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Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang kicked off the 2021 ONE Championship schedule in surprising fashion with an emotional victory over Namiki Kawahara in ONE: UNBREAKABLE.
The Filipino star, who suffered his first promotional loss and lost his mother in late 2020, knocked out his rookie rival with a left hook in the second round of his strawweight mixed martial arts tilt at Singapore’s indoor stadium. Friday, January 22. .
The strike specialists clash started as expected, with the first five minutes played exclusively on the feet. Adiwang landed a low, muffled kick early, a sign of things to come, as Kawahara bounced and feinted from his wide stance.
Then “Thunder Kid” hit his opponent’s legs and body with powerful spinning kicks on the outside and pushed his way into range with strong left and right hooks over the head.
Kawahara kept his composure and looked to counterattack when his opponent missed with looping shots. However, team standout Lakay continued to land with heavy artillery, notably left hooks to the body and head along with his right kick.
The Japanese athlete returned the pain with his own right hands, but they were not enough to take the first round.
Kawahara bounced off the blocks in the second round, again starting on his moving feints. “Thunder Kid” also stuck to his game plan and broke the Team Alpha Male athlete’s lead leg with his right low kick, even spinning it on impact.
Adiwang then worked his hands and marked Kawahara with a strong right hand. The Osaka native took it well, but a left hook to the body soon followed, and the Filipino’s confidence grew.
The end came soon after, when the Japanese mixed martial arts champion made the grave mistake of entering the rank of Adiwang with his hands down. “Thunder Kid” timed a perfect left hook to his foe’s chin and dropped Kawahara to secure an incredible KO at 2:02.
The stoppage victory put Adiwang back on the winning track and brought his record to 12-3.
“This was the toughest fighting arena I’ve ever faced, but God be the glory, I got the win,” the excited Filipino told Mitch Chilson in his post-fight interview.
“For my family, we have been through a lot, I love you very much. This is for you, this is for you mom.”
