The Top Highlights From ONE: INSIDE THE MATRIX III
On Friday, 13 November, ONE: INSIDE THE MATRIX III saw a five-bout mixed martial arts card deliver nonstop action across five different weight divisions. But which performances stood out above the rest?
Here, we look back at the most unforgettable moments from another incredible night in Singapore.
#1 Lineker’s Blistering Uppercut Finishes Belingon
John “Hands Of Stone” Lineker announced himself as a serious threat to bantamweight king Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes with a powerful second-round TKO victory over former ONE Bantamweight World Champion and top-ranked contender Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon.
A competitive first round saw both men exchange lightning-quick strikes with thunderous power. But as the second stanza began, the #5-ranked Lineker looked determined to hunt for a finish.
“Hands Of Stone” consistently pressed forward and cut off the Circle to stay within striking range of Belingon. If an opening was given, Lineker attacked to the head. And if “The Silencer” covered up, a crushing hook was delivered to the body.
Just over a minute into the second round, the Brazilian scored with a thudding right hook to Belingon’s rib cage that echoed in the arena. Belingon reset, and Lineker pumped out a jab that caused the Filipino to cover up. When he did, a devastating right uppercut followed to the head.
With that, Belingon backed away and crumbled to the mat, allowing “Hands Of Stone” to follow with rapid-fire ground-and-pound before the referee slid in to call the bout.
It was an explosive finish to a highly anticipated matchup, as Lineker made his case to get the next shot at Fernandes’ belt.
- John Lineker Stops Kevin Belingon With Powerful Second-Round TKO
- Ramazanov Stays Undefeated With Grappling Masterclass Vs. Tetsuka
- Minowa Rides Grappling To Tough Split Decision Win Over Adiwang
#2 Ramazanov’s Dominant Grappling
Murad Ramazanov did what he does best at ONE: INSIDE THE MATRIX III – showcase his dominant grappling.
Hiroyuki “Japanese Beast” Tetsuka did well to repeatedly work back to his feet, but Ramazanov was quick to put him back on the mat each time.
The takedowns came easy in the first two rounds, and the Russian welterweight contender also found moments to score with ground-and-pound.
In the final stanza, Tetsuka stuffed two early takedowns, but Ramazanov was unwavering in his pursuit and eventually put the Japanese athlete on his back again.
Finally, the Russian put an exclamation point on the performance with a hard belly-to-back slam just before the bell.
Ramazanov’s impressive victory moved his unbeaten record to a perfect 10-0 and showed that he’s a true contender in ONE’s welterweight division.
#3 Minowa Escapes Kimura To Edge Adiwang
Hiroba Minowa made a big impression in his ONE debut with a key strawweight victory over #5-ranked Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang.
Adiwang looked set for an early submission victory with a kimura attempt, but Minowa miraculously survived. The shoulder dexterity of the Japanese athlete shocked everyone who watched his arm bend in an unnatural direction.
After escaping, Minowa went to work from top position. He kept the groundwork going in the second round after a quick takedown and landed some well-placed knees at the end of the frame.
In the third round, Minowa looked strong from top position and employed some timely ground-and-pound strikes.
The competitive contest split the judges, but the Japanese athlete’s toughness and control from the top saw him pick up a massive victory.
With the impressive promotional debut, the 21-year-old Minowa showed that he could ultimately challenge ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio for the belt.
Read more: ONE: INSIDE THE MATRIX III – Full Results And Highlights For Belingon Vs. Lineker
