By Kevin Estrada
Team Lakay’s Danny Kingad suffered a unanimous decision loss to Kairat Akhmetov in the main event of ONE: Winter Warriors II Friday evening at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
The much-anticipated flyweight bout saw the fourth-ranked Kazakh take on the second-ranked King in a clash of styles, two years since their World Grand Prix semifinal got scrapped after the former broke his arm.
From the opening bell, Akhmetov never gave Kingad a chance to strike from a standing position as he put the fight into the ground with his well-timed takedowns that became a recurring theme in the contest.
Although the native of Mountain Province landed his strikes, he could not find an answer to the Kazakh’s wrestling as the latter won his fourth straight bout.
After getting the nod of all three judges, the former ONE World Champion has a single wish to make.
“I’d be happy to meet Demetrious Johnson, and the day has come to meet him in the ring,” he said to Mitch Chilson.
“I think, for now, I’ll be contender number 1 for the title.”
Conversely, the defeat by the former World Grand Prix finalist meant that the Benguet gym ended the night with an even 2-2 record.
However, that did not deter the now 14-3 Kingad, who learned a lot from Akhmetov.
“Pinanganak siyang wrestler. Dun ako na-surprise sa kanya,” he said.
“I’m very happy, kasi na-meet ko siya and naramdaman ko kung gaano siya kalakas sa wrestling.”
Follow the writer on Twitter: @kevinlestrada
