Adrian Mattheis Begins Career Comeback With Submission Of Phat Soda
Adrian Mattheis was in a must-win situation following a string of tough defeats in 2017, but the ONE Indonesia Strawweight Tournament Champion delivered in a big way on Saturday, 16 September.
Mattheis wrapped up a lightning-quick rear-naked choke finish against three-time Cambodian Kun Khmer champion Phat Soda in the main card opener of ONE: TOTAL VICTORY at the Jakarta Convention Center in Indonesia.
While the match served as Soda’s professional cage debut, he is a veteran of over 100 Kun Khmer bouts, and showed no fear as he fired off a pair of head kicks just seconds into the opening round. Mattheis, however, was more than willing to stand and trade with the striking specialist.
Following some fast and furious striking on the feet, the athletes ended up in a scramble that took them down to the ground. Mattheis briefly looked for an armbar, before Soda latched onto a guillotine choke against the cage fence.
Mattheis was able to slip free, and he started raining down some heavy ground and pound from the top position. But, much to his credit, the Cambodian Top Team representative was able to kick him off before bouncing back to his feet.
Almost instantaneously after Soda leapt up from the ground, “Papua Badboy” jumped on his opponent’s back, and locked on a rear-naked choke as the strawweights quickly came crashing back down to the canvas.
The grimace on Soda’s face was undeniable, and it only took him a split second before he was pounding the mat in submission.
It was a very impressive submission finish for Mattheis, who was looking to bounce back after dropping his past three bouts earlier this year.
With a raucous Indonesian crowd behind him, the 24-year-old hometown hero was nearly brought to tears in celebration. He racks up his third finish in ONE’s stacked strawweight division, giving him the honor of the most finishes in divisional history.
Soda may have been unsuccessful, but the Cambodian champion still looks to have a bright future ahead of him after a thrilling performance on his debut.
