[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading tag=’h3′ padding=’10’ heading=’Ilonggo defeats Indon in ONE Championship’ color=” style=’blockquote modern-quote’ custom_font=” size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ custom_class=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=’#0a0a0a’]
Friday, January 20, 2017
[/av_textblock]
[av_image src=’http://www.panaynews.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/sports-catalan-300×200.jpg’ attachment=’93547′ attachment_size=’medium’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=’yes’ font_size=’12’ appearance=’on-hover’ overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’]
Rene Catalan (left) applies the armbar to defeat Adrian Matheis in their strawweight bout. ONE CHAMPIONSHIP
[/av_image]
[av_textblock size=’15’ font_color=’custom’ color=’#0a0a0a’]
MANILA – Ilonggo mixed martial arts fighter Rene Catalan scored a stunning second-round submission win over Indonesian Adrian Matheis in ONE: Quest for Power at the Jakarta Convention Center in Indonesia.
It was the second consecutive victory for the Iloilo City native (also a member of the national wushu team) after losing his first two career matches against veterans Khim Dima and Alex Silva.
“I just want to thank everyone for keeping their support,” Catalan told Panay News. “This victory is big for me as this might be the door to a world title fight. Every fighter’s dream is to win a world championship.”
Catalan, a four-time wushu world champion, made his presence felt early in the opening round with a slew of fierce leg kicks on Tuesday night. He then took Matheis to the ground and forced the latter into submission.
Matheis countered with his own attacks early in the second round, but Catalan was able to respond quickly with kicks and a takedown. The Ilonggo later finished off the Indonesian with an armbar.
“I want that opportunity to fight for the title. If he wins, he might get the title shot that I seek,” said Catalan. “You will never know if your next fight will be a title fight. That’s why you have to give your best in every fight.”
He added: “For this fight I gave more emphasis on my ground game. Even though I am coming off a win, I shouldn’t be complacent. I trained with the best Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners in the country to hone my grappling skills.”
Catalan, also an Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, moved up to a 2-2 win-loss-draw slate. Matheis’ record, meanwhile, slid to 2-1-0./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
