Moises Ilogon emerged victorious in an entertaining strawweight bout against South Korea’s Cho Joon Gun, sustaining the momentum already established by his fellow up-and-coming Filipino mixed martial artists under the ONE Friday Fights banner.
The 23-year-old Cagayan De Oro native scored a third-round technical knockout victory on the undercard of ONE Friday Fights 39, which took place at the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The clash began with both men cautiously measuring the distance by exchanging leg kicks. As it progressed past the midway point of the opening salvo, Cho managed to catch one of Ilogon’s kicks and initiated a takedown attempt.
However, “The Lion King” swiftly countered, regaining his footing and refusing to be controlled on the canvas.
Towards the end of the first round, Cho looked to land another takedown, but Ilogon skillfully stuffed it and retaliated with a left jab-right straight combination.
The second round started off on the wrong foot with Ilogon and Cho receiving a warning from referee Herb Dean for a lack of activity.
Cho took heed and secured a single-leg takedown, but to the surprise of many, he allowed Ilogon to stand back up. The Filipino took advantage of this opportunity, landing a well-timed punching combination that further showcased his striking power.
As the round approached its final moments, Ilogon relentlessly pressed forward. However, most of his shots missed their target.
Sensing the potential unpredictability of the judges’ decision, Ilogon seized the moment. He initiated the beginning of the end by delivering a body kick that visibly hurt Cho.
Cho retreated along the ropes in pain, and Ilogon closed in and delivered a barrage of punches that left the South Korean in dire straits.
The relentless assault forced Dean to step in and save Cho from further punishment at the 2:17 mark of the third round, resulting in a dramatic victory for Ilogon.
This impressive win improved Ilogon’s professional record to 3-0, marking his first career victory by technical knockout.
He also joined the ranks of Carlos Alvarez, Carlo Bumina-ang, and Fritz Biagtan as homegrown Filipinos who have tasted success on the weekly ONE Friday Fights series.
On the other hand, Cho suffered his second consecutive defeat, bringing his record to 3-3-1.
