Undefeated five-time Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) champion Victor Torre of Bacolod proved that size doesn’t always matter.
In a display of excellent martial arts skills, the veteran Torre managed to take down heavily favored striker Romelo “Mad Dog” Esfra in their lightweight championship bout in the main event of the San Mig Strong Ice-Fight Ground III Championships Friday night at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.
Torre dethroned Esfra via a rear naked choke submission in the second round.
Torre showed his dominance early as he almost forced Esfra to a leg-lock submission.
Arcom Jukai fight club’s Esfra managed to escape and retaliated with power punches and kicks to Torre, who back-pedaled for the rest of the first round.
Torre’s right eye bled after he got hit by Esfra’s flurry of punches at the start of the second round.
Momentum shifted after Torre slammed Esfra to the canvas and caught him in a full mount.
Esfra, who was in the verge of being pounded by Torre, desperately tried to get away by turning back. But this proved to be a deadly move as it instead gave Torre a chance to execute the rear-naked choke.
Esfra broke into tears after losing his belt to the veteran grappler from Bacolod, who was 10 lbs lighter than Esfra before their fight.
In the main supporting event, Al De Zosa of Bullet Muay Thai Mandaue won via a mediocre and unlikely leg-lock submission against Adamson Torbiso of Team Insider Manila at the 2:40 mark of the second round.
Torbiso, who seemed in control of the match, did not expect Zosa to execute the submission lock, which badly injured his right foot.
Meanwhile, Johnjier “The Dangerous” Torbiso of Durex Dragons Lapu-Lapu City overwhelmed Tiger Fight Club’s Danny Diaz Jr. via a first-round technical knockout.
MMA debutant Gino “The Projectile” Po easily won over Ranny Calunsag in the undercard via a rear-naked choke submission. Pablo Santillan of Durex Dragons also beat Othello Largo via unanimous decision.
Leo Rodrigo of Bullet Muay Thai routed Malawi Fighting System’s Xander Ymbong via majority decision. Ramboo Galleto of Malawi Fighting System also won over Miguel Ombo of Arcom Jukai fight club via a first-round, rear-naked choke submission. Marvin Lauron defeated Bronze Diaz via an arm triangle.