DUBAI // It might have started in unexpectedly downbeat fashion, but One Fighting Championship’s “Reign of Champions” ended in drama, and two new world champions.
Ana Julaton’s appearance in Dubai had been much-anticipated by the city’s huge Filipino community, but Sheikh Rashid Hall at Dubai World Centre was still half empty when she made her way into the cage for the first fight of the evening against Ann Osman.
In the opening seconds, Julaton took the fight to her opponent, but Osman was soon on top, ensuring the fight was fought on the canvas, where her grappling skills came to the fore.
There may not have been as many Julaton fans as anticipated, but those that beat the late-afternoon traffic urged her on. “Ana, Ana, Ana” rang over the continuous chants of Julaton’s instructor on the sideline.
Osman remained in control for most of the fight, which was fought almost entirely on the deck. It went to a third and final round, which went the same way as the first two.
At the final bell, there was no clear winner. To the disappointment of the crowd, the split decision went Osman’s way, but it was a deserved win.
After Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke of Thailand had dispatched Malaysia’s Ali Yaakub in the first round of a flyweight contest, it was time for another crowd favourite.
Dubai-based Syrian Mohamad Walid entered the arena clad in Emirati national dress, to the applause of the spectators.
He did not disappoint, either, defeating Filipino opponent Vaughn Donayre, another who fights out of Dubai, in just over a minute of the first round of their catchweight fight.
He celebrated by climbing the walls of the cage, pumping his fist at the crowd, before thanking his coach, father and, in Arabic, conveying his gratitude to Sheikh Khalifa, President of the UAE, and the rest of Dubai’s leadership for the continued support for martial arts.
By then, the 5,000-seat arena was full. After a break in which the rest of the fighters on the card were introduced, Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Herbert Burns of Evolve Fight Team took on Hiroshige Tanaka of Japan in a featherweight fight that went the distance.
At the final bell, Burns punched the air and the two fighters embraced, and it was the Brazilian who won a unanimous decision.
Another Brazilian, Cristiano Kaminish, knelt in prayer before his light-heavyweight bout with James McSweeney, a five-time world Muay Thai champion. His prayers were not answered as the man from the UK knocked his opponent out with a devastating right hand less than halfway through the first round.
In the sixth fight of the night, Christian Holley did not fare as well his fellow Briton, with the veteran American Roger Huerta winning in 3 minutes, 13 seconds in the first round of their lightweight match-up.
In the first of the day’s co-main events, Narantungalag Jadambaa of Mongolia took on One FC featherweight world champion Koji Oishi of Japan.
There was little action in the first two rounds as the fighters danced around the cage with little of the punches connecting.
There were slow handclaps and even a few boos. By Round 4, however, Oishi’s left eye was swollen shut, and Jadambaa looked to be heading for a narrow win.
After five rounds of attrition, the judges decided unanimously in favour of the Mongolian.
One FC had its first new champion of the night. The second co-main event promised a second.
The confident American Ben Askren predicted he would strip Japanese One FC welterweight world champion Nobutatsu Suzuki of his belt.
He was true to his word, landing a brutal barrage of punches that left the referee with no option but to call a stoppage just over a minute into the fight. Askren screamed in triumph.
It was time for the main event of the evening, lightweight world champion Shinya Aoki of Japan against Kamal Shalorus of Iran.
This time there would be no handing over of the belt after Shalorus submitted halfway through the first round.
The night ended with Aoki gracefully accepting the crowd’s applause.
One FC will be hoping their Dubai debut is just the first of many to come.
akhaled@thenational.ae
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