Tag: ONE Championship News

ONE women’s strawweight champion Jingnan Xiong met ONE atomweight champion Angela Lee in the co-main event of today’s (Sun., March 31, 2019) ONE Championship: A New Era from Ry?goku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan.

With A New Era a pivotal card for ONE, Lee attempted to make history by becoming the first female double-champion in promotional history at only 22 years old.

She met no easy task in Xiong, who was last seen knocking out Samara Santos Cunha at September’s ONE: Beyond the Horizon. She had won her previous eight fights, with five of them coming by way of T/KO. Lee, meanwhile, last defended her atomweight title against Mei Yamaguchi at lat May’s ONE: Unstoppable Dreams. In doing so, she extended her unbeaten record to 9-0. She had also suffered a back injury that forced her previously scheduled bout with Xiong to be moved from November to today.

This was a pivotal bout for the future of the rising ONE Championship.

Round One:

Lee came out aggressive. She winged shots and Xiong countered. Xiong followed with an overhand. Xiong clinched but Lee reversed to land some knees. Lee took Xiong down and moved to side control. The atomweight champion smothered her foe. Xiong looked to kick Lee away from the mat but Lee went for a headlock. Xiong got out and beckoned Lee to strike. Xiong scored with two combos. Lee countered with her own. Xiong clinched for a minute and threw some shots. Lee snapped some of her own, getting Xiong’s attention as she rushed in. The strawweight champion goaded Lee and landed a good shot as the first round closed.

Round Two:

Lee clinched up against the cage wall early in the second. She controlled the action, yet did little damage. Xiong broke to throw a combo. Xiong landed a front kick to the body and a right hand. Lee pressed the pace and clinched once again. Xiong reversed landing a knee. But Lee reversed and wnt for a takedown, but Xiong scored a trip. She landed two more good shots and they traded. Xiong scored solid shots and Lee did as well. They traded more strikes and Xiong unloaded a combo to end the second round.

Round Three:

The third frame started with Lee pressing the pace as usual. But once again Xiong countered with good shots. They traded positions in the clinch. Then Lee got a solid takedown to land in Xiong’s open guard. Xiong went for a triangle then created a scramble to get up. But Lee kept at it and looked for a kimura on the ground. They got back to the feet and Xiong hit Lee with the overhand again. A two-punch combo followed and a spinning back kick. Numerous shots landed as she pushed forward. Lee ate huge shots as Xiong found her rhythm. The champ styled, following with a huge combo that appeared to hurt Lee. A great third round for the champ came to an end.

Round Four:

Xiong landed a left hook to start the fourth. Lee countered witha good right and took Xiong down. Lee smothered Xiong from the guard, looking to land ground and pound. Lee moved to side control and went to work. Lee looked for a reverse triangle from the top. She locked an armbar and it looked dangerous. It was a wrenching, tight hold but the champion would not tap. Xiong rolled over trying to break free. Lee rolled over to her belly to lock on the armbar more. She survived to the final round.

Round Five:

Xiong came out with a combo and a kick. She followed with more shots and a body kick. Xiong scored some huge shots again. Lee looked tired and may have gassed in the fourth. A huge shot landed. More followed and a big side kick to the body. Another came and Lee was hurt badly. Xiong poured it on and it was over. Amazing comeback win.

Final Result: Jingnan Xiong def. Angela Lee via TKO (strikes) in round five

The post Jingnan Xiong Brutalizes Angela Lee In Strawweight War appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

In the second title bout of the event, ONE middleweight champion Aung La N Sang met Ken Hasegawa on the main card of today’s (Sun., March 31, 2019) ONE Championship: A New Era from Ry?goku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan.

The fight was a rematch of their first bout. Sang knocked out Hasegawa in the fifth round of their title fight at ONE: Spirit of a Warrior last June. He then went on to finish Mohammad Karaki last October. Japan’s Hasegawa received a title shot in his first fight back from his loss to Sang.

‘The Burmese Python’ Sang had his entire home country of Myanmar in his corner, and he’s undoubtedly one of ONE’s brightest rising stars.

Round One:

‘The Burmese Python’ came out pressing the action. He landed a solid uppercut and kick to the body. Hasegawa answered with a kick to the body himself. Sang stalked Hasegawa down with some body work. He scored a strong hook and another kick to the midsection. Another followed and ‘The Murmese Python’ began landing huge shots. A counter rocked Hasegawa. He answered with a counter punch. Sang quickly dropped him with a right hand. An ultra tough Hasegawa got right back up. He clinched and pushed Sang agains the fence to neutralize him. Both missed with big shots and Sang landed one more body to kick to close a good first round for the champion.

Round Two:

Sang defended a takedown to open the second frame. Hasegawa landed his best strike of the fight. Sang threw a kick and Hasegawa countered. Sang rushed forward with a punch. ‘The Burmese Python’ went for a high kick and scored a slapping one to the body. Hasegawa landed a left. More body kicks came from the champion, but Hasegawa landed two big shots. Hasegawa then landed a stiff shovel hook on the chin. Sang scored one more body kick yet ate a counter. Hasegawa went for a takedown and ate a knee on the entry. He clinched again and looked for a standing arm triangle. Sang landed a glancing elbow off the break.

Then, it was all over.

All of a sudden Sang dropped Hasegawa with a huge right and poured on ground shots to score the stoppage.

Impressive stuff.

Final Result: Aung La N Sang def. Ken Hasegawa via TKO (strikes) at 4:41 round two

The post ‘The Burmese Python’ Defends Title With Impressive Stoppage Over Ken Hasegawa appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

ONE bantamweight champion Kevin Belingon and former champion Bibiano Fernandes met in a trilogy match on the main card of today’s (Sun., March 31, 2019) ONE Championship: A New Era from Ry?goku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan.

The bout was an immediate rematch of their closely-contested second fight at November’s ONE: Heart of the Lion. Belingon won that fight by split decision. In doing so, he avenged his submission loss to longtime veteran Fernandes in January 2016.

The stage was set for the top-ranked bantamweights to finally settle the score of their long-standing rivalry in Tokyo.

Round One:

The fight began with a measured start. It picked up when Fernandes went for a takedown. Belingon reversed and landed. Belingon threw his trademark spinning back kick, but Fernandes then opened up. He rocked Beling with a powerful overhand right and followed Belingon around the cage with a ton of huge shots. The former champ poured it on. He took Belingon down and went to work in half guard. The issue for Fernandes was Belingon had time to recover. Fernandes landed little damage from top position. Until he took Belingon’s back, however. He ended landing big punches from back mount. A dominant opening round from the former champion.

Round Two:

Belingon threw a hook to open the second round. The action was slowed for a moment. Belingon threw effective leg kicks. He scored with a big right hand that followed, appearing to find his rhythm. Belingon landed his spinning back kick to the midsection again. Fernandes scored a left hand. He got another takedown against the fence. He landed a big elbow and ended the round in top position.

Overall, a much better round for the champion, however.

Round Three:

Fernandes pressed with some wild punches early in the third. They missed for the most part. Belingon kept his movement and landed a light punch. He was then taken down by Fernandes again. But then, controversy arose when Fernandes was badly hurt by an elbow to back of the head. The action was stopped for five minutes.

Eventually the fight was called and Belingon was made the new bantamweight champion.

Final Result: Bibiano Fernandes def. Kevin Belingon via disqualification (illegal strike)

The post Bibiano Fernandes Regains ONE Title In Controversial Disqualification appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Legendary former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson made his awaited ONE Championship debut on the main card of today’s (Sun., March 31, 2019) ONE Championship: A New Era from Ry?goku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan.

‘Mighty Mouse’ was last seen losing a hotly-contested split decision to current champion Henry Cejudo at last August’s UFC 227. Prior to that, he reeled off 11 consecutive victories for the longest UFC title reign (in terms of wins) of all-time. Always a fan of Japanese MMA, Johnson felt it was the next step in his evolution as a fighter to make his way to Japan.

He met no easy task in Wakamatsu, a Pancrase Flyweight Tournament winner. Wakamatsu had his back against the wall, however, having lost his last two fights in ONE. He was last seen dropping a decision to Danny Kingad at ONE: Conquest of Heroes last September.

Round One:

Johnson came out pushing the pace. He clinched briefly with Wakamatsu in the opening minute. ‘Mighty Mouse’ went upstairs with a head kick, pressing the action. He landed a sting right and went for a takedown. Johnson got the takedown, but Wakamatsu got back up. The Japanese crowd chanted his name as the fight returned to the striking. Wakamatsu controlled the clinch this time around. DJ landed a knee and broke free to land a kick.

He followed with another straight right hand. Wakamatsu answered with a big shot and kick. Johnson threw a shot and went for a rapid double leg that was successful. He went to side control and landed knees on the ground. Wakamatsu got back to his feet and Johnson landed knees to the body to end the first round.

Round Two:

Wakamatsu came out strong with a big punch. He sprawled a takedown and looked great. But as Johnson can do, he took his opponent down and began to smother him. He again controlled the action from side control. He landed some knees when Wakamatsu got up and locked on a tight standing guillotine. The choke had tons of leverage and Wakamatsu had to tap. Awesome ONE debut from Johnson, who moves on the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix.

Final Result: Demetrious Johnson def. Yuya Wakamatsu via submission in the second (guillotine, 2:40)

The post Demetrious Johnson Submits Yuya Wakamatsu In ONE Championship Debut appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Timofey Nastyukhin just stunned former UFC and Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez to kick off the main card of today’s (Sun., March 31, 2019) ONE Championship: A New Era from Ry?goku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan.

‘The Underground King’s’ ONE debut was an awaited one. But it did not end how the longtime veteran wanted, however. Nastyukhin poured on the offense early and often to score the biggest win of his career so far in the opening round of the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix.

Watch him destroy Alvarez with an amazing barrage courtesy of B/R Live here:

The post Highlights: Timofey Nastyukhin Demolishes Eddie Alvarez appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez met Timofey Nastyukhin to kick off the main card of this weekend’s (Sun., March 31, 2019) ONE Championship: A New Era from Ry?goku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan.

‘The Underground King’ made his ONE Championship debut against Nastyukhin following an up-and-down run to close his UFC tenure. He was last seen losing to Dustin Poirier last July following a scintillating KO win over Justin Gaethje. Nastyukhin was also knocked out in his previous bout. Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev floored him at last September’s ONE: Conquest of Heroes.

Both fighters needed a win in the opening round of the ONE Lightweight Grand Prix.

Round One:

‘The Underground King’ came out pushing the pace. Nastyukhin answered with a right hand. He lunged for another that did not land. Alvarez stung him with a quick straight shot and followed with a low kick. The fighters traded strikes and Nastyukhin pushed the pace. He dropped Alvarez wit ha big right hand off a kick, but Alvarez got right back up smiling. Alvarez looked to push the pace but Nastyukhin kept stifling him. He landed again. Alvarez rushed and missed an uppercut. he ate some shots from Nastyukhin shortly thereafter.

Nastyukhin scored with a kick. Alvarez landed a decent shot. Overall, however, his volume seemed low. Nastyukhin pressed forward with an onslaught of strikes, landing huge ones. Big damage followed and Alvarez was in trouble. Nastyukhin poured it on with a huge right hand and some follow-up punches and destroyed Alvarez. Insane stuff.

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