3 Sensational Submissions From Our HEROES OF HONOR
The spotlight will be on the world’s best martial artists on Friday, 20 April, as ONE Championship returns to the Mall Of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines, for a night of action at ONE: HEROES OF HONOR.
Also, the event marks the grand premiere of the striking-only ONE Super Series, which features the biggest names in the world of Muay Thai and kickboxing.
However, despite all of that, martial arts fans will still get the opportunity to see some of the planet’s most talented grapplers, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu wizards.
The show features Bali-based American wrestler Andrew Leone in the main event, and submission masters like Marat Gafurov, Adrian Pang, Masakazu Imanari, Dae Hwan Kim, and more. Here are just four of the tightest submissions you may see from our HEROES OF HONOR.
“Cobra” Strikes Jadambaa Again
One year following a grueling four-round classic, former titleholder Narantungalag “Tungaa” Jadambaa met then-ONE Featherweight World Champion Marat “Cobra” Gafurov in a rematch at ONE: DEFENDING HONOR in November 2016.
After getting put to sleep in their first encounter via Gafurov’s signature rear-naked choke, Jadambaa looked determined to keep the bout on the feet. Things were looking up for “Tungaa,” until a slip off a low kick allowed Gafurov to take the match to the ground.
“Cobra” slithered to take Jadambaa’s back, but the Mongolian warrior gallantly battled to prevent a similar result from their previous tilt. Gafurov was not to be denied, and punished him with elbows, which forced Jadambaa to give up his back.
Once again, the Dagestani was able to slap on his feared move. Even with nine seconds left in the opening stanza, Jadambaa could not hold on, and he ultimately faded to the submission.
Gafurov became the only man to ever defeat the legendary Mongolian twice, but wound up losing his championship to Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen in August 2017. He is determined to rebound in a huge way by ending Emilio “The Honey Badger” Urrutia’s win streak in Manila.
Vincent Latoel Falls Into “The Hunter’s” Trap
In December 2014, two martial arts veterans met in the cage, as Australia’s Adrian “The Hunter” Pang made his promotional debut against Dutch-Indonesian combatant Vincent “Magnivincent” Latoel at ONE: DYNASTY OF CHAMPIONS (BEIJING).
Pang maintained his focus, while Latoel kept active in an effort to catch his opponent out. Despite landing significant strikes on his feet, the Aussie routinely took the match to the ground in the first two rounds, and was clearly on the verge of a finish.
In the final stanza, Latoel went for a takedown, which ultimately set up his downfall. “The Hunter” was waiting for his desperate foe, and caught him in a guillotine choke that forced the tap out.
Pang announced his arrival in ONE by following up this win with a 48-second knockout of Peter Davis in his next match. Look for him to go for another huge stoppage victory against Honorio “The Rock” Banario at ONE: HEROES OF HONOR.
Jenny Huang’s Award-Winning Gogoplata
One of the most exciting contests at ONE: AGE OF DOMINATION in Manila, back in December 2016, was between Chinese Taipei’s Jenny Huang and hometown hero April Osenio.
Osenio delighted the local crowd with her wushu offense. She attacked Huang with a variety of kicks, one of which visibly knocked “Lady GoGo” back. Huang used her strength to endure her adversary’s strikes, and eventually took the match to the ground with an outside trip.
However, Osenio displayed proof of Team Lakay’s improved grappling, as she managed to slap on a guillotine choke attempt, and later pressed Huang to the cage to end the opening round in good stead.
Both competitors were too cautious to start the second round, but the Filipina soon charged in with her kicks. Huang, however, managed to take her down to the mat.
Osenio fended off a couple of rear-naked choke attempts from her opponent, and at one point, she even got top position. But Huang pulled off an unexpected gogoplata, using her shin to choke the local heroine to submission with merely 32 seconds left in the second frame.
It was the fifth straight win for the previously-undefeated Huang. The victory earned her the Best Submission Of 2016, and led to a title shot against ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion Angela Lee. Now, Huang is now looking to get back in contention against Osenio’s teammate, Gina “Conviction” Iniong.
