Mixed martial arts fans were treated to non-stop combat action at the Kunlun Fight 4 Tour last April 27 at the Solaire Resort. A noisy sell-out crowd witnessed 11 entertaining bouts featuring fighters from ten (10) countries, including four (4) from the Philippines.
Philippine kickboxing champion Ryan Jakili set the tone in the very first bout by making short work of former OPBF intercontinental titlist Ou Yang of China in their 59-kg encounter. Jakili used a vicious roundhouse kick that clearly dazed the Chinese veteran, and then followed this up with an overhand right to finish him off in the very first-round.
The renowned Badato brothers, a pair of bad-ass Fil-Aussies, also got the Pinoy fans cheering lustily with their sterling performances. Michael Badato scored an impressive stoppage of Mokkharat Worawut of Thailand in their 75 kg. muay thai super-fight. The end came at the 2:45 mark of the second round. Worawut was a worthy opponent, until Michael unleashed a vicious left elbow that caused a deep cut on Worawut’s right eyelid, forcing the ring physician to signal an end to the fight. `Bad Ass’ Michael later offered the victory to his late father.
His elder brother, Reinhardt, later took a split draw against Wang Wanben of China at 60 kg in another great Muay Thai spectacle. The match was a hard-fought smash-and-bash affair, with the predominantly Pinoy crowd egging on the smaller, yet quicker Reinhardt, while the Chinese fans who came in big numbers cheered lustily for Wang. After three rounds, the three judges ruled the fight a draw, and the crowd went wild as both fighters agreed to go an extra round to decide the outcome. At the end of the extra round however, the fight still ended up a split draw. Promoter Tony Reyes of Muay Thai Team USA, at this point, intervened for the safety of the fighters, and suggested a possible rematch between the two evenly-matched fighters in the future.
The Pinoys’ winning streak however grounded to a halt as Filipina mixed martial artist, Rochelle Lestino, lost by arm bar submission to Chinese Huang Feir in the opening round of their 56 kg. showdown. In all, the Pinoy warriors racked up 2 scintillating wins, 1 draw and 1 loss in the Kunlun Fight 4 World Tour.
More on Kunlun Fight 4 World Tour to follow.
Pictures courtesy of Sports On Air, Derek Sandoval and Gian Lao.
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