High Fives: Three Title Fights, a Grand Prix Semifinal and a Disastrous Debut
There was more than
UFC Fight Night 152 to occupy the attention of mixed martial
arts fans during the weekend of May 17-19.
One Championship “Enter the Dragon” on Friday in Kallang,
Singapore, boasted a title fight, an eagerly awaited promotional
debut and a lightweight grand prix semifinal. Meanwhile, KSW
49 on Saturday in Gdansk, Poland, played host to two
championship bouts.
TOPPLING A LEGEND … One Championship “Enter the
Dragon” was headlined by a clash between lightweight champion
Shinya
Aoki and the 20-year-old Christian
Lee. In the first round, Aoki came close to finishing with an
armbar, but Lee escaped. The challenger came out for the second
intent on keeping the action on the feet against the longtime
jiu-jitsu black belt. A salvo of punches from Lee backed the
Japanese veteran to the corner of the ring, and two subsequent left
hands sent Aoki crumpling to the canvas. Lee immediately pounced
with ground-and-pound until the referee called a halt to the
beatdown 51 seconds into Round 2. In capturing the lightweight
crown, Lee improved to 12-3. Aoki fell to 43-9.
SEMIFINAL SUCCESS … Singapore’s Amir Khan faced Saygid Arslanaliev in the One Championship lightweight grand prix semifinals. The first round was nearing the three-minute mark when Arslanaliev unleashed a right hand that sent Khan reeling backwards. The Turk followed with two uppercuts and a left hook that resulted in the stoppage 2:56 into Round 1. Arslanaliev moved to 8-1 in qualifying for the tournament final. Khan dipped to 11-6.
A NEW KING … Scott Askham fought Michal Materla for the vacant middleweight belt in the KSW 49 main event. The fight was a rematch of their KSW 42 clash, which saw Askham emerge victorious. This time, the Brit looked to use his height advantage and voluminous striking style to pour on the pressure on the feet. However, his shorter rival enjoyed some success with a period of sustained ground control in the first round and a knockdown in the second. As the bout wore on, Askham laid into the Pole with body kicks and punches. The finishing sequence in the third round commenced with a switch knee that hurt Materla. Askham then proceeded to throw punches and kicks at his ailing adversary before landing a right knee to the head that sent Materla tumbling to the mat 1:23 into Round 3. Askham rose to 18-4 while claiming the middleweight crown. Materla slid to 27-7.
WELTERWEIGHT WAR … Roberto Soldic defended his 170-pound strap against the unbeaten Krystian Kaszubowski at KSW 49. The early going was tentative, as both combatants looked to find their timing on the feet. However, the patient start soon gave way to a firefight, with champion and challenger throwing heavy punches at each other. The action was nearing the 90-second point when Kaszubowkski threw a right hand. Soldic countered with a left hook to the head that sent the Pole face first to the floor at the 1:25 mark of Round 1. Soldic, 24, lifted his record to 16-3, while Kaszubowski slipped to 7-1.
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DISASTROUS DEBUT … “Enter the Dragon” featured
Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Sage
Northcutt’s first appearance under the One banner, as he was
paired with Cosmo
Alexandre. The matchup between the two skilled strikers was in
its infancy when Alexandre uncorked a right hand that connected and
short circuited the American. Alexandre upped his record to 8-1
with the resounding 29-second knockout. Northcutt slipped to
11-3.
SEMIFINAL SUCCESS … Singapore’s Amir Khan faced Saygid Arslanaliev in the One Championship lightweight grand prix semifinals. The first round was nearing the three-minute mark when Arslanaliev unleashed a right hand that sent Khan reeling backwards. The Turk followed with two uppercuts and a left hook that resulted in the stoppage 2:56 into Round 1. Arslanaliev moved to 8-1 in qualifying for the tournament final. Khan dipped to 11-6.
When one knee isn't enough! @scottaskham1 capped off an action-packed @KSW_MMA 49 on DAZN pic.twitter.com/RKyPuR8wio
— DAZN USA (@DAZN_USA) May 18, 2019
A NEW KING … Scott Askham fought Michal Materla for the vacant middleweight belt in the KSW 49 main event. The fight was a rematch of their KSW 42 clash, which saw Askham emerge victorious. This time, the Brit looked to use his height advantage and voluminous striking style to pour on the pressure on the feet. However, his shorter rival enjoyed some success with a period of sustained ground control in the first round and a knockdown in the second. As the bout wore on, Askham laid into the Pole with body kicks and punches. The finishing sequence in the third round commenced with a switch knee that hurt Materla. Askham then proceeded to throw punches and kicks at his ailing adversary before landing a right knee to the head that sent Materla tumbling to the mat 1:23 into Round 3. Askham rose to 18-4 while claiming the middleweight crown. Materla slid to 27-7.
Goodluck taking the belt off Roberto Soldic. #KSW49 pic.twitter.com/BLVonw01PQ
— Mike Skytte (@MikeLovesTacosX) May 18, 2019
WELTERWEIGHT WAR … Roberto Soldic defended his 170-pound strap against the unbeaten Krystian Kaszubowski at KSW 49. The early going was tentative, as both combatants looked to find their timing on the feet. However, the patient start soon gave way to a firefight, with champion and challenger throwing heavy punches at each other. The action was nearing the 90-second point when Kaszubowkski threw a right hand. Soldic countered with a left hook to the head that sent the Pole face first to the floor at the 1:25 mark of Round 1. Soldic, 24, lifted his record to 16-3, while Kaszubowski slipped to 7-1.
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