[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 heading=’Sweet revenge: Eustaquio takes ONE Interim title ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
January 28, 2018
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
MANILA – Geje Eustaquio of the Philippines captured the ONE Championship Interim flyweight title after a unanimous-decision win over Kairat Akhmetov of Kazakhstan at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
His victory Friday night avenged Eustaquio’s loss to Akhmetov last September. It also allowed the Baguio City native to challenge Adriano Moraes of Brazil, who currently holds the ONE FC world flyweight title later this year.
Eustaquio showed his superior striking technique early in the first round but Akhmetov forced the fight to the ground. The Filipino then attempted a knee bar but Akhmetov evaded the hit.
In the second round, Akhmetov and Eustaquio exchanged spinning kicks but failed to bring each other to the ground. Akhmetov had a takedown attempt late in the round but Eustaquio managed to break free.
Eustaquio opened the third round with a right straight, and then a back fist and leg kicks. Akhmetov caught Eustaquio’s head in a lock late in the round but the latter escaped.
Akhmetov became aggressive early in the fourth with another takedown try and missed spinning back kick. Eustaquio connected with a side kick to the body before missing a headlock attempt.
Knowing that he was behind in the scorecards, Akhmetov successfully took down Eustaquio midway in the fifth but the Filipino found a way to escape the submission as the match ended.
“I am proud to represent the flag and country all over the world,” said Eustaquio. “This belt is not mine only but also for Team Lakay who has always believed that I will be here.”
In other matches, Joshua Pacio finished off Chinese Ming Qiang Lan with a first-round submission while Edward Kelly got back on the winning track by demolishing erstwhile unbeaten Meas Mau of Cambodia./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
