India’s Ritu Phogat entered Friday’s ONE Championship: Battleground card in Kallang, Singapore in unfamiliar territory.
For the first time in the wrestler’s mixed martial arts career, she entered a fight coming off a loss. In her last outing, Phogat, who won a gold medal at the 2016 commonwealth games, had dropped a split decision to KOTC veteran Bi Nguyen.
Motivated to avoid the scorecards in her return, Phogat utilized her wrestling to take the fight to the ground. A scarf hold had opponent Lin Heqin trapped, which allowed Phogat to land ground n’ pound before setting up the submission. She couldn’t find the finish, however, and when the pair were on the feet, Heqin had the clear edge.
The second frame again saw Phogat dominant in the wrestling department. When the fight was on the ground, Phogat was all over Heqin, showing great work from side control. Her ground n’ pound was heavy, both in power and volume. Short punches and elbows soon had Heqin’s facing showing redness. Control time was clearly in Phogat’s favor, and while Heqin tried to get active with her guard off her back, she really had little answer to the wrestler’s pressure.
A superman punch from Phogat fell short to open the third, a reminder that taking the fight to the floor was her clearest path to victory. Said path was not obstacle free, however. Heqin began throwing some dangerous looking upkicks near the midway point of the second. Phogat was just too good on the ground in the end, however, and while she didn’t get the stoppage she wanted, there was no question when it came to the scorecards this time.
Official Result: Ritu Phogat def. Lin Heqin by unanimous decision
