High Fives: Only Room for One

Guy PortmanMay 21, 2018
UFC Fight Night 129 was not the only event of note during the weekend of May 18-20. One Championship “Unstoppable Dreams” on Friday in Singapore staged a number of pivotal fights, and Fight Nights Global on Saturday in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, hosted several other intriguing matchups. Here are five of the highlights:



CLOSE REMATCH … In the One Championship “Unstoppable Dreams” main event, atomweight titleholder Angela Lee retained her title with a decision win over Mei Yamaguchi. The fight served as a rematch of their classic 2016 confrontation in which Lee was also victorious by decision. Lee-Yamaguchi 2 was a closely contested affair, as the diminutive 35-year-old Japanese challenger executed numerous takedowns and scored the only knockdown of the fight with a high kick in the fifth round. However, the judges sided with Lee, 21, her undefeated record improving to 9-0. Yamaguchi dropped to 17-11.



GRAPPLING GENIUSShinya Aoki disposed of the overmatched Rasul Yakhyaev with a triangle choke in their One Championship “Unstoppable Dreams” showcase. “Tobikan Judan” framed the submission from top position before rolling to his back and tightening the squeeze. The end came at the 3:15 mark of the first round. Aoki’s 25th career submission win put the breaks on a two-fight losing streak. Yakhyaev, at 11-7, has lost four of his last five fights.



STRIKING SENSATION … Filipino lightweight Eduard Folayang utilized an impressive standup attack to claim a convincing decision over Russia’s Kharun Atlangeriez. The “Predator” attempted a series of takedowns throughout the three-round affair, only to be easily rebuked by Folayang, now 19-6. It was the first career loss for Atlangeriez (11-1).



SOME ‘MYSTIC MAC’ MAGIC … In the Fight Nights Global 87 main event, SBG Ireland welterweight Peter Queally stopped David Khachtryan at the 3:52 mark of the first round. A stablemate of former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor, “The Showstopper” sent his rival to the canvas with a straight right and then followed up with two more right hands on the ground. At that point, the referee had seen enough. Queally moved to 11-4, while his Armenian counterpart slipped to 24-4.



HEAD SHOT … Two UFC alums faced off in the Fight Nights Global 87 co-headliner, as Nikita Krylov took on Fabio Maldonado at 205 pounds. An early groin shot resulted in a lengthy timeout, but when the action resumed, Krylov went to work on the feet and used a variety of strikes. The end came in the second round, where the Ukrainian disengaged from the clinch and delivered a right hook to the head that knocked out the notoriously durable Maldonado. Krylov has gone 4-0 with four finishes since parting ways with the UFC. Maldonado fell to 24-12.