Brazil’s Adriano Moraes submitted Japan’s Kosuke Suzuki by arm triangle choke in the third round in the main event of ONE FC: Era of Champions before a sold-out crowd in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Saturday night to earn a shot at the sport’s flyweight title.
Shooto veteran Suzuki, making his ONE FC debut, came into the fight vowing to win by knockout and began by stalking Moraes behind his jab, but national Brazilian jiujitsu champion Moraes quickly executed a two-legged takedown and established side control, landing elbows to Suzuki’s kidney. Suzuki was active fighting on his back, attempting a kimura, an arm bar and a guillotine choke, but Moraes remained firmly in control.
Suzuki managed to make his feet only to be taken down a second time, with Moraes again taking side control and landing knees to the body. Moraes stood and landed a soccer kick to Suzuki’s head as he tried to rise.
Moraes then took Suzuki to the ground for a third time, attempting an arm triangle and landing strikes to the head to close out the round.
In round two, Suzuki again stalked Moraes before being taken to the ground. Suzuki made his feet and attempted a takedown of his own before taking the back of a crouching Moraes and landing knees to the Brazilian’s thigh. Moraes managed a reversal and Suzuki kept him in half guard, attempting a kimura before fighting to his feet.
Moraes executed a single-leg takedown, with Suzuki attempting a guillotine. The Brazilian landed a knee to Suzuki as he stood to finish the round.
Round three followed the same pattern, with Suzuki stalking Moraes, desperate for a knockout, before Moraes managed another two-legged takedown, landing in Suzuki’s half guard and sinking an arm triangle choke to force the tapout 1 minute, 35 seconds into the round.
Moraes improved his record to 11-1-0 with the win and is to face the winner of the card’s other flyweight eliminator, Geje Eustaquio, for the chance to become ONE FC’s inaugural flyweight champion.
Eustaquio beat Japan’s Kentaro Watanabe by unanimous decision in a close contest that was fought entirely standing up.
In the card’s co-main event, hometown hero Fransino Tirta made a triumphant return to Jakarta in his first fight there in nine years, making short work of Egypt’s Sami Amin by submitting him in the first round in a bantamweight bout.
Tirta had promised his fans to make the fight “my masterpiece, my highlight reel,” and he delivered, taking the Egyptian down less than a minute into the round, quickly gaining Amin’s back and sinking a rear naked choke to finish the fight at 1 minute, 10 seconds.
Taipei is scheduled to host the next ONE FC event on July 11 at National Taiwan University Sports Arena, with a card featuring Taiwanese-Canadian heavyweight Paul Cheng.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping