We knew going into ONE Fight Night 3 we were in for a treat – and did it live up to expectations with new champions, insane knockouts, a big win for North Africa, and so much more – here’s the best from Kuala Lumpur.
Regian Eersel becomes a double champ
Already the 170lbs kickboxing champ before heading into this clash with Sinsamut Klinmee, Eersel picked up a hard fought split decision win to take the ONE lightweight Muay Thai world championship. Despite coming under significant pressure from the Thai youngster, Eesel was able to fight behind his jab and landed a number of powerful combinations with his hands. Klinmee was vicious with his leg kicks, but the now double-champ just had too much over the five rounds.
Ruotolo wins inaugural ONE lightweight submission grappling world title
Wow Kade Ruotolo, just wow. At only 19-years-of-age the American had already won the Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships this year and is now a ONE world champion. His incredible Brazilian Jiu Jitsu saw him tap Uali Kurzhev at 4:26 of the first round. The Hawaii native kept busy throughout with multiple attempts to secure the neck, but Kurzhev’s toughness saw him battle through before being swept, passed and a heel hook sunk in. An incredible performance of the night bonus winner from the teenager.
A vacant bantamweight crown
This one had plenty of drama to keep fans talking for days to come. Champion John Lineker was stripped of the title heading into the bout after experiencing trouble on the scales, but opponent Fabricio Andrade could not take the title after a low blow resulted in a no contest. Andrade had excelled in the standing contest – solid combinations with his hands, and punishing knees to the body taking their toll on Lineker. A career defining win looked a distinct possibility until a third round knee connected with, and broke, Lineker’s cup, slumping the former champion in agony and leaving him unable to continue – and no champion in the 145lbs division.
A mixed night for the MENA region
Mehdi Zatout pulled out a stunning finish to round one in order to get a TKO win over Asa Ten Pow. A flurry of knees and punches as the round reached its climax resulted in Ten Pow unable to come out for the second round due to a facial injury. It was a huge win for the French Algerian, and a real statement in the bantamweight Muay Thai division, as he also picked up a performance of the night bonus in the process.
There was less good news for two other MENA fighters as both Iran’s Amir Naseri, and Morocco’s Mohammed Boutasaa were on the wrong end of decision losses.
The best of the rest
Going into the night we said how Noelle Grandjean was going to become more familiar with fight fans, and so it proved with a stunning first round TKO win over American Lea Bivins. Elsewhere Russia’s Shamil Gasanov picked up an impressive first round submission win over Kim Jae Woong, and Jeremy Miado picked up his fourth straight KO win when he stopped Danial Williams with a stiff right hand in the third round. Grandjean and Gasanov also picked up $50,000 performance of the night bonuses.
For more on an incredible night in Singapore click here.
