Martin Nguyen is still the featherweight champ. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Martin Nguyen ended the night with his title wrested on his shoulder once again as he knocked Mongolia’s Narantungalag Jadambaa in their featherweight championship bout in the main event of the ONE: Roots of Honor Friday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Nguyen first connected with a stiff leg kick that forced Jadambaa to limp up and that was when the champion decided to send a flying knee straight to the jaw of the Mongolian challenger, ending the fight 1:07 into the second round.
🎯 RIGHT ON TARGET
Martin Nguyen clinches a scintillating flying knee knockout victory to retain the ONE Featherweight World Title! @MartinNguyenMMA #WeAreONE #RootsOfHonor #Manila #MartialArts pic.twitter.com/EF2ShIBQmm
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) April 12, 2019
It was another successful defense of the featherweight title for Nguyen, who once held two belts in two weight divisions but was forced to relinquish the lightweight strap last year.
Nguyen (12-3) also bounced back from his loss to Kevin Belingon in July of 2018 while Jadambaa (14-6) lost failed to get his winning streak to three fights after he beat Kazuki Tokudome and Edward Kelly in 2018.
Both fighters were methodical in their approach at the start of the fight with neither one getting a clear advantage over the other.
Nguyen then became the aggressor in the second round eventually sending Jadambaa to the cage wherein the champion finally connected the decisive blows.