SATURDAY NEWS DIGEST 8/5: One Championship headlines with 12th straight win for Fernandes, Joanna vs. Rose rumored, Bob Sapp drops

By Cole Henry, MMATorch contributor

Joanna Jedrzejczyk (photo credit Adam Hunger © USA Today Sports)

One Championship 58 notable results

One Championship returned last night with two title fights and plenty of quality action. The event was headlined by top bantamweight Bibiano Fernandes who defended his title against tough challenger Andrew Leone. Fernandes has been one of the top ranked 135ers outside of the UFC for a while now, and he showed everybody why when he took Leone out in just under two minutes with a rear naked choke after hurting him badly with a knee against the fence. It was the fifth successful defense for Fernandes and his twelfth straight win overall.

Also on the card Interim Flyweight Champion Adriano Moraes was successful in his attempt to unify the Flyweight Titles defeating Kairat Akhmetov with a decisive unanimous decision after picking him apart for most of the fight.

Former One Lightweight Champion Kotetsu Boku defeated Eric Kelly with a TKO due to punches in the third round, and Leandro Issa returned to One in impressive fashion with a knockout victory over Toni Tauru. Issa was 2-3 in his 5 fight UFC run, but overall has managed to have a pretty successful career in One Fighting. The win over Taura was his fourth in five fights with the promotion.

One Fighting has earned a reputation for putting on quality fights with quality fighters, and this card was no exception.

Joanna rumored to meet Rose at UFC 217

I’ll start off by saying that I think the UFC waited a while to book this fight just to avoid the nightmare that is spelling out these two last names. With that being said Rose Namajunas and Joanna Jedrzejczyk will hopefully finally meet, and I’ll start off by saying that I think it’s not only the best fight that can be booked in this division, but I think it actually is the best fight that has ever been booked in this division.

We have witnessed Thug Rose grow from a talented prospect into a legit top fighter who is a nightmare for anybody that she faces. Opposite her, though, will be the nightmare of all nightmares… the monster of all monsters, the undefeated muay thai buzzsaw that we have come to know as Joanna Champion. Two talented fighters, both with a passion for violence. It’s hard to know what to expect here, other than violence. As far as I can tell this fight is not totally official yet, but it seems to be the direction that things are heading, and that’s something that everybody should be excited about.

Grasso misses weight for Fight Night 114

Alexa Grasso came into the UFC hot with an eight-fight undefeated steak and multiple TKO stoppages. She has a successful UFC debut against Heather Jo Clark and things seemed to be going great for Grasso. That is until she ran into Felice Herrig; she couldn’t quite find a way to beat the vet. Still, though, losses are to be expected for young fighters. Last night, though, at the weigh-ins for UFC Fight Night 114, Grasso failed to make weight, creating yet another speed bump for herself. Coming into a fight overweight always seems to put a spotlight on a fighter. She will have her hands full tonight with Randa Markos, but as is the way in MMA, if she is able to pull off an impressive victory, all her past errors are likely to be forgotten.

Bob Sapp… Bob Sapps… again

Bob Sapp fought last night and, as should be expected, he lost quickly. The punch that dropped him may have landed but it was honestly hard to tell from the camera angle. Sapp hit the mat and pretty much just told the referee that he was done.

Henry’s Analysis: It was a poor and disgraceful showing even by Bob Sapp standards. I don’t mean to fighter bash, but it’s clear that Sapp long ago quit taking his career seriously and is instead content to be a laughing stock. Bob Sapp was once feared, and actually holds some legit wins in combat sports, but those days were long ago and the Bob Sapp that we have now is just a shell of what he once was.


NOW CHECK OUT YESTERDAY’S UPDATE: FRIDAY NEWS DIGEST 8/4: Conor McGregor upsets Malignaggi, Sonnen targeting Liddell, Bob Sapp, Dandios out, Tim Duncan

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