ONE Championship returned to action Saturday in a huge way. Breaking into mainland China and hosting an event in Shanghai months ahead of the UFC touching down, ONE Championship: Shanghai was a watershed moment for the promotion. Bringing welterweight champion Ben Askren with them, ONE Championship: Shanghai was set to be a stellar night of action for those in attendance, not to mention those in the west waking up early to catch the show.
Check back during the event for a reacap and full results!
Sagetdao Petpayathai vs. Mahmoud Mohamed
Thailand’s Petpayathai faced Egypt’s Mamoud Mohamed opened the main card action of ONE Shanghai, and the ground specialist Mohamed immediately worked to get the fight to the ground. Petpayathai, not surprisingly, looked for a thai clinch, and off the break dropped Mohamed with a huge standing elbow! It looked as if the fight was over right there, but the ref allowed the action to continue. That meant Sagetdao Petpayathai had to get back to work, as he’d moved back and looked ready to celebrate. A number of strikes including another elbow finished off the dazed Mohamed moments later, as the ref rescued the Egyptian from further damage.
Sagetdao Petpayathai def. Mahmoud Mohamed by TKO, Round 1, 1:41
Kyle Rozewski vs. Tetsuya Yamada
An early takedown by Yamada following a roundhouse kick didn’t last, and the fighters were soon back on their feet in a very active start to the second fight on the ONE Shanghai main card. Yamada took the fight back to the ground again roughly ninety seconds in, and this time he was able to apply a body triangle, looking for a rear naked choke. Firmly in control, it wasn’t long before Rozewski was forced to tap!
Tetsuya Yamada def. Kyle Rozewski by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 1:55
Xu Chun Yan vs. Eh Ya Nut
Strawweight action got underway next, with former boxing champ Xu Chun Yan opening up with a combo early, then following her strikes with a takedown. She was able to take the back of Eh Ya Nut and threatened with a rear-naked choke, but Nut would survive. Back on the feet, the Chinese fighter led with her jab and seemed to be settling into a nice rhythm. She would micing in body shots, then attack high with combos. Eh Ya Nut was forced into a counter-striking role, but failed to get much offense off.
Round two saw Nut try to make space with some kicks, but she still wound up eating a number of shots by the former boxing champ. Xu Chun Yan would then take the action to the ground with a throw, but they didn’t stay down for long. On the feet in the clinch there pair traded knees. Nut would add in punches to the thigh. A hook by Xu Chun Yan was countered by Nut, but the boxer continually got the better of her exchanges, landing a strong right hand and mixing in some kick for good measure. In a round that started a little better for Eh Ya Nut, it was China’s Xu who had the momentum by the end of the frame.
In the third and final round the pair traded kicks early, with Xu Chun Yan following her kicks up with another powerful overhand right. Xu kept up the body shots as well, and would consistently back her opponent up, controlling the cage. After eating a combo, Nut would manage to storm back with a counter attack that marked her best moment of the fight, however shortly after she was thrown down and mounted by the Chinese fighter. Ground and pound followed, and Nut gave up her back in an attempt to escape. Xu Chun Yan looked for a rear naked choke, but was too high on her opponent’s back. In an attempt to re-position she landed some shots, but Nut was able to scramble free and wind up in Xu’s closed guard. The ref, however, would stand them up after a lull. With ninety seconds left they had a chance to continue the standup war, but Xu Chun Yan opted to take her opponent down again, working to mount. Showing a well-rounded game, the former boxing chap would work for an arm bar, and later a leg lock during the final minute of the fight.
They’d go to the scorecards, with the result no surprise at all.
Xu Chun Yan def. Eh Ya Nut by Unanimous Decision
Amir Khan vs. Jaroslav Jartim
In Khan vs. Jartim, it did not take Amir Khan long to get the upper hand. After some early action Khan took the back for his opponent, looking to lock in a submission. Jartim would escape, but moments later Khan would take the back while standing, then look to change levels to find a takedown. With that avenue closed, Khan went back to his striking, and just seconds later dropped Jartim with a straight left, a head kick, and then a right hook that finally put Jartim down! Great combination to finish the fight!
Amir Khan def. Jaroslav Jartim by KO, Round 1, 3:46
Ma Hao Bin vs. Hexigetu
Flyweight action was featured in the final fight prior to the main event at ONE Shanghai. Hexigetu worked to find range with his jab, while Ma Hao Bin worked in a round house kick and later shot for a single leg takedown. Hexigetu stayed up, showing some strong takedown defense. A second takedown attempt later was successful, however, which promopted Hexigetu to scramble to the fence. Ma Hao Bin wound up in his closed guard, and managed to stay active in top control. Hexigetu, however, would lock in a kimura (with Ma trying to slam his way out of it), and while he couldn’t finish it, it allowed him to reverse positions and wind up on top. In full mount, Hexigetu began landing some ground and pound; Ma Hao Bin briefly gave up his back and managed to escape, transitioning back to the top, where he’d finish the round.
Round two started with more of a feeling out process on the feet; Ma seemed content to settle into a standup battle and seemed to have abandoned his takedown attempts. Hexigetu added a leg kick, and finally with under three minutes remaining Ma Hao Bin shot for a takedown. Hexigetu escaped. However, a bad shot later in the round from a slowed Hexigetu saw Ma Hao Bin able to lock in a guillotine choke. Hexigetu didn’t seem to be defending, and the choke was in deep. With ten seconds to go in the second round, the tap came, giving Ma Hao Bin the submission victory!
Ma Hao Bin def. Hexigetu by submission (guillotine choke), Round 2, 4:50
Ben Askren vs. Zebaztian Kadestam – for the ONE Welterweight Championship
Askren shoots in early, leading with a punch, looking for a headlock then takes a double leg, scoops Kadestam up, and slams him down! Great start for Funky Ben. Askren takes the back with ease and gets a hook in. Kadestam attempts to shake him off but Askren deftly changes positions and soon has a hook in again, utterly controlling the action. As Kadestam moved back to his feet Askren took him down again with ease, and was soon in mount. Working methodically he added in an elbow or two as Kadestam rolled around beneath him unable to escape. Surprisingly, the ref allowed the fight to continue despite Kadestam being bloodied and at points doing little to intelligently defend himself. The strikes weren’t the hardest, but they were adding up. Still it went to round two.
Kadestam looked to stay out of range of Askren’s shots early, jogging away in retreat, but he might as well have tried climbing out of the cage. A double leg took him down, and this time Askren added in some ground knees. It was a total wrestling clinic once again. Utter domination with Askren again getting mount, taking the back, transitioning with ease, and controlling Kadestam with ease. Askren’s shots weren’t the strongest, which is likely the only thing keeping the Swedish fight in the bout. Askren looked for a sub but couldn’t secure it. Finally he went back to strikes, landing with both hands, and the ref had seen enough. Kadestam was demoralized early, and was barely ever in the fight. Askren once again retains the ONE welterweight championship!
Ben Askren def. Zebaztian Kadestam by TKO, Round 2, 4:09
After the bout, Askren stated he was open to a superfight, or any welterweight willing to challenge him.
ONE Championship: Shanghai Results:
Ben Askren def. Zebaztian Kadestam by TKO, Round 2, 4:09 – Askren retains ONE welterweight championship
Ma Hao Bin def. Hexigetu by submission (guillotine choke), Round 2, 4:50
Amir Khan def. Jaroslav Jartim by KO, Round 1, 3:46
Xu Chun Yan def. Eh Ya Nut by Unanimous Decision
Tetsuya Yamada def. Kyle Rozewski by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 1:55
Sagetdao Petpayathai def. Mahmoud Mohamed by TKO, Round 1, 1:41
ONE Championship: Shanghai Preliminary Card Results:
Miao Jie def. Mona Samir by submission, Round 1
Zhang Ze Hao def. Li Cheng Chao by KO/TKO, Round 3
Xie Chao def. Marc Marcellinus by submission, Round 1
