VETERAN Dabawenyo fighter Benjie Lumacad of Holiday Gym and Spa demolished his opponent late in the second round of the "Smoker Fight XVI: The Reckoning" main event bout held at the NCCC Kadayawan Hall in Davao City on Sunday evening.
Lumacad, who was last seen in the cage in 2011, made a statement in his comeback after earning a technical knockout victory over Cenojas Mixed Martial Arts (CMMA) stud Dennis Quinonero.
Referee Fernan Piccio called the stop to the fight with only a few seconds left in the second round after Quinonero succumbed to the brutal ground and pound of Lumacad on the full-mount.
It was all a Lumacad affair throughout the fight as he stunned Quinonero early in the first round with a solid right hook that threw off Quinonero’s mouthpiece. The latter had his moments yet Lumacad proved to be more dominating in the ground game after he transitioned to a full-mount and unleashed a flurry of strikes leading to the stoppage.
“Four years ko wala naka dula bantog dako kaayo akong kalipay nga nakadula ko ug balik. Dili man gyud ko makadula ug UFC kay wala man koy kwarta bantog pasalamat kaayo ko sa Smoker Fights nga natagaan ko ug higayon para makaaway ug usab (I have not played for four years that is why I am very happy to have played again. I may not be able to fight in the UFC because I have no money that’s why I am grateful to Smoker Fights for giving me chance to fight again),” Lumacad told Sun.Star Davao in an interview.
In the undercards, Alfie Cocamas of Team Spartans IFlex pulled off a submission victory via rear naked choke over Jhonny Amigo of Arkaibo Flash Val Fighting early in the first round, while Jake Masatnga also of Team Spartan IFlex stopped Romshane Sarguilla of Empire Boxing Gym Davao late in the waning seconds of the first round.
MMA’s John Paul Herbolingo also emerged with a technical knockout win opposite Joseph Dela Cruz who sustained an injury.
Michael Sarguilla of Empire Boxing Gym Davao won via unanimous decision against Ernie Escobia of Arkaibo Flash Val Fighting System while Marlon Salvacion of Kidapawan Combatants and Rogelio Enumerables of CMMA also earned decision victories over their respective foes.
The bout between Raynald Tumampos of Kazato Hen Jutsu Koronadal and Junior Diapolet of Team Spartan IFlex, however, was held to a draw.
Smoker Fight promotions, led by Dr. Vince Vicente, is among the top amateur MMA promotions in Mindanao that serve as venue for amateur fighters to showcase their skills and talents.