukranian falls to a 5-3 record, currently in a two-fight funk.
Cebuano “Silencer” silenced by Amir Khan
Prior to making his ONE Championship debut, Cebuano featherweight Jimmy Yabo was riding a four-fight win streak. That is a thing of the past now as Yabo succumbed to hometown favorite Amir Khan.
Yabo tried to keep distance against his lanky opponent to open the contest. At the 4:05 mark, the “Silencer” was able to press Khan to the cage but knees by the Singaporean led to his escape. After a minute of parrying, a Yabo body kick was caught by Khan that paved the way for a huge left by Khan and a corner clinch. Yabo was able to land a clean jab that knocked Khan down but Khan eventually took Yabo down to the half guard. The 21 year old Singaporean was able to secure a full mount and was able to land at least 35 unanswered short elbows and punches on the 34 year old Filipino. The referee fortunately stopped the action with 52 seconds remaining on the clock.
The young Singaporean raises his record to 4-2 while Yabo falls to 4-2.
Nguyen busts Kelly deep
Edward Kelly, fresh from a win against Yabo, had all the time to shake-off the rust from his short layoff. Australian Martin Nguyen had just fought a month ago and sufferred his first loss defeat during his match against Marat Gafurov. Nguyen used this as fire to stop Team Lakay’s young prospect Edward Kelly.
“The Ferocious” Kelly was immediately taken down by Nguyen to open the bout. After trying for a rear naked choke, “the Situ-Asian” then moved to an armbar attempt but the Baguio-native was able to escape. Kelly then followed it up with a head kick combination but was deraile by a huge shoot to a double-leg takedown by Nguyen from halfway accross the cage. The Filipino, fighting for dear life, attempted a guillotine choke but was easily escaped by the Australian. A sharp elbow by Nguyen busted the top of the head of Kelly at the 3:49 mark. With 41 seconds remaining, the ringside doctors checked the cut and deemed that it was too deep for the Filipino to continue. The match was stopped at the 4:11 mark.
The “Situ-Asian” moves to 5-1 while the Ferocious one will look to bounce back with a 6-3 record.
ONE Pride of Lions results
November 13, 2015 – Singapore Indoor Stadium, Kallang, Singapore
Women’s Strawweight bout: Angela Lee defeated Natalie Hills via Submission (twister), Rd 1 2:36
Heavyweight bout: Alain Ngalani defeatead Igor Subora via TKO (ground and pound), Rd 1 1:08
Featherweight bout: Amir Khan defeated Jimmy Yabo via TKO (ground and pound), Rd 1 4:03
Featherweight bout: Martin Nguyen defeated Edward Kelly via TKO (doctor’s stoppage – cut forehead), Rd 1 4:19
