Video by INQUIRER.net’s Ryan Leagogo
MANILA, Philippines — Brandon Vera’s One FC debut didn’t last long but he definitely made a lasting impression.
Fighting for the first time here, Vera knocked out Igor Subora in the first round in the co-main event of the “One FC: Warrior’s Way” before a raucous crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Vera unleashed a crisp left straight that sent the Ukrainian Subora, who is based here, on his back before following it up with a kick that prompted the referee to stop the fight at the 3:54 mark of the opening round.
“I was so nervous fighting for the first time here in the Philippines,” admitted the 37-year-old Vera, whose father, Ernesto, is a Filipino.
Photo by RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net
Vera though hardly showed any signs of nervousness in the cage as he engaged Subora in a standup.
A legitimate heavyweight, Subora is no pushover and Vera’s performance somehow showed he’s far from being washed up after absorbing punishment at the hands of Shogun Rua and Ben Rothwell in his last two fights.
After making quick work of the URCC heavyweight champion Subora, Vera announced in front of the screaming Filipino’s his next step.
“Climb that ladder take on those challengers and get that One FC belt,” Vera said.
In the other main event, Bibiano Fernandes forced Korean Kim Dae Hwan into submission in the second round to retain his bantamweight championship.
Vera’s win gave the Filipino crowd something to cheer about after local favorite Eduard Folayang suffered a brutal knockout against Russian KO artist Timofey Nastyukhin earlier.
Nastyukhin added Folayang to his list of victims who have tasted his power after the Team Lakay took a perfectly timed knee to his chin early in the first round.
Filipino bet Honorio Banario also lost after he tapped out on a rear-naked choke applied by Brazilian Herbert Burns in the opening round.
“Nagkamali ako noong pagsipa ko (I made a mistake when I kicked him),” recalled Banario.
But while Banario fell, Kevin Belingon continued his rise after he outclassed his Japanese foe Koetsu Okazaki in three rounds.
Jujeath Nagaowa kickstarted the Filipinos campaign with a win over Tharoth Sam in the very first fight of the evening before Ana Julaton, a world champion in boxing, prevailed over Egypt’s Walaa Abbas.
Rene Catalan however, lost to Thai Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke via stoppage.
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