spot_img
28.6 C
Philippines
Friday, March 29, 2024

Askren rules one immortal pursuit

- Advertisement -

SINGAPORE—Shinya Aoki thought he was going to a grappling match. Ben Askren quickly taught him how mistaken he was by repeatedly pounding Aoki on the face and forcing the referee to stop their match 57 seconds into the first round.

Askren thus retained his ONE Welterweight World Championship by beating Aoki at ONE: Immortal Pursuit Friday evening, November 24 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

ONE Welterweight World Champion Ben Askren (left) unloads a vicious two-fisted attack 
at challenger Shinya Aoki who tries to defend himself. ONE Championship

Askren, who improved his record to 18-0, then affirmed his decision to retire saying that he had enough money and didn’t want to fight until he was too old to be fighting at all.

- Advertisement -

“I think this is it. I did say, if I get the opportunity to prove I’m Number 1—Although, I think I’m Number 1. I know I’m Number 1. I haven’t proven to the world I’m Number 1. So if I get that opportunity, I would take that opportunity,” said Askren.

“I don’t need to make any more money. I need to show people that I’m the best welterweight in the world. Other than that, then I’m out.”

Aoki, hoping to avoid the powerful strikes by Askren early in the first round, attempted to pull the defending champion down the canvas into half guard.  But Askren was too strong. Even with both legs wrapped around Askren’s torso Aoki couldn’t pull Askren into the ground.

ONE Welterweight World Champion Ben Askren (above) pounds challenger Shinya Aoki during their battle at ONE: Immortal Pursuit. ONE Championship

Instead of falling forward Askren lifted Aoki higher off the canvas then slammed him down the mat. Askren then pounded on the shaken Aoki forcing the referee to stop the match.

In the co-main event of the evening, Amir Khan of Singapore punished resilient Adrian Pang of Australia with accurate hits to the face and legs to win their three-round lightweight division showdown via unanimous decision. Khan couldn’t knock down, let alone knock out, the granite jawed Pang but left the Australian’s face a bruised mess after their fight.

Amir Khan (left) connects with a leg to the face of Adrian Pang. Khan could not knock out Pang but did enough to win by unanimous decision. ONE Championship

The 22-year-old Khan kept Pang at bay with powerful kicks and stinging straight right hands while avoiding Pang’s powerful roundhouse punches by quickly back-pedaling. Khan also withstood Pang’s takedown attempts to eke out the hard-earned victory.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu blackbelter Leandro Issa leaned on his successful takedown attempts to beat South Korea’s Dae Hwan Kim in a grueling bantamweight showdown. Issa was awarded the unanimous decision. Issa held the initiative at the onset and quickly built an early lead to survive the late challenge by the Korean.

May Ooi of Singapore continued her winning ways inside the ONE Championship cage by submitting Cambodia’s Vy Srey Khouch in the first round via rear-naked choke. Ooi brought the fight into the ground where she sank a deep rear-naked choke forcing Srey Khouch to tap out.

- Advertisement -

LATEST NEWS

Popular Articles