Hello and welcome to Sportstar's blog of the fight between Ritu Phogat and Stamp Fairtex. This was Lalith Kalidas bringing you all the updates as it unfolded at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang.
Stamp Fairtex beats Ritu Phogat by submission in Round 2.
Agonising finish for the Indian. Ritu was quick to get her game going in Round 1, but Stamp's all-round supremacy helped her lock in on a loose end and take advantage. A valiant effort in the end. Ritu registers the second MMA defeat of her career, both of them coming this year while Fairtex raises her tally to 8-1. She seals the Grand Prix belt and an atomweight title shot against Angela Lee!
Round 2 begins. Ritu locks Stamp down in the ground and Stamp turns this aroundwith a a fiery submission choke! Ritu topples her over and oh wait, Stamp's right back on it in a flash! A stunning arm bar submission has pinned Ritu to the floor. That's it, all over for Ritu as Stamp shuns her with a supreme counter game in Round 2!
8:18PM IST: And Ritu gets a lock in on the legs. She pushes Stamp to the cage and desperately aims to clutch onto the thighs and aim for a quick takedown. Stamp does well to defend and hold ground. No respite for Stamp and Ritu pins her down to the ground before Stamp deftly squeezes back to her feet and sends in a low kick to Ritu's chest. Ritu lifts Stamp for an imminent takedown but fails to muster enough power to slam her down. Another escape there for Stamp. A firm clutch continues on Stamp's thighs and Ritu aims to sneak in a couple of side jabs as the clock ticks away. Round 1 ends! Exciting start here for Ritu. Went on full throttle from the start and has managed to avoid any serious strike from Stamp here.
8:14PM IST: Ritu wastes no time in attempting for the takedown with a sharp grapple on Stamp's knees but she keeps out the impending attack. Ritu attempts another low grapple but cops a low kick from Stamp in an excellent counter. Ritu continues to maintain her focus on Stamp's stiff movement.
8:11PM IST: ROUND 1 underway! Justin Brown, the referee begins the proceedings for the final...
8:08PM IST: Enters the fierce Thailand striker, world no.2 Stamp Fairtex strolls down the alley with an equally ice cool demeanour. She's been confident about a dominant display tonight, can she live up to the word here? A sure-shot for the atomweight is within touching distance for these fighters!
8:06PM IST: And there she is, Ritu Phogat! The Indian Tigress walks out to the cage in typical nonchalance and calmness!
8:03PM IST: A boxing supremo takes on a wrestling powerhouse. High stakes here for Ritu against the former two-sport champion. And the Fairtex challenge wouldn't be one bit easy for Ritu's ground-base game. Can she defy the odds tonight, we are moments away from Round 1!
It's time for RITU PHOGAT vs STAMP FAIRTEX, one shot at the title! History beckons the two, an even greater occasion for the Indian, who eyes her first title.
7:56PM IST: Three rounds of enticing action, Hiroki Akimoto defeats Qiu Jianliang by unanimous decision!
7:52PM IST: Jianliang comes up with electrifying counters to floor Akimoto twice in Round 2. Akimoto goes for a flat kick to the chest but Qiu sways out to his left before knocking Akimoto to the ground. Pretty even contest at the moment!
7:45PM IST: Matter of minutes before Ritu and Fairtex begin their epic face-off! As for now, Qio and Akimota are locked in a series of flinching kicks that has both fighters stirred up. Akimoto shows why he's a champion in this cage as he locks in a sizzling late high-kick onto Qiu's right chin late in Round 1.
7:39PM IST: Enter, Jianliang, arguably the most clinical kickboxer on the circuit, and here he goes up against the phenomenal no.3 Akimoto on his ONE Championship debut!
7:36PM IST: Next Up, Bout 4: Bantamweight Kickboxing: Qiu “The Tank” Jianliang vs. Hiroki Akimoto
As we wait for Ritu's clash, here's a recap of a sensational journey from the mat to the cage!
Bout 3: Dagi Arslanaliev beats Timofey Nastyukhin by TKO in Round 3.
7:28PM IST: Aslanaliev with the knockout punch! A fierce punch flush on the face and Nastyukhin sways for a jiffy before receiving another jab that pins him to the ground. Three years on since their first clash, it's Aslanaliev once again, the last man standing!
7:25PM IST: A bolt from the blue for Nastyukhin as Aslanaliev finds an amazing suplex to slam the Russian. Brilliant presence of mind from Aslanaliev to find the right moment to attempt one and ace it to perfection. He continues to grapple Nastyukhin's limbs for another takedown. They move into Round 3!
7:20PM IST: A stunning transformation from Arslanaliev here and he smacks Nastyukhin onto the ground with a flurry of ripping jabs to the face. This might be done sooner than we thought it'd be. Nastyukhin in absolute shambles but continues to hold on.
7:15PM IST: A brutal Round 1 on display here, folks. Both men have been battered and bruised in a series of fierce exchanges to the upper-body. Nastyukhin has copped a couple of cuts on his face and receives some assistance before springing back on.
Round 1 underway: 18 first round finishes between the two, only one will emerge winner tonight!
Bout 3, up next: Lightweight contest between, No.3 Timofey Nastyukhin vs. No.5 Dagi Arslanaliev. Two of the most exuberant strikers in the business. This one might just go down to the wire!
Bout 2: Buchecha beats
“Mighty Warrior” Kang Ji Won by submission (rear-naked choke) in 2:27 in Round 1.
6:53PM IST: A lightning quick takedown from Buchecha early on in Round 1 and that could well put the Brazilian on his way. A couple of forceful jabs land on Kang who tries to break free. Buchecha finds the rear choke and has him in full submission on the ground! And there it goes! Buchecha bulldozes Kang and dashes the contest in a matter of minutes. An intense takedown and the near perfect choke gives him a second successive win by submission. He becomes the first man to beat Kang and extends his unbeaten run.
UP NEXT: Bout No.2 - Heavyweight
“Mighty Warrior” Kang Ji Won vs. Buchecha
Bout 1: Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu beats Hu “Wolf Warrior” Yong by unanimous decision! Fair to say, there was only one winner from the onset. A flawless display from the Japanese star to set off proceedings for the night.
6:30PM IST: Wakamatsu is all over Hu Yong here on the Round 2, pinning him to a tight lease on the ground before knocking in a few side-on blows to the face. Hu has no options in his game to move out and attempt for a counter. And right on cue, another stellar takedown from Wakamatsu!
6:25PM IST: A flawless start from Wakamatsu has Hu on the back-foot. A couple of fierce late strikes onto the chin has Wakamatsu seemingly on top after Round 1.
6:20PM IST: The first fight of the night is underway. Hu takes on the no.3 Wakamatsu.
6:10PM IST: The night's first bout is the Flyweight division clash between: Hu “Wolf Warrior” Yong and Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu
6:07PM IST: All the fighters in action, Phogat and Fairtex included, line-up for a presentation on the stage.
6:05PM IST: We have our first visuals on Ritu as she walks into the Indoor Stadium with some flair and confidence. An intense Fairtex is seen soon behind her.
6:00PM IST: All set for the Winter Warriors, here we go!
5:57PM IST: Two fighters with identical 7-1 MMA record, who will emerge on top tonight? Will it be Ritu or the former two-sport champion Fairtex that rules the night?
5:50PM IST: 10 minutes away from the Winter Warrior card! What's your predictions for tonight?
5:20PM IST: When the finalists interacted with the current atomweight champion Angela Lee in the lead-up to the fight. Angela also predicted that Stamp will be able to see off Ritu in the final tonight, an interesting evening awaits us, folks!
5:15PM IST: Road to the Final: Ritu Phogat
Road to the Final: Stamp Fairtex
5:05PM IST:
Under an hour away from the opening of the Winter Warriors card. Ritu is on the cusp of history of becoming the first woman to hold a Grand Prix title. It'll be a clash of styles as he goes toe-to-toe with her challenger from Thailand, Stamp Fairtex, who is known for her supreme and aggressive striking game.
5:00PM IST: "The Indian Tigress" is all set for a spectacle tonight in Kallang!
MAIN CARD for ONE: Winter Warriors
FIGHT PREVIEW
Ritu Phogat and the Atomweight Grand Prix - the buzz and the stakes
The 27-year-old wrestler-turned MMA fighter has been on a fine run ever since her first MMA loss in May 2021. Ritu soon found herself amongst the eight best fighters to participate in the Atomweight Grand Prix - a brainchild tournament introduced by ONE CEO Chatri Sityodang.
The Grand Prix was aimed at seeking a new challenger for the current ONE Atomeweight champion Angela Lee who has been away from action since October 2019 due to her pregnancy.
In her two bouts so far, Ritu notched up unanimous victories over Meng Bo (quarterfinal, September 3) and Jenelyn Olsim (semifinal, October 29) - raising her MMA record to 7-1.
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The Fairtex challenge
Her final opponent, Fairtex, holds an equally impressive MMA record of 7-1 and is ranked second in the women's atomweight rankings. The 24-year-old from Thailand is also a former champion in the atomweight division in both Muay Thai and Kickboxing - the first and only champion in both sports.
With a superior all-round game that includes a flair for fierce striking, Fairtex poses a sturdy challenge to the fourth-ranked "Indian Tigress" who is heavily reliant on her wrestling techniques.
If Ritu manages to brave the odds, she will in fact become the first Indian woman to earn a Grand Prix title as she will be awarded a silver belt alongside the honour of becoming the next challenger for Angela Lee's atomweight title.
What they said
“I think stylistically, Stamp has a better chance [at beating Angela Lee]. She has more tools. You can try to defend on the ground against Angela, but she can also beat Angela on the feet, whereas Ritu will have a hard time because her strength is wrestling, and Angela is a dangerous submission artist.” - Bi Nguyen, Vietnamese ONE Atomweight fighter
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“Stamp is definitely a formidable opponent but she doesn’t have the kind of wrestling experience and background that I have built over the last seven years. I am certain that my superior wrestling background will give me an edge," - Ritu Phogat.
Where is the Ritu Phogat vs Stamp Fairtex, ONE Grand Prix Finals being held?
The Grand Prix Final which is part of the Winter Warriors card will be held at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang.
When and where to watch Ritu Phogat vs Stamp Fairtex, ONE Grand Prix Finals?
Ritu Phogat's final bout against Stamp Fairtex can be streamed online on Star Sports Select 1 and Hotstar from 6PM IST on December 3, Friday. The event will also be streamed one ONE's YouTube channel.
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