ONE Championship heads to Manila this Friday morning for its “Dawn of Heroes” show, which features a pair of title fights and some semifinal bouts from their Lightweight and Flyweight Grand Prixs alongside a whole mess of interesting matchups.
MMAmania will have LIVE coverage of the event, starting with the “Prelims” on ONE’s Facebook and Twitter pages at 5:00 AM Eastern and continuing on with the main card on the ONE app and Bleacher Report.
The main event sees promotional favorite Martin Nguyen defend his Lightweight title against Koyomi Matsushima, while the co-feature pits Bantamweight Muay Thai champ Jonathan Haggerty against the relentless “Muay Tank,” Rodtang Jitmuangnon. Earlier, former UFC champs Eddie Alvarez and Demetrious Johnson take on fellow semifinalists Eduard Folayang and Tatsumitsu Wada in their respective tournament bouts.
The rest of the card includes other UFC vets like Leandro Issa and Yushin Okami; however, Arjan Bhullar was pulled from the event after opponent Mauro Cerilli was diagnosed with staph infection.
“Dawn Of Heroes” Quick Results:
Martin Nguyen vs. Koyomi Matsushima — Nguyen def. Matsushima via technical knockout in round two
Jonathan Haggerty vs. Rodtang Jitmuangnon — Rodtang def. Haggerty by unanimous decision
Eduard Folayang vs. Eddie Alvarez — Alvarez def. Folayang by submission (rear naked choke) at 2:16 of Round One
Demetrious Johnson vs. Tatsumitsu Wada — Johnson def. Wada by unanimous deicsion
Danny Kingad vs. Reece McLaren — Kingad def. McLaren by split decision
Rodlek PK.Saenchaimuaythaigym vs. Andrew Miller — Rodlek def. Miller by TKO (right cross) at 0:49 of Round Three
Geje Eustaquio vs. Yuya Wakamatsu — Wakamatsu def. Eustaquio by KO (punches) at 1:59 of Round OneMauro Cerilli vs. Arjan Bhullar
Honorio Banario vs. Dae Sung Park — Park def. Banario by unanimous decision
Leandro Issa vs. Daichi Takenaka — Takenaka def. Issa by TKO (knees and punches) at 1:39 of Round Three
James Nakashima vs. Yushin Okami — Nakashima def. Okami by unanimous decision
Edward Kelly vs. Xie Bin — Xie def. Kelly by technical decision
Pongsiri Mitsatit vs. Miao Li Tao — Miao def. Mitsatit by unanimous decision
Samara Santos vs. Ayaka Miura — Miura def. Santos by submission (scarf hold armlock) at 0:39 of Round Two
Sunoto vs. Muhammad Aiman — Aiman def. Sunoto by unanimous decision
“Dawn Of Heroes” Round-By-Round Coverage:
Lightweight Championship: Martin Nguyen vs. Koyomi Matsushima
Round one:
Round two:
Final result: Nguyen def. Matsushima via technical knockout in round two
Flyweight Muay Thai Championship: Jonathan Haggerty vs. Rodtang Jitmuangnon
Round one: Both men sending out kicks i n the early going. Rodtang takes one in the jewels, shrugs it off. Low kick and right cross land for Haggerty in the corner. Teeps landing. Low kick from Rodtang. Haggerty teeps him in the face in return. Another front kick upstairs. Halfway through.
More teeps from the champ. Right cross and head kick near-miss. Rodtang having a lot of issues with the distance. Haggerty targeting the body, Rodtang the legs. 1-2 from the Thai. 10-9 Haggerty.
Round two: Rodtang can’t get past the teep. Now he catches one and looks for a body shot. Body kick from Haggerty, low kicks from Rodtang. Haggerty picking him off at range. Halfway through.
Jab and right cross land for Haggerty. Rodtang lands an elbow on the break and gets admonished for it. Haggerty teep and leg kick. Hard right hand and glancing head kick. Rodtang marches through it and continues pounding the lead leg. Haggery with a teep to the face, Rodtang punches into the clinch. Batter round for Rodtang, but 10-9 Haggerty.
Round three: Back to exchanging kicks. Rodtang shrugs off one to the head and flurries on the ropes. Clinch. Clean 1-2 from Haggerty. Rodtang’s starting to get inside but Haggerty’s still outlanding him. Heavy flurry by Rodtang and they slug for a second. Great exchanges. Halfway through.
Rodtang body kick, Haggerty hook downstairs. Rodtang rips the body again. Rodtang walking him down. Combination and an elbow on the break. Haggerty tries a downward elbow and gets dumped for it. Haggerty body kick. Body kick from Rodtang in return. Haggerty seems to calm down and get back to range management. Rodtang catches a kick and dumps him. 10-9 Rodtang.
Round four: Trading kicks to start. More teeps. Low kick from Rodtang, punching flurry on the ropes. Hard left hook lands. Left hook downstairs. Haggerty with some teeps. Haggery jab, Rodtang leg kick. Vicious liver shot appears to hurt Haggerty and Rodtang is stalking him, targeting the body. Rodtang continues to pursue and down goes Haggerty. Halfway through.
Haggerty beats the count with time to spare. Rodtang stalking, tells Haggerty to come at him. Body kick from Rodtang, catches a head kick and lands a leg kick. Chopping elbow by Haggerty. Rodtang waves him on again. Haggerty with a front kick and a teep in response. Body kick from Haggerty. 10-8 Rodtang with the knockdown.
Round five: Rodtang catches a kick, can’t use it. Front kick and right hand from Haggerty, Rodtang mocks him for it. Trading low kicks. Rodtang catches another kick and lands a leg kick. Good side kick from Haggerty. More teeps. Rodrtang with a three-piece on the ropes. Haggerty catches a body kick and lands a leg kick. Halfway through.
Rodtang bangs the body, clinch. Low kick and 1-2 from Haggerty. Rodtang takes a finger in the eye. Two-piece to the body lands for him. Haggerty still firing kicks. 10-9 Haggerty; I have this fight a draw.
Final result: Rodtang def. Haggerty by unanimous decision
Lightweight Tournament Semifinal: Eduard Folayang vs. Eddie Alvarez
Round one: They swing and Folayang clips him with a left hook. Alvarez knocks Folayang off-balance, briefly looks for a front headloock before they separate. Folayang lands a spinning body kick. One minute in. Another left hook from Folayang, tries a spinning back fist and lands a leg kick. HUGE low kick floors Alvarez and Folayang tries to pound him out. Alvarez survives and hits a sweep into top half guard. A quick transition to the back and he’s got the RNC locked up. There’s the tap and Alvarez pulls off the comeback submission.
Final result: Alvarez def. Folayang by submission (rear naked choke)
Flyweight Tournament Semifinal: Demetrious Johnson vs. Tatsumitsu Wada
Round one: Wada looks like the much larger man in there. Leg kick lands for him. Johnson lands one in return. One minute in. Johnson whiffs on a combo, then shoots. Trading knees in the corner. Wada tries to drag him down, then jumps onto his back. Two minutes in. Full body triangle. Two minutes to go.
Johnson spins into guard, but Wada retakes the back. One minute to go. Johnson tries again, denied. Finally he manages to get into guard with 10 minutes to go. Wada with a healthy lead after five minutes.
Round two: Wada fakes a takedown that gets Johnson to bite. Lots of feints. They trade in the center. Both fire body kicks a minute in. Wada presses him against the ropes, then takes him to the turnbuckle. Knees from Johnson. Two minutes in. Solid body blows. Jockeying for position as the knees continue. Two minutes to go.
Johnson hits a nice double-leg into guard once they move off the fence. Wada briefly holds on to a guillotine. Johnson passes to side control with a minute to go. Not too much ground work before the bell. Johnson got the better of this round but is still behind.
Round three: Johnson fires an early head kick. Leg kick lands. Front kick to the midsection. Johnson catches a kick for a takedown, has to fight off a triangle as Wada throws elbows. Half guard for Johnson a minute in. Wada regains guard 30 seconds later. Elbow from Johnson, passes to half guard and then side control. Two minutes in. Wada turns to his knees, rolls back to guard when Johnson threatens a front choke. Ref pauses to check out the cut Wada picked up from those elbows. Johnson moves to half guard when they resume.
Wada gets to his knees and Johnson looks for the back. Johnson tries a suplex, rolls through for a takedown. Side control, then the front headlock as Wada stands. Wada fires a knee, taken down to his knees again. One hook in for Johnson, loses it. Wada gets a rear waistlock, can’t establish back control and they separate. One minute to go.
Wada waving him on, eats a body kick. Hard right hand from Johnson and Wada puts him in the corner. Wada uses that same back transition, has a hook in. Close fight, but I think Johnson’s got it.
Final result: Johnson def. Wada by unanimous decision
Flyweight Tournament Semifinal: Danny Kingad vs. Reece McLaren
Round one: Kingad lands a hard hook as McLaren separates. McLaren ducks another hook for a takedown, moving quickly to mount. Kingad regains half guard. Kingad tries a sweep and gives up mount again a minute in. Sneaky elbow off of his back. Side control for McLaren. Kingad rolls to his knees and hits a takedown of his own into side control two minutes in. Kingad tries to spin for an armbar and winds up giving up his back. One hook in for McLaren. Both, hunting for the choke. Two minutes to go.
Still looking for the finish. Palm-to-palm choke, nothing doing. One minute to go. Kingad manages to reverse into guard, avoiding an armbar as he does. McLaren looks for another takedown as he stands. McLaren with the early lead.
Round two: Kingad opens with low kicks. Body shot. McLaren shoots off a Kingad leg kick and takes side control. Kingad rolls to his knees and returns to his feet. One minute in.
Kingad fires a flying knee, denies a takedown, tries a spinning back kick to the fence. He stuffs another takedown. Low kicks land for him. McLaren hits a double-leg near the corner and quickly moves to mount just as he seemed to be losing momentum. Two minutes in. Kingad gives up his back, rolls back to half guard. Two minutes to go.
Kingad scrambles into his own takedown attempt, avoiding a guillotine as he does and landing in guard. McLaren looks for a heel hook, not high enough on the leg. He transitions to a calf slicer, uses it to take top position. Kingad responds with a d’arce choke attempt, eats a grounded knee. McLaren looking for the back again, has a hook in. Close round, I’ve still got McLaren ahead.
Round three: McLaren shoots, countered via whizzer throw. McLaren scrambles through, can’t get top position and eats an uppercut on the way up. Head kick from Kingad. McLaren dodges the next one and taunts. One minute in. Kingad with a nice knee tap, lands a couple punches on the way up. McLaren gets in on a double-leg and dumps him to the mat. Full mount. Looking for a d’arce choke two minutes in. Not quite deep enough. Kingad gets to his knees and shoots in response, putting McLaren on his seat against the ropes. Two minutes to go.
McLaren works his way up against the fence. Kingad still has a body lock, hits an outside trip into side control. Looks for mount, can’t get it but avoids a sweep with a minute to go. Elbows from Kingad, knees to the body. McLaren works his way up, eats a pair of knees as he looks for a takedown. Great fight; both have an argument. I’ll say Kingad on the late surge.
Final result: Kingad def. McLaren by split decision
Bantamweight Muay Thai: Rodlek PK.Saenchaimuaythaigym vs. Andrew Miller
Round one: Miller sporting a considerable height advantage. Trading low kicks early. Miller firing his jab, lands a teep. Head kick attempt. Miller lands a leg kick and catches Rodlek’s for a sweep. 1-2 by Miller, clinch. Body kick from Miller, more jabs. Halfway through.
Miller body kick, Rodlek low kick. Rodlek catches a body kick, can’t land the counter. Miller landing kicks at range, eats a left hook on the ropes. Miller leg kick and clinch. More jabs from Miller. 10-9 Miller.
Round two: Miller knees, Rodlek low kicks. Clinch. Jabs from Miller as he circles. Rodlek leg kick, clinch. Head kick from Miller just blocked. Clinch. Leg kicks from Rodlek, knees to the thigh inside. Elbow and body knee from Miller before they break. Rodlek backs him to the corner, knees the thigh. Halfway through.
Rodlek tries to open up, clinched. Trading knees inside. More low kicks by Rodlek, who’s getting inside with greater success. Miller lands a hook. Rodlek to the body, elbow upstairs. Clinch. Rodlek pantomimes lassoing Miller to mock him for retreating. Leg kicks from Rodlek, Miller tries head kicks. 10-9 Rodlek.
Round three: Miller looks for clinch knees on the ropes. Rodlek steps in, gets clinched and looks to punch on the exit. Knees to the body by Rodlek. Miller steps in for a body shot and gets completely lamped by a counter right. Miller’s legs are rubber when he stands and the ref waves it off.
Final result: Rodlek def. Miller by TKO (right cross)
Flyweight: Geje Eustaquio vs. Yuya Wakamatsu
Round one: Eustaquio tries to counter a low kick with a flurry. 1-2 from Wakamatsu a minute in. Right hands falls short. Neither man has the distance yet. Eustaquio tries to spin. Wakamatsu steps in with an elbow. The next exchange is the last, as Wakamatsu obliterates him with a right cross and pounds him out.
Final result: Wakamatsu def. Eustaquio by KO (punches)
Heavyweight: Mauro Cerilli vs. Arjan Bhullar
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final result:
Bantamweight: Honorio Banario vs. Dae Sung Park
Round one: Park hits a quick takedown off a leg kick, lands knees as Banario stands. Both look for takedowns inside. Trading knees a minute in. Park landing more of them. Ref separates them and Park quickly lands a head kick, forcing Banario to the mat and looking to pound him out. Hard grounded knee, then more big punches two minutes in. Banario turtling and Park wants the back. Now Banario gets to his feet, Park still attached. Two minutes to go.
Banario separates, eats another head kick. He catches Park off-balance, then looks for a guillotine when Park shoots. Ref separates them. Right hands from Banario and now Park’s on the retreat. Banario hits his own takedown in the corner. Still Park’s round.
Round two: Low kick from Banario. Body kick attempt. Park goes back to teh head kick, blocked. One minute in. Banario blocks another head kick. Park shoots as Banario tries a low kick, takes him to the corner. He gets Banario to his knees, can’t keep him there. Ref separates them with two minutes to go.
Banario low kick, Park 2-3 counter. Again. Banario continues to target the lead leg. One minute to go. Low leg kick by Banario, body kick from Park in return. Banario denies a takedown and they trade knees inside. Park tries another takedown in the clinch. Banario puts him in the corner and throws knees. Closer round, nto enough to offset Park’s early dominance.
Round three: Park tries another early takedown. Banario defends, looks for one of his own. Ref separates them a minute in. Banario goes back to the leg kicks. Counter knee to the body. Head kick from Park two minutes in. Leg kick lands as well. Side kick from Banario in return. Park loses his mouthpiece. Banario tries to spin when they resume, eats a counter body kick. Two minutes to go.
Park catches a leg kick for a takedown into guard. One minute to go. Elbows from Park. Banario rolls to his knees, can’t stay on his feet. Park continues to drag him down. Park wins comfortably on my scorecard.
Final result: Park def. Banario by unanimous decision
Featherweight: Leandro Issa vs. Daichi Takenaka
Round one: Takenaka circling, potshotting. Superman punch and body kick. Right cross lands for Issa. Takenaka catches a body kick and lands some punches. Issa lands a counter knee after they clinch. One minute in. Takeanaka with a counter knee of his own and counters a takedown into top position. Looking for the back. Issa turning into top position. Two minutes in. Issa ends up on top in half guard. Two minutes to go.
Issa not really striking from the top. Takenaka tries to kick him away with a minute to go. Issa still has the rear waist lock. Knees to the thigh. Issa in the lead via control.
Round two: Takenaka tries a head kick. Issa on the front foot, lands a leg kick. Body kick comes back at him, then a knee met by an Issa hook. Knee from Takenaka a minute in. Leg kick from Isssa, Takenaka tries a head kick. Issa cracks him with a right hand near the corner, eats a counter left and a body kick soon after. Takenaka head kick attempt and they trade lefts. Issa puts him in the corner. They separate. Issa low kick, Takenaka body kick. Issa sporting a cut around his right eye, lands his own body kick. Two minutes to go.
Body kick from Takenaka, straight left soon after. Body shot. Issa still marching forward, clipped by a right hook in a flurry. Straight left, body kick, hard combiantion by Takenaka. Issa comes back with a jab and shoots. Takenaka gets an underhook and breaks the drip, then jumps guard on a guillotine. One minute to go. Doesn’t look deep. They scramble up. Takenaka ahead at the moment.
Round three: Kick exchange to start. Right hook stings Issa on the counter. Jab lands for the Brazilian in return. Takenaka body kick. Picking at each other with straights and now Takenaka’s cut as well. One minute in. Hard body kicks from both. Takenaka drops him with a Superman punch and fires grounded knees, then finishes him off with punches.
Final result: Takenaka def. Issa by TKO (punches and knees)
Welterweight: James Nakashima vs. Yushin Okami
Round one: Both men jabbing early. Okami looks for a single-leg, runs the pipe and looks for the back. Standing rear waist lock a minute in. Nakashima spins to face him and has to fight off a double-leg. He cannot do so and ends up on the bottom in half guard, holding on to a guillotine. It’s tighter than it looks and he uses it to sweep into top position, still squeezing. Okami surviving on his back in half guard and Nakashima abandons it. Elbow lands for him. One minute to go.
Okami gets to his knees and looks for a single-leg. He puts Nakashima on the ropes. Nakashima in the lead.
Round two: Back to trading jabs. Okami shoots, eats uppercuts inside. Back to jabbing. Okami tries a double-leg a minute in, denied. Suddenly, a straight left floors Okami on the ropes and Nakashima sets up in half guard. Patient top control. Two minutes to go.
Not much going on. Okami uses the ropes to stand. Short knees from Nakashima. Nakashima well ahead.
Round three: Okami fires a jab and shoots, denied. Nakashima puts him in the corner. They separate. Another failed shot from Okami a minute in. Nakashima lands a leg kick. Okami shoots again, stuffed again. Nakashima puts him back in the corner two minutes in. They separate. Okami shoots again on the ropes, gets him down but can’t keep him there. Still has a rear waist lock. Two minutes to go.
Okami drags him down, ends up on the bottom in half guard. One minute to go. Nakashima looks for the back on the way up. They separate again. Okami lands a 1-2, looks for more. Easy Nakashima win.
Final result: Nakashima def. Okami by unanimous decision
Featherweight: Edward Kelly vs. Xie Bin
Round one: They open the fight trading punches in the center. Kicks from Kelly as they exchange. Xie hits an easy takedown into side control. Kelly rolls to his knees and Xie looks for the back a minute in. Both hooks in. Going from mount to the back, hard shots. Kelly spins to his knees and shoots, avoiding a front headlock. Xie puts him in the corner. Kelly with a knee, Xie with an elbow on the break two minutes in. Kelly lands a body kick and gets taken down for it. Xie wraps up a d’arce as Kelly tries to stand and moves into mount looking for the finish. Two minutes to go.
Kelly surviving, continues to defend. Xie lets go and gets swept into guard. Kelly stands over him and kicks at his legs. Suddenly, he dives in with a huge right hand and fires away. Xie tries to kick him off, makes it to his feet. Xie jabs, Kelly low kick. Anyone’s fight so far, favoring Xie.
Round two: Low kicks from Kelly in the early going. Xie catches a body kick for a takedown and quickly takes the back. One minute in. Maintaining control with one hook. Kelly gets free and stands two minutes. They trade right hands. Xie wads into the clinch and hits an outside trip into guard. Xie stands over him, lands hard rights. Two minutes to go.
More big right hands. Kelly rolls to his knees as he eats shots and the ref pauses the fight, claiming that Kelly took punches in the back of the head. I see two that connected there.
Kelly’s out of the ring. Going to the cards for a technical decision. If they give it to Kelly they need to lose their jobs.
Final result: Xie def. Kelly by technical decision
Strawweight: Pongsiri Mitsatit vs. Miao Li Tao
Round one: Mitsatit opens with leg kicks, stiffs a low kick and lands a knee. Miao connects with a right hand and brings him to the mat on his next shot. He looks for a kimura, then takes the back. Full mount a minute in. Good shots. Mitsatit regains half guard, Miao riding well and retakes the back. Two minutes in. Mitsatit trying to turn into guard, cannot do so. Now he spins into guard with two minutes to go.
Mitsatit tries to step into mount, gets thrown as Miao gets to his feet, Good scrambles. Good knees by Mitsatit, taken down again. Miao postures up for some heavy punches. He’s in the lead.
Round two: Mitsatit opens with a flying knee, taken down again. Solid punches, passes to side control and north-south. Now wants the back, gets is. Mitsatit gets to his feet, taken back down. Punches from guard from Miao. Two minutes in. Half guard now. Good diving right, looks for the back again as Mitsatit goes to his knees. Both hooks in. Two minutes to go.
Miao back to side control, gets the crucifix and drops punches. Mitsatit wraps up a body lock and stands. Miao denies the takedown but gives up his back before spinning into guard. One minute to go. quick transition to the back and he’s nearly got the RNC. Mount at the bell after losing it. Miao with a huge lead.
Round three: Mitsatit lands an early teep. Miao comes back with a right hand and another takedown into guard. Elbows from Miao, passes to half guard a minute in. Looking for the back yet again. Nearly gets the RNC, then turns to mount two minutes in. Punches and elbows. Man he’s putting a lot into these shots. Mitsatit bridges out and lands a knee, gets taken down again. Two minutes to go.
Miao punches his way past the guard and into north-south. Mitsatit spins to his knees and gives up his back again. Back to guard with a minute to go. More punches from Miao. Passes to side control before the bell. Miao absolutely dominant.
Final result: Miao def. Mitsatit by unanimous decision
Strawweight: Samara Santos vs. Ayaka Miura
Round one: Miura just walks into the clinch and hits a head-and-arm throw. Short right hands as she looks to set up a scarfhold armlock. Santos trying to bring her legs up to defend a minute in. She gets her legs in position for a reverse triangle, but it’s not tight. Miura still defending two minutes in. She answers with grounded knees. Two minutes to go.
Santos still holding onto that triangle even though there’s nothing there. More knees by Miura. Now Miura gets out and drops hammerfists. She’s way ahead.
Round two: Miura hits an easy double-leg into side control. Looking for the scarf hold armlock again and she’s got it.
Final result: Miura def. Santos by submission (scarf hold armlock)
Bantamweight: Sunoto vs. Muhammad Aiman
Round one: Aiman opens with a head kick attempt, then fights off a takedown. One minute in. Lots of feints so far. Sunoto shoots, stuffed after taking a side kick. 1-2 by Aiman. Low kick lands. Jab. Check hook. Sunoto with a better shot, avoiding a knee, gets Aiman to his butt on the ropes. Aiman looking to stand, does so and they separate. Two minutes to go.
Aiman sends out a body kick. Sunoto shoots, stuffed. Right head kick from Aiman just misses, left hook counter does not. One minute to go. Again the check hook and a combination. Leg kick lands. Sunoto tries to change levels, denied, but he lands a right cross at the bell. All Aiman so far.
Round two: More feints from Aiman. Jab lands, firing kicks. Sunoto takes a finger in the eye. Not a super long recovery period. Right cross and failed double-leg by Sunoto. Right cross again. Aiman comes back with a straight left. Punch to the thigh. Low kick and body shot land. Sunoto’s throwing back more, at least. One minute in. Another stuffed takedown. Sunoto counters a low kick with a right, eats a jab. Leg kick connects. Two minutes in. Aiman left hook in combination, then a jab. Like I said, Sunoto’s throwing back, but Aiman’s comfortably outlanding him. Sunoto leg kick, Aiman left hands. Two minutes to go.
Sunoto connects with a low kick. Left hand exchange, Sunoto right cross. Aiman comes back with a heavier one. Flying knee attempt, hard leg kick. Sunoto shoots, stuffed. Aiman retains a comfortable lead.
Round three: Couple early kicks from Sunoto, tries anotehrshot and lands a jab. Aiman denies another takedown and they exchange. Hard leg kicks from Aiman. He’s just faster and crisper than Sunoto so far. Sunoto right hand. Honestly, it kind of looks like a sparring session. Two minutes in. Right hand lands for Sunoto, then another. He shoots, manages to get a body lock. He moves Aiman over to the corner, where the latter jumps guard on a guillotine. Two minutes to go.
Sunoto defending well. Still waiting it out, gets out with a minute to go and Aiman stands. Good straights from Aiman in the corner and he denies a double-leg before throwing Sunoto to the mat. Landing punches from half guard. He takes mount before the bell. Should be an easy decision for Aiman.
Final result: Aiman def. Sunoto by unanimous decision