By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
TOKYO — Filipino mixed martial arts fighter Danny “The King” Kingad fell short in his quest to become the ONE Championship flyweight grand prix champion after losing to American Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson by unanimous decision in the co-main event of Part One of “ONE: Century” on Sunday morning here.
Put up a gallant stand for the full three rounds, Mr. Kingad just could not get the steady leverage he needed to overcome MMA legend Johnson, who turned to his vast experience to get the better of the Filipino fighter on his way to claiming the grand prix belt.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Kingad’s teammate Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang got his ONE career to a good start with an impressive technical knockout win (arm lock) over hometown bet Senzo Ikeda in their strawweight battle.
Messrs. Johnson and Kingad engaged in an early wrestling contest before the American got traction by taking down the legs of the Filipino.
Mr. Johnson continued to put pressure while his opponent was on his back, even attempting a kimura, but Mr. Kingad was just not to give up and fought back, eventually surviving the opening round.
In the second round, Mr, Kingad caught Mr. Johnson with a solid punch that made the latter lose his balance.
Mighty Mouse would regroup, going for a takedown anew to counter the power of The King.
The two went back-and-forth while on the mat as Mr. Johnson continued to look for the angles to go for the finish.
But like in the first round, Mr, Kingad would counter and rally back, attempting an arm bar late in the round which Mr. Johnson eventually fended off.
The third round saw the fighters trying to get early control at the start.
Mr. Kingad tried to engage Mr. Johnson in a stand-up fight but the latter did not oblige going instead for a takedown.
He got the Filipino on his back but Mr. Kingad managed to extricate himself and landed some elbows to the body.
Mr. Kingad desperately attempted to inflict more damage abut Mr. Johnson was just not to buckle down as the three-round drew to a close.
After the fight, Mr. Johnson gave credit to Mr. Kingad for putting a stand he did.
BLISTERING START FOR THE THUNDER KID
Meanwhile, in an earlier preliminary match, ONE-debuting Adiwang (10-2) made short work of Mr. Ikeda, fashioning out an explosive first-round victory.
The Filipino came out with much confidence and after a brief feeling-out went for the move.
He took down Ikeda and initially pummelled him with punches.
The two jostled on the ground before the Filipino managed to put a scarf-hold armlock on his opponent, twisting it and dislocating the arm of the Japanese.
Upon breaking the fight, the referee immediately stopped the fight at the 1:57 mark of the contest upon seeing what had happened to Mr. Ikeda, sending Mr. Adiwang and his camp to celebration.
“I was visualizing and dreaming about this moment for a long time. I knew I can do this and just needed to put in the work and get the opportunity. This is just the start for me,” said Mr. Adiwang in the postmatch interview.
Team Lakay’s Adiwang was a product of the highly successful ONE “Warriors Series,” topping the seventh edition of tournament in August where he defeated Anthony Do of Vietnam by unanimous decision in the main event.
After the victory, he was immediately signed by ONE to a six-figure contract to be part of its regular roster of athletes.
LEE SIBLINGS WIN
Also yesterday, ONE champion siblings Angela and Christian Lee were victorious in respective title fights.
Ms. Lee got back at China’s Xiong Jing Nan by submission in the last 15 seconds of the fight to retain her world atomweight title.
Ms. Xiong defeated Ms. Lee when the latter tried to get the former’s strawweight belt last March.
Lightweight champion Lee, meanwhile, was a unanimous decision winner over Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev of Turkey in the final of the lightweight grand prix despite being a late replacement for American Eddie Alvarez.
ONE: Century was broadcast live to the United States by way of TNT and B/R Live.
