Philippines’ Geje Eustaquio celebrates after defeating Kazakhstan’s Kairat Akhmetov to claim the Interim Flyweight World Championship. INQUIRER PHOTO/ Sherwin Vardeleon
Geje Eustaquio gained a measure of revenge as he claimed the ONE Interim Flyweight Championship and outclassed Kairat Akhmetov in the main event of ONE: Global Superheroes Friday at Mall of Asia Arena.
The Team Lakay stalwart made sure that the result was definitive this time, winning via unanimous decision to avenge his past defeat to the Kazakh.
Eustqauio lost via split decision in their first match at ONE: Total Victory last September.
He also became the third fighter out of the Benguet stable to win a championship in the promotion.
Sweet revenge for Geje! @ONEChampionship pic.twitter.com/uC2a9OetME
— Randolph B. Leongson (@RLeongsonINQ) January 26, 2018
“This belt is not mine. It’s ours,” he proudly exclaimed as he shared his triumph with the adoring Filipino fans.
Learning from his mistakes in Jakarta, Eustaquio entered the cage with a purpose as he attempted to ground Akhmetov and nearly got him with a kneebar in the first round.
It was a complete opposite in the succeeding rounds as the fighters stayed upright and banked on their striking abilities in hopes of sending each other to the ground.
The 28-year-old Filipino, however, showed poise as he wiggled his way out of danger and survived the former champion’s flurry late in the fifth round.
With the win, Eustaquio improved to 10-6 and now has his sights set on unifying the ONE Flyweight titles against Adriano Moraes.
“Give me one more try, Adriano. I hope I give you a better fight!,” he said.
Akhmetov suffered only his second defeat to fall to 24-2.
Results:
Main Card:
Geje Eustaquio def. Kairat Akhmetov – Unanimous Decision
Joshua Pacio def. Lan Ming Qiang – submission (rear naked choke) – Round 1 (4:01)
Rafael Nunes def. Eric Kelly – submission (D’arce choke) – Round 2 (1:31)
Sam-A Gaiyanghadao def. Joseph Lasiri – TKO (strikes) – Round 2 (2:30)
Ma Hao Bin def. Sotir Kichukov – Unanimous Decision
Hayato Suzuki def. Yago Bryan – submission (rear naked choke) – Round 1 (4:03)
Emilio Urrutia def. Bruno Pucci – KO (punches) – Round 1 (3:33)
Prelims:
Edward Kelly def. Meas Meul – KO (knee) – Round 1
Jomary Torres def. April Osenio – KO (slam) – Round 1 (0:40)
Rajinder Singh Meena def. Zhang Ze Hao – submission (guillotine) – Round 1 (0:42)
Adrian Matheis def. Eddey Kalai – submission (rear naked choke) – Round 1 (4:15)