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After controversial ending, Indonesian ‘Terminator’ ready to rematch with Myanmar fighter
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Indonesian mixed martial artist Sunoto walks to the circle at ONE: BAD BLOOD on Friday. (ONE Championship)
T
he much-anticipated return of “The Terminator” Sunoto to ONE Championship ended unexpectedly as his fight against “The Dragon Leg” Tial Thang was ruled no contest on Friday at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore.
Opening the ONE: BAD BLOOD event, the bantamweight mixed martial arts (MMA) bout was declared a no contest in the first round, less than two minutes after the opening bell rang.
After both men traded strikes, Sunoto shot for failed takedowns. Inside the clinch, Tial Thang launched his knees into his opponent’s midsection, but two of them came in unintentionally low.
The Myanmar’s martial artist got a warning from referee Olivier Coste after his initial low blow strike. Following the second knee, Sunoto could not continue even after the allotted five-minute recovery time.
The decision triggered debate online as fans from both sides offered contrasting opinions on the matter. Some even accused Sunoto of acting and that he should have been able to continue.
“They were illegal low blows. You can clearly hear the protective cup. If it had hit my abdomen, it wouldn’t have produced that kind of sound. I could still continue fighting after the first [strike,] but after the second, I couldn’t. It was so painful that I had difficulty breathing,” Sunoto said on Monday in an interview. “I let people have their says but it’s me who knew how it felt. Netizens are just the same everywhere. They don’t want to listen.”
Sunoto explained that he had to be carried out on a stretcher to receive immediate medical treatment in a hospital. Fortunately, according to Sunoto, the doctor said the internal damage was minimal despite the external swelling.
Watch the full fight here.
The 36-year-old conceded that he was disappointed by the outcome as he felt that he was in the best shape of his career and ready to present a victory for his country. However, he said he was open to have an immediate rematch when medically cleared to fight again.
“I feel that I was in my peak. Maybe because I have undergone the best preparation in my career. I was totally fit, had the power and it was the most enjoyable fight preparation I have ever had,” Sunoto said. “If not for the [low blows], I believe it would have turned into an exciting fight […] I am ready anytime, if ONE wants us to have an immediate rematch, I will not turn it down.”
New interim heavyweight world champion crowned
In the main event ONE: BAD BLOOD, Anatoly “Sladkiy” Malykhin showcased a dominant performance to win the ONE interim heavyweight world title.
The Russian took down Kirill Grishenko with a massive right hand in the second round of their mixed martial arts (MMA) contest to prove that he is one of the most dangerous heavyweights on the planet today.
The powerful strike starched Grishenko at three minutes and 42 seconds of the second frame, securing a sensational knockout win for Malykhin and earning him a pair of US$50,000 performance bonuses from ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong. Apart from him, Jonathan Haggerty and Woo Sung Hoon also earned $50,000 bonuses.
The victory extends Malykhin’s unblemished record to 11-0 and might set a stage for a unification title bout against reigning ONE heavyweight world champion Arjan “Singh” Bhullar.
“Arjan Bhullar, my baby chicken. No fight, no big heart. Come, fight!” Malykhin said in his post-fight interview with commentator Mitch Chilson.
Watch ONE: FULL CIRCLE on Feb. 25 on the ONE Super App and subscribe to ONE Championship on YouTube!
This article is published in collaboration with ONE Championship.
