ONE: Roots Of Honor Recap: Nguyen’s Triumphant Return
Welcome back, Martin Nguyen. The defending ONE featherweight champion put on a spectacular show on his return bout from injury
Both men were up for this fight, but it was Nguyen, the younger athlete by 13 years, who had more pop in his strikes. He was also quicker on his feet. Nguyen avoided being caught by any of Jadambaa’s heavy shots in the opening round and looked the fresher fighter coming into the second. The defending champion then went to work on his opponents left leg, with a series of blistering kicks.
Jadambaa, limping at this stage, backed himself against the cage. Nguyen, sensing his opportunity, then launched his aerial assault. A flying knee caught the Mongolian perfectly to stop the contest instantly.
Nguyen could not have scripted a better comeback performance.
In the nine months that Nguyen has been on the sidelines, ONE has undergone something of a transformation with all their new star signings. However tonight, he reminded everybody of how good he is when fully fit and injury-free.
In the evening’s co-main event, Filipino Joshua Pacio made sure the home fans went home smiling. Pacio reclaimed his title from Japan’s Yosuke Saruta with a stunning fourth-round knockout.
The hometown hero had to work for his win as he was sent to the canvas in the first round. However, as the rounds ticked off, Pacio came into his own and began to assert control of the fight.
It was a good night overall for the Singapore-based promotion with a number of entertaining contests. The worry must have been that after the high of Japan, there would be a comedown, but that was avoided with a solid all-around show.
Full Results:
Main Card:
Martin Nguyen defeated Narantungalag Jadambaa via second-round KO
to retain the ONE Featherweight World Championship
Joshua Pacio defeated Yosuke Saruta via fouth-round KO to
win the ONE Strawweight World Championship
Tatsumitsu Wada defeats Gustavo Balart via unanimous decision
Leandro Issa defeated Fu Chang Xin via first-round submission.
Andrei Stoica defeats Ibrahim El Bouni via unanimous decision (ONE Super Series kickboxing – light heavyweight)
James Nakashima defeated Luis Santos via second-round TKO (mixed martial arts – welterweight)
Edward Kelly defeated Sung Jong Lee via second-round TKO (mixed martial arts – featherweight)
Anderson Silva defeated Andre Meunier via first-round (ONE Super Series kickboxing – heavyweight)
Preliminary Card
Kwon Won Il defeats Eric Kelly via first-round KO (mixed martial arts – featherweight)
Saemapetch Fairtex defeats Ognjen Topic via majority decision (ONE Super Series Muay Thai – bantamweight)
Xie Bin defeats Ahmad Qais Jasoor via second round submission (mixed martial arts – bantamweight)
Niko Soe defeats Eko Roni Saputra via first-round TKO (doctor stoppage) at 3:03 of round one (mixed martial arts – flyweight)
Bi Nguyen defeats Dwi Ani Retno Wulan via first-round TKO (mixed martial arts – women’s atomweight)
Ramon Gonzales submits Akihiro Fujisawa via first-round submission (mixed martial arts – flyweight)
