Joanna Ash, Special Contributor
Rebel FC 2
Rebel FC 2: Battle Royale live commentary and results from Singapore on August 1, 2014, featuring the opening round of the Featherweight Tournament.
Yojiro Uchimura and Michael Tobin are the first two to advance to the semifinals, Uchimura by knocking out Red Romero, and Tobin by Pat Promrangka’s forfeit at weigh ins. Will Chope and Miguel Torres also advance from their respective fights.
MMA-in-ASIA spoke with Torres following his victory. Torres was clearly exhausted though elated. On many levels, this was the result of the comeback fight that he had been hoping for and had worked very hard to attain. When asked how he thought he performed against the younger and perhaps more agile Japanese, Takahira Ashida, Torres said that he was satisfied that he had fought well and was pleased that he had been fighting mostly from the position of attack rather than defense. The only thing that he felt had impacted him was the humidity of the Singapore weather which did have an effect on his training just before the fight. To aspiring MMA fighters hoping to fight in an international competition like Rebel FC, Torres’ advice was that one had to always believe in oneself and train very hard to achieve that goal without if’s and but’s, and other distractions.
At the next Rebel FC, Chope will meet Torres, and Tobin will meet Uchimura.
Rebel FC 2
August 1, 2014
Singapore
#9 – Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinals
Takahiro Ashida (13-2-2) vs Miguel Torres (41-7)
This was probably the fight that MMA enthusiasts in Singapore had been waiting for. Miguel Torres was a former UFC fighter and the former WEC Bantamweight champion. He specialised in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai. At 33 years old and with a record of 41 wins to 7 losses, he had to pit his wealth of experience against the youth and agility of Ashida. Ashida proved to be fearless. He had so much control and was undaunted by the more experienced Mexican American. Ashida made it a point to demonstrate with the speed of his punches and his persistence, that he deserved to be in that cage as much as Torres did.
Torres naturally played to his strengths in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu by trying to take Ashida down as often as he could, but Ashida navigated the ground game without a semblance of pressure. Under pressure, Torres on the other hand, laid an illegal low kick at Ashida in the third round. However, Ashida came back strong even dominating Torres in spite of being taken down by the latter. Ashida’s persistence and youthful confidence won the crowd but Miguel Torres won by the judges’ split decision.
Miguel Torres defeats Takahiro Ashida by Split Decision
#8 – Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinals
Will Chope (19-7) vs Mauricio dos Santos Jr. (10-8)
Will Chope is a Muay Thai specialist and a former UFC fighter with 19 wins and 7 losses. Faccao is a Brazilian Jiujitsu Champion with 10 wins and 8 losses. While Faccao demonstrated speed and agility, Will demonstrated strength and precision with his kicks. Naturally, Faccao preferred to take the “lanky madness” to the ground. Will proved relentless by turning Faccao around to pin him down to the ground instead, surprising the Brazilian with a shower of punches in the first round.
The second round saw Faccao attempting a takedown but Will’s display of strength and endurance saw him responding in defiance as he got up in no time to dominate the fight. In the third round, Faccao again initiated a ground game like a broken record, but Will’s strength again dominated the fight, insulting the Brazilian with a couple of slaps on the latter’s butt in jest. Will’s win was guaranteed the moment he approached his comeback fight, with confidence, calm and composed, while injecting a measure of humour to entertain his fans. It was probably the most exciting 3 rounds of fighting throughout the night. A befitting comeback for Will The Kill Chope indeed.
Will Chope defeats Mauricio dos Santos Jr. by UD
#7 – Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinals
Reydon Romero (7-4) vs Yojiro Uchimura (11-7-3)
Yojiro Uchimura defeats Reydon Romero by TKO, rd 1
#6 – Doo Hwan Kim (6-2) vs (3-3) Sam Kei
The heavyweight kickboxer with a one punch knockout power from Australia, Sam Kei, was pit against the national jiujitsu champion from Korea, Doo Hwan Kim, in an exciting fight raged with pure strength and power. Kim tried to take the game to the ground but Kei was relentless and put on a slightly more aggressive show with rapid punches. The second round saw Kei forced to a ground game with Kim clearly dominating, cutting Kei above his right brow.
The third round saw Kim leveraging his Jiujitsu roots again to advantage as he pinned Kei to the ground while throwing left and right hooks to the latter’s face. Even with a bloodied face and clearly spent, in a show of great sportsmanship, Kei insisted on continuing the fight but Kim finished stronger still when the fight got taken to the ground in the last 15 seconds. Kim clearly knew his game plan was to maximise his strength in jiujitsu.
Doo Hwan Kim defeats Sam Kei by UD
#5 – Gyo Pyung Hwang (6-3) vs Kris Barras (3-0)
Kris Barras had a 2 year break before returning to fight in some Muay Thai competitions. This was a comeback for him with MMA at an international event. He clocked an impressive record of 5 wins and only 1 loss so far and proved to be a crowd-puller. Gyo Pyung Hwang was a striking specialist and both Kris and Hwang were strong contenders against each other.
Kris drew on his Muay Thai roots with an impressive show of kicks at the start only to trip just 1 minute into the first round thus forcing the game to be played on the ground. This gave Hwang an advantage throughout most of the first round. The second round saw Kris controlling with more kicks but Hwang put up a show of defiance by responding with powerful and quick punches, throwing Kris to the ground with a left hook to the side of his face.
The third round ended when Hwang looked for the right opportunity to throw Kris back on the ground where the former knew he had an advantage. Hwang’s display of moderation and his measured approach coupled with his striking speed, crisp technique and precision as well as his consistent use of a right cross and left hook combination helped him win the fight. After 3 rounds of action, the judges ruled in Hwang’s favour.
Gyo Pyung Hwang defeats Kris Barras by UD
#4 – May Ooi (0-0) vs Sharmah Deviah (0-0)
Singaporean May Ooi wants to show people “what women are made of” and had asked Sharmah to bring her best game to the cage. The “glamazon” May, brought an entourage of Brazilian percussionists to walk her to the cage in a show of pomp and pageantry befitting of a winner. She did not disappoint. The former national swimmer and Brazilian Jujitsu fighter stayed on the defensive at the start to deflect Sharmah’s kicks before tackling the latter on the ground. At just 2 minutes 30 seconds into the first round, and as a testament to her Brazilian Jujitsu roots, May won her first professional debut fight through the strength of her on-ground game.
May Ooi defeats Sharmah Deviah by TKO, rd 1
#3 – Syafiq Bin Abdul Samad (2-1) vs Kenny Thompson (0-0)
Talented striker Syafiq from Juggernaut Fight Club cut a confident figure as he faced opponent Kenneth Thompson. Kenneth led with his kicks but Syafiq led with his punches. Even with Kenneth slightly taller than the Singaporean, Syafiq’s strikes at lightning speed helped him win the game. A knockout at 2min 46 sec was very impressive.
Syafiq Bin Abdul Samad defeats Kenny Thompson by TKO, rd 1, 2:46
#2 – Silvio Romero Da Silva (0-0) vs Kenny Yeung (1-4)
At the weigh-in yesterday, Silvio was beaming with confidence and he was clearly so pumped up that he said, “ I can’t wait to fight now. I am ready to win this.” However, he couldn’t match Kenny’s experience and speed. He was clearly not ready enough and the referee had to stop the fight as he was not defending himself when tackled on the ground by Kenny. Silvio left the ring in a huff when the judge announced the winner which left much to be said about professional sportsmanship.
Kenny Yeung defeats Silvio Romero Da Silva by TKO, rd 1
#1 – Ashraf Bin Shafi (0-0) vs Suman Mokhtarian (0-0)
Rebel Fighting Championship 2 Battle Royale kicked off with Australia Suman Mokhtarian taking on Singaporean Mohamed Ashraf. For one who described his early life as “broken” and brought his brother back on the straight and narrow from drugs and alcohol through martial arts, this fight was to him, an example of how one could turn his life around through the discipline and determination that competitive sports instilled.
Mokhtarian landed a powerful left hook to Ashraf’s face which threw the latter off in the first round. Mokhtarian’s game was very much on the offensive, closing the gap at every opportunity and then putting Ashraf back on the ground with a right punch in the second round and holding him to the ground throughout that round. Mokhtarian’s victory in the event’s first fight was decided then.
Suman Mokhtarian defeats Ashraf Bin Shafi by TKO, rd 2
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