Toshiomi Kazama and Garrett Armfield both attempted to rebound from losing by finish in their UFC debuts when they squared off at UFC Singapore.
Kazama was given a chance in the UFC after his ‘Road to UFC’ fight was called off due to his opponent’s weight miss, but he faltered in his debut against fellow ‘Road to UFC’ alumnus Rinya Nakamura. Meanwhile Armfield got the UFC call by accepting a short notice fight up a weight class against athletic beast David Onama. He gave Onama a tough fight before eventually succumbing to a submission. Now, back at his natural weight class, Armfield looked to fight, and win, on a more even playing field.
The two orthodox fighters came out swinging. Kazama landed a big body kick but ate a right hand counter. Armfield pressed forward behind straight punches and got Kazama’s back to the cage early, which allowed him to land his strikes easier. Kazama shot a desperate takedown but it was telegraphed and easily stuffed. Armfield kept his discipline with his guard and kept tagging Toshiomi over and over. The Japanese fighter shot a single leg which failed. He simply could not get his head off the center line and avoid the punches of Garrett Armfield, who added a body shot around the halfway mark of the opening round.
A jab staggered the legs of Kazama; Armfield swarmed him and Kazama went to his back, trying to lock up a desperate Kimura from the turtle. Armfield extricated his arm and beckoned Kazama back to the feet so he could swarm him again. Every punch in his combinations seemed to land and Kazama could not get off the fence. With a minute left in the round a big right hand, set up by the jab, landed clean and dropped Kazama cold. Due to the damage he had already taken, the referee stepped in immediately.
Toshiomi Kazama was not happy with the speed of the stoppage but after hitting his butt twice and being outclassed for most of a full round it was understandable to see the ref step in. Garrett Armfield notched the first win of his UFC career and the biggest one of his career, stamping his name as one to watch in the UFC bantamweight division.
Official Result: Garrett Armfield def. Toshiomi Kazama by TKO (straight right) Round 1, 4:16
