Throwing caution to the wind, Kyung Ho Kang and Teruto Ishihara stood toe-to-toe in a thrilling battle that saw the South Korean bantamweight come out on top after locking in a first round submission.
The UFC 234 televised preliminary card in Melbourne, Australia opened up with Japanese bantamweight Teruto Ishihara returning to action. Opposite him Saturday night, Kyung Ho Kang, looking to bounce back from a loss to Ricardo Ramos that snapped a three fight win streak.
Kang was no doubt hoping to get right back in the win column. Ishihara, meanwhile, was 1-4 in his last five fights, in desperate need of a win himself.
Ishihara, in southpaw, stayed outside early, circling, then moving in and out, attacking quickly. He’d find success with his right hand early, then ate a punch that threw him off balance. In turn, he landed a wild punch that rocked the Korean fighter. Ishihara chose to try to tie things up then, and Kang was able to recover and land a right hand of his own. Definitely some wild exchanges once the feeling out period was over. Kang landed a knee that hurt Ishihara, and that pair began trading, with Kang landing numerous uppercuts in the clinch before they opted to emulate rock ’em, sock ’em robots, with wild, heavy punches landing for both fighters.
Spent, they’d slow and Kang would take the back; after nearly being shaken off, he dragged Ishihara down and slipped an arm under the chin. The Japanese fighter, refusing to tap, went out on his shield, and Kyung-Ho Kang had the victory!
What a finish!
Mr. Perfect gets the sub on @ESPN! #UFC234 pic.twitter.com/CbGUMlglEZ
— UFC (@ufc) February 10, 2019
Kyung Ho Kang def. Teruto Ishihara by technical submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 3:59
