Eustaquio dealt tough loss at ONE event in Indonesia
By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Reporter
FILIPINO mixed martial arts fighter Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio saw his title shot hopes in ONE Championship derailed on Saturday night after he absorbed a tough loss by way of a split decision to former flyweight champion Kairat Akhmetov of Kazakhstan in the “Total Victory” event in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Despite rocking and stunning Mr. Akhmetov with solid up-kicks in the opening round of the main event, that were ruled “illegal” and had the latter given time to recover, Mr. Eustaquio was not able to finish things and instead saw the former champ get his groove back and capitalize on his superior Greco Roman wrestling skills en route to the win.
The Team Lakay stalwart tried hard to keep in step with Mr. Akhmetov with his crisp, clean combinations as the fight wore on but it turned out to be not enough to convince the judges to go his way, with two of them going Mr. Akhmetov’s way for the split decision.
The loss was the second for 28-year-old Eustaquio in his last five fights while Mr. Akhmetov (20-1) bounced back after losing for the first time in his pro career and surrendering his ONE title last time around to Brazilian Adriano Moraes.
While the defeat meant he has to regroup and make his way up anew to get another title shot, Mr. Eustaquio said he accepts the decision and vowed to come back stronger and better.
“We never lose, either we win or we learn. Jakarta was a learning process for us and Kairat Akhmetov was the guy tonight,” Mr. Eustaquio said on a Facebook post on his account after his fight.
“The journey does not stop here, but it all starts here,” he added.
While Mr. Eustaquio lost, the two other Filipino fighters that saw action at ONE: Total Victory — Roy Doliguez and Ramon Gonzales — were victorious.
Strawweight bout Doliguez defeated Yago Bryan of Brazil by technical knockout (strikes) in the third round while flyweight Ramon Gonzales beat Mongolian Liu De Li Ge Ri Hu by submission (arm triangle choke) in the second round.
Next for ONE Championship is “Hero’s Dream” on Nov. 3 in Yangon, Myanmar.