ONE 161 Results: Tawanchai PK.Saenchai Dethrones Petchmorakot Petchyindee

ONE Championship (ONE) returned to the Singapore Indoor Stadium with ONE 161: Petchmorakot vs. Tawanchai. The card featured two ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix semifinal bouts and a showdown for the ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title. ONE Championship, in partnership with leading premium lifestyle and luxury performance brand TUMI, presented the prestigious ONE World Title belt to the World Champion.

Tawanchai PK.Saenchai dethrones Petchmorakot Petchyindee

In the main event, Tawanchai PK.Saenchai went to war with Petchmorakot Petchyindee for five hard rounds to win a unanimous decision and capture the ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title.

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The Thai superstars showed equal respect for one another’s skills and power in the very beginning, but soon, Tawanchai pulled ahead with sharp teeps, fierce low kicks, and stinging left hands. Action picked up in the third stanza, with Tawanchai and Petchmorakot both hunting for a knockout. In a heated fourth round, Petchmorakot rallied, as he sent the challenger reeling across the Circle. The final three minutes were close, but Tawanchai's signature kicks and left punches separated the two men, prompting the judges to award him with the gold.

Roman Kryklia makes quick work in the co-main event

Reigning ONE Light Heavyweight Kickboxing World Champion Roman Kryklia made quick work of Brazilian veteran Guto Inocente in their ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix semifinal bout. Kryklia connected with an explosive right hand in the opening minute that dropped Inocente. Although the Brazilian beat the referee’s eight-count, Kryklia followed up with a right roundhouse kick to the head that ended matters early. The knockout performance earned the Ukrainian superstar his 12th straight victory overall and a US$50,000 bonus.

Iraj Azizpour dominates

In the other semifinal matchup, Iranian slugger Iraj Azizpour dominated ONE Championship newcomer Bruno Chaves to reach the ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix Championship Final. Azizpour kept a constant attack on Chaves from the opening bell, bringing the fight to the Brazilian at every opportunity. Although Chaves was able to weather the early storm, Azizpour’s overwhelming pressure proved too much, as he took home a unanimous decision win. Next, the Iranian will face longtime foe Kryklia in a trilogy fight for the tournament’s silver belt.

Saygid Izagakhmaev gets another win

Fifth-ranked lightweight contender Saygid Izagakhmaev put together a workmanlike performance against Chinese MMA veteran Zhang Lipeng. The Russian combined powerful takedowns with effective ground-and-pound to keep Zhang’s back glued to the canvas for nearly the entire duration of the fight. In the end, all three judges scored the bout in favor of Izagakhmaev to win by unanimous decision.

Tiffany Teo submits Ritu Phogat

Former two-time ONE Women’s Strawweight World Title challenger Tiffany Teo made a statement with a one-sided victory over former top-five atomweight Ritu Phogat. Teo used her superior grappling skills to offset Phogat’s world-class wrestling, quickly taking the Indian star’s back. From there, Teo sourced the rear-naked choke to force the tap, earn a US$50,000 bonus, and announce her arrival in the atomweight division.

Oumar Kane gets a much-needed win

Senegalese heavyweight sensation “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane scored a much-needed victory over undefeated promotional newcomer Batradz Gazzaev, winning by technical knockout. In the opening stanza, Kane brilliantly defended Gazzaev's takedown attempts and tagged his rival with powerful strikes. "Reug Reug" carried his momentum into the second round, where he forced Gazzaev onto his back, advanced to full mount, and finished him with hammerfists.

Among the many highlights of an action-packed lead card, Rodrigo Marello entered the record books when he submitted Ruslan Bagdasarian with an ankle lock in 15 seconds. That marks the fastest submission grappling victory in ONE Championship history.

Performance bonus winners: Roman Kryklia (US$50,000), Tiffany Teo (US$50,000), Rodrigo Marello (US$50,000)

ONE 161 Results

MAIN CARD

• Muay Thai - Featherweight: Tawanchai PK.Saenchai def. Petchmorakot Petchyindee via Unanimous Decision
• Kickboxing - Heavyweight: Roman Kryklia def. Guto Inocente via TKO at 0:52 of R1
• Kickboxing - Heavyweight: Iraj Azizpour def. Bruno Chaves via Unanimous Decision
• MMA - Lightweight: Saygid Izagakhmaev def. Zhang Lipeng via Unanimous Decision
• MMA - Atomweight: Tiffany Teo def. Ritu Phogat via Submission (Rear-naked Choke) at 4:52 of R1
• MMA - Heavyweight: Oumar Kane def. Batradz Gazzaev via TKO at 2:15 of R2

LEAD CARD

• Muay Thai - Bantamweight: Alaverdi Ramazanov def. Capitan Petchyindee via Split Decision
• Muay Thai - Bantamweight: Sangmanee PK.Saenchai def. Zhang Chenglong via Split Decision
• Muay Thai - Featherweight: Ferrari Fairtex def. Han Zi Hao via Unanimous Decision
• Submission Grappling - Bantamweight: Rodrigo Marello def. Ruslan Bagdasarian via Submission (Ankle Lock) at 0:15 of R1
• MMA - Middleweight: Ali Foladi def. Matheus Felipe via Knockout at 4:20 of R1

What are your thoughts on the event? Let us know in the comments below.

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