BIG UPSET … In the CES MMA 51 co-main event, Sean Soriano squared off against Bruce Boyington for the promotion’s vacant featherweight title. UFC alum Soriano was heavily favored to beat Boyington, 39, who was competing with a heavily bandaged left leg, the result of a torn MCL. In the first frame, Soriano came close to finishing the fight on the floor with a rear-naked choke, but Boyington stayed composed and managed to defend the submission attempt. Early in the second stanza, the roles reversed, and Boyington secured a rear-naked choke on the standing Soriano. When the pair hit the canvas, Soriano immediately tapped out. The official time was 1:55 of Round 2. In claiming the title, Boyington rose to 16-11, while Soriano fell to 11-6.
QUEEN CROWNED … A new women’s strawweight champion was crowned at Pancrase 298 on Sunday in Tokyo. The bout between Brazilian Viviane Araujo and Japanese veteran Emi Fujino was dominated by Araujo from the start. “Vivi” brutalized Fujino on the feet and even landed a Superman punch at one point. Araujo continued the assault on the mat, where she battered her opponent with heavy punches and left the Japanese fighter’s face badly damaged. When Araujo proceeded to pound on the downed Fujino from mount early in Round 3, the contest was waved off 19 seconds into the frame. With the win, the new strawweight queen of Pancrase improved her record to 6-1. Fujino dipped to 22-11.
Viviane Araujo (6-1) is your new Strawweight Queen of Pancrase, muddling Emi Fujino's face en route to a third-round doctor stoppage. Whether standing or on the mat, the Brazilian laid into the 14-year pro with superior strength and technique. #Pancrase298 pic.twitter.com/YDkdoUEDO8
— Kyle Johnson (@Maldobabo) August 5, 2018
BRUTAL BEATDOWN … In atomweight action at Pancrase 298, Thailand’s Konklak Suphisara met Japan’s Hana Yamada. It may have been only the Thai’s second MMA appearance, but she entered as a revered former world muay Thai champion while boasting a 187-13 record. In her sophomore outing, Suphisara showed she is as equally adept at striking on the mat as she is on the feet. For much of the fight, she had her overmatched adversary pinned to her back on the canvas, a position from which she dished out a barrage of punches and elbows until the referee halted the beatdown at the 4:32 mark of Round 2. Now 2-0, Suphisara expects a tougher test next time out. Yamada slipped to 2-5.
It seems yoga does not, in fact, trump Muay Thai. Loma Lookboonmee (2-0) steamrolls Hana DATE, just pulverizing her complexion with mounted elbows for ten minutes en route to a merciful TKO. Contracted to Invicta FC, the Thai prodigy's stand-up record is 187-13. #Pancrase298 pic.twitter.com/znC5DZ5LbJ
— Kyle Johnson (@Maldobabo) August 5, 2018
FLYWEIGHT FIREWORKS … Taiki Akiba took on Yusuke Ogikubo at 125 pounds at Pancrase 298. The early action saw Akiba land a spinning kick to the mid-section. Ogikubo maintained a low stance throughout. The beginning of the end came when Akiba sprawled on an Ogikubo takedown attempt. Upon returning to their feet, Akiba immediately threw a right hook that felled his fellow countryman. A follow-up hammerfist on the ground connected before the referee dived in to prevent further punishment. The official time was 3:40 of Round 1. With the win, Akiba upped his record to 9-6-1, while Ogikubo dropped to 10-8.
Taiki Akiba (9-6-1) picks up a huge win, knocking out seventh-ranked flyweight Yusuke Ogikubo in the first round! Capitalizing on a stuffed takedown, Akiba moves to 5-1 in his last six. He has five finishes, four in the first round. #Pancrase298 pic.twitter.com/eVKsMjSOmU
— Kyle Johnson (@Maldobabo) August 5, 2018