AN ALMOST knockout in the first round could have spelled doom for former flyweight contender Danny Kingad.
However, the 22–year–old overcame a spirited effort from promotional newcomer Yuya Wakamatsu, and defeated the Japanese debutant via unanimous decision at ONE: Conquest of Heroes in Jakarta, Indonesia to set the tone for Team Lakay’s conquest with Joshua Pacio later on winning the strawweight strap.
Wakamatsu, a Pancrase Flyweight Tournament champion looked for a quick finish, as he unleashed explosive boxing combinations against Kingad who almost went down early in the first round with a right hand.
Inspired by his new role as a father, Kingad was able to shake off the cobwebs, however, he proceeded to hunt for the takedown.
Kingad succeeded in bringing the contest to the ground, and as soon as his 23-year-old Japanese rival tried scrambling back to his feet, the Team Lakay fighter grabbed his back and rolled into a rear-naked choke attempt. Though it looked grim for a moment, Wakamatsu escaped to cap off a thrilling opening stanza.
In the second round, Kingad knew he had to find a way to nullify Wakamatsu’s dangerous hands, and he wisely resorted to utilizing Team Lakay’s brand of wushu kicks to slow down his opponent.
Kingad also showcased Team Lakay’s striking prowess with a spinning back kick sent his Japanese opponent flying halfway across the cage then followed it up with a successful takedown, but his foe was able to pop back up to his feet almost instantly.
Although the Japanese athlete’s knockout power remained a constant threat, the big story was Kingad’s strategic focus on a side kick to his opponent’s lead knee.
At one point, Wakamatsu’s legs appeared to have buckled beneath him, as the Baguio City bruiser connected with a powerful strike right on the money.
The third and final round was all Kingad, who took control of the flyweight match-up by consistently attacking the lead leg and hitting a plethora of successful takedown attempts.
While Wakamatsu hid the discomfort in his left knee from plain sight, he slowed down considerably and lacked the pop that made him stand out in the earlier frames.
Kingad began to tee off, and towards the end of the stanza he scored on another takedown, took Wakamatsu’s back, and tried threatening with another submission.
However, Wakamatsu was never in any real danger. In fact, he would escape to his feet, and he finished the bout standing over Kingad and raining down punches.
Despite his best efforts, it was too little, too late as Kingad had done enough to earn a unanimous decision.
With the win, Kingad improved to 11 – 1. (Roderick Osis)