“Reug Reug” had to wait a long time to get back in the ONE cage and he didn’t disappoint once he was there.
Fighting for the first time since April 2021, Reug Reug a.k.a. Oumar Kane defeated Batradz Gazzaev with a furious ground-and-pound assault in the second round of their heavyweight bout at ONE Championship 161 on Saturday in Singapore.
Watch the amazing finish.
After a competitive opening round that saw both fighters show off their grappling skills, it was the Senegalese wrestling champion who took control in Round 2, turning a Gazzaev takedown attempt into a takedown of his own and quickly advancing to top position. From there, Reug Reug rained down hammer fists on a trapped Gazzaev. Gazzaev was defending himself with his arms raised in defense. However, referee Herb Dean stopped the fight because Gazzaev didn’t seem to be able to escape this predicament.
With the win, Reug Reug improved to 4-1, rebounding from a loss to Kirill Grishenko in his most recent fight.
Tawanchai and Roman Kryklia also scored big Saturday wins.
In the main event, Tawanchai won a unanimous decision over decorated kickboxer Petchmorakot to claim the ONE featherweight Muay Thai championship.
Tawanchai and Petchmorakot are going OFF! #ONE161 #ONEChampionship pic.twitter.com/4a7NRHS1sX
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) September 29, 2022
We’ve got ourselves a FIGHT! #ONE161 | #ONEChampionship
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Watch live https://t.co/8MeKhRMtjy pic.twitter.com/2Trzn1HsVC— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) September 29, 2022
Tawanchai emerged victorious after five thrilling, back-and-forth rounds. It is the third straight win in ONE for the 23-year-old Thailand native.
Kryklia took less than a round against veteran kickboxer Guto Inocente to defeat him and reach the ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix final. He battles Iraj Azizpour for the tournament crown after Azizpour won a unanimous decision over Bruno Chaves in the other semifinal.
Roman Kryklia punches his ticket to the ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix final #ONE161 | #ONEChampionship
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Watch live https://t.co/8MeKhRMtjy pic.twitter.com/RNYklMIlyL— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) September 29, 2022
Teo won her second straight bout and improved to 11-2 as a pro with a first-round submission of Ritu Phogat.
Tiffany Teo submits Ritu Phogat’s first round submission. #ONE161 | #ONEChampionship
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Watch live https://t.co/8MeKhRMtjy pic.twitter.com/iZFQxXTy5n— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) September 29, 2022
Fast finishes kicked off the day at ONE Championship 161 as light heavyweight Ali Foladi improved to 3-0 with a first-round knockout of pro debutant Matheus Felipe, and Rodrigo Marello scored the fastest finish in a ONE submission grappling contest with a 15-second ankle lock of Ruslan Bagdasarian.
Ali Foladi starts ONE 161 with a WICKED first-round KO! #ONE161 | #ONEChampionship
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Watch live https://t.co/8MeKhRMtjy pic.twitter.com/T118iqlXK4— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) September 29, 2022
15 SECONDS Rodrigo Marello scores the fastest win in ONE submission grappling history! #ONE161 | #ONEChampionship
Watch live on ONE YouTube https://t.co/8qWJXePa0w
Watch live https://t.co/8MeKhRMtjy pic.twitter.com/IZiDbclmWL— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) September 29, 2022
See ONE Championship 161 results below:
Tawanchai def. Petchmorakot via unanimous decision — Muay Thai
Roman Kryklya def. Guto Inocente via KO (punches and kick) (R1, 0:52) — kickboxing
Iraj Azizpour def. Bruno Chaves via unanimous decision — kickboxing
Saygid Izagakhmaev def. Zhang Lipeng via unanimous decision
Tiffany Teo def. Ritu Phogat via submission (rear-naked choke) (R1, 4:52)
Reug Reug def. Batradz Gazzaev via TKO (ground-and-pound) (R2, 2:15)
Alaverdi Ramazanov def. Capitan via split decision — Muay Thai
Sangmanee def. Zhang Chenglong via split decision — Muay Thai
Ferrari Fairtex def. Han Zi Hao via unanimous decision — Muay Thai
Rodrigo Marello def. Ruslan Bagdasarian via submission (ankle lock) (R1, 0:15) — grappling
Ali Foladi def. Matheus Felipe via KO (punch) (R1, 4:20)