VENI, vidi, vici. Now Filipino mixed martial arts fighter Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio is the undisputed ONE Championship World Flyweight champion.
In a riveting performance on Saturday night at “ONE: Pinnacle of Power” in Macau, China, Baguio native Eustaquio added his name to the list of world MMA champions from the Philippines after defeating erstwhile champ Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes in their unification bout by split decision.
The interim world champion entering the contest, Mr. Eustaquio saw his vision through of becoming the undisputed flyweight champ by standing toe to toe with Brazilian Moraes for the full five rounds en route to the big win, which incidentally was a payback as well to the defeat the Filipino suffered to Mr. Moraes four years ago.
“The feeling is awesome. I want to thank all my countrymen here who came out to support me. I came to Macau with one vision, and that is to [unify the flyweight titles], and I know I am not capable of doing this alone. I want to thank God, Team Lakay, and of course, my family,” a jubilant Eustaquio said following his championship victory.
“And to all the fans, thank you so much for the undying support. Ladies and gentlemen, when I started 14 years ago, this was impossible. But now, after 14 years, impossible is not a word, it’s just a reason. Anybody can be a world champion, as long as you have the drive and the attitude. I am proud to be the undisputed ONE Flyweight World Champion this time,” added the 29-year-old Eustaquio, who improved his record to 11-6.
Messrs. Eustaquio and Moraes went back-and-forth in their unification joust, swapping solid blows and momentum-shifting takedowns from bell to bell. Neither of the two would give each other any quarter for five rounds as both men traded their best offense all throughout the highly anticipated title unification contest.
In the end though, Mr. Eustaquio proved he did more, sending the crowd into a rapturous chorus of cheers by clinching a split decision win over Mr. Moraes.
Meanwhile, in the co-main event, “The Panda” Xiong Jing Nan of China successfully defended the ONE Women’s Strawweight World Championship, defeating elite South American contender Laura Balin.
Also victorious was Filipino flyweight standout Danny “The King” Kingad of Team Lakay, who beat Ma Hao Bin of China by unanimous decision in the preliminary fights in Macau.
Unfortunately for Team Lakay, it did not go 3-of-3 as the third member of its team that saw action, Edward “The Ferocious” Kelly, succumbed to a second-round technical knockout loss (strikes) to former ONE featherweight champion Narantungalag Jadambaa of Cambodia.
Next for ONE Championship is “Spirit of a Warrior” on June 29 in Yangon where concurrent middleweight and light-heavyweight world champion Aung la “The Burmese Python” N Sang will stake his middleweight belt against Japan’s Ken Hasegawa. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
