It was an interesting evening right from the first bout for ONE Championship and its North American TV debut.
The first televised bout between American Eddie Alvarez and Luri Lapicus saw Alvarez get disqualified for illegal punches to the back of head, resulting in Lapicus getting stretchered out of the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Should Eddie Alvarez have been DQ'd for this? 🧐 @Ealvarezfight @tntdrama #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship #ONEonTNT pic.twitter.com/pdNYqaOfeJ
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) April 8, 2021
All class from "The Underground King!" 🙏💯 @Ealvarezfight #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship #ONEonTNT pic.twitter.com/jvaPUwTkS0
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) April 8, 2021
Fyweight champion Adriano Moraes used his significant height and reach advantages to finish former UFC flyweight champion and current ONE flyweight world grand prix champion Demetrious Johnson for the first time inside of two rounds.
Johnson was forced to press the bigger Moraes from the beginning and it resulted in Moraes getting on top in the last half of the first round. Moraes used a nifty uppercut to knock Johnson to the ground in the second round, than connected on a vicious left knee to a grounded Johnson, combined with followup strikes that forced the referee to halt the bout at 2:24 of the second round.
Grounded knees are LEGAL in ONE! 🔥 @adrianomkmoraes #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship #ONEonTNT pic.twitter.com/Gy0qRgvZvy
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) April 8, 2021
With the win, Moraes recorded his second straight victory and defended his belt for the first time under his second reign.
Both fighters were gracious and sportsmanlike afterwards, with Johnson congratulating Moraes
Nothing but respect 🤝 @adrianomkmoraes @MightyMouse #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship #ONEonTNT pic.twitter.com/YtRyyxSeyX
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) April 8, 2021
In the final bout, Thailand native Rodtang Jitmuangnon outstruck his game opponent Australian Daniel Williams en route to a convincing unanimous decision victory.
Rodtang DROPS "Mini T" in Round 2! 💣 #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship #ONEonTNT pic.twitter.com/7Rsz70HbA4
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) April 8, 2021
In other notable bouts, Oumar Kane of Senegal impressively finished Patrick Scmid of Switzerland to kick off the prelims, securing the TKO in 1:48 of the first round.
In other bouts:
RODTANG JITMUANGNON DEF. DANIEL WILLIAMS VIA UD
ADRIANO MORAES DEF. DEMETRIUS JOHNSON VIA TKO (PUNCHES, KNEE) R2 2:24
LURI LAPICUS DEF. EDDIE ALVAREZ VIA DQ (ILLEGAL PUNCHES) R1 1:02
RAIMOND MAGOMEDALIEV DEF. TYLER MCGUIRE VIA UD
OUMAR KANE DEF. PATRICK SCHMID VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R1 1:48
One on TNT II is scheduled for next Wednesday April 14 on TNT. Christian Lee defends the lightweight title in the main event against Timofey Nastyukhin in the main event.
