Photo via ONE Championship press release
ONE Collision Course II: Yusupov and Akhmetov win respective bouts
ONE Championship returned to the Singapore Indoor Stadium for the organization’s swan song of the calendar year. The first part of the Collision Course series went down last week. ONE Collision Course II was a previously recorded event broadcast globally on Christmas day. This December 25th card showcased some of the world’s preeminent mixed martial artists and Muay Thai stars.
In the main event, #2-ranked featherweight Muay Thai contender Jamal Yusupov was sharp and powerful across three rounds. He overwhelmed #4-ranked contender Samy Sana en route to a unanimous decision victory.
Yusupov hammered home the straight left to Sana’s chin frequently. In the second round, one of those explosive left hands sent Sana careening to the canvas. Sana looked to turn up the pressure in the third frame and gain some momentum in his favor but Yusupov continued his unrelenting attack.
In the end, all three judges scored it for Yusupov who showcased a sublime confluence of power and technique.
ONE Collision Course II
In the co-feature, former ONE Flyweight world titlist Kairat Akhmetov turned in an exemplary performance. He dominated Dae Hwan Kim over three rounds to earn a thorough unanimous decision win.
Akhmetov shined with looping hooks and explosive kicks; clinching the victory on the scorecards.
A ONE Super Series Muay Thai showdown took place between WBC Muay Thai champion Momotaro and former ONE world title challenger Walter Goncalves but it ended abruptly. Goncalves went down with a leg injury in the second frame and it forced him to retire from the contest.
In the opening round, Goncalves attacked with a steady torrent of thudding kicks but appeared to tweak his knee in the second round. This happened when a kick made contact with Momotaro, who won via TKO.
Talented lightweight MMA practitioners Dae Sung Park and Amir Khan fought to a split decision. Park secured the narrow victory on the scorecards. Khan played the role of the aggressor for the bulk of the bout, showcasing accurate and multi-faceted striking. Park owned the wrestling and grappling exchanges. A strong third round from Park turned the tide, and in the end, the South Korean’s success on the mat was enough to sway the judges.
ONE Championship
Highly regarded welterweight Raimond Magomedaliev made quick work of Edson Marques to win by devastating first-round knockout. Magomedaliev began the contest accurately kicking Marques’ legs to slow his movements. Once Magomedaliev had Marques backed up against the fence, a thunderous right cross sent the previously unbeaten Brazilian to the canvas for good.
It was an action-packed affair between Senzo Ikeda and Liang Hui to start the evening. Both men tested each other’s chins and dug their heels in the dirt for a kickboxing shootout. Liang utilized a thudding overhand right in conjunction with a sharp left hook that had Ikeda hurting through the contest.
Ikeda also employed a piston-like left jab and a robust ground game. In the end, all three judges scored the bout for Ikeda.
Official Results for ONE Collision Course II
Muay Thai – Featherweight: Jamal Yusupov defeats Samy Sana via unanimous decision
Mixed Martial Arts – Catch Weight: Kairat Akhmetov defeats Dae Hwan Kim via UD
Muay Thai – Flyweight: Momotaro defeats Walter Goncalves via TKO at 0:30 of round two
Mixed Martial Arts – Lightweight: Dae Sung Park defeats Amir Khan via split decision
MMA – Welterweight: Raimond Magomedaliev defeats Edson Marques via knockout at 1:52 of round one
Mixed Martial Arts – Catch Weight: Senzo Ikeda defeats Liang Hui via UD
