Art of War 13 - "Rising Force" Fighting Championship - Recap

Yao Qiang (China) vs. Zhang Li Peng (China)

Both fighters start off with strikes in the center of the ring.  Yao Qiang striking style is a muay thai style while Zhang Li Peng’s striking style is Sanda.  It’s clear that Zhang Li Peng wants to take the fight to the ground where he believes his skills are more dominant.  Zhang Li Peng gets the clinch and takes Yao Qiang down to the canvas but is quickly reversed.  Yao Qiang gets side control and is on top.  Yao Qiang goes for the full mount but is instantly reversed by Zhang Li Peng.  Zhang Li Peng passes the guard and gets side control position and is waiting to mount.  Zhang Li Peng gets mount position and starts to rain down strikes.  Zhang Li Peng goes for the armbar but Yao Qiang reverses the position and gets on top.  Yao Qiang slips out of the armbar but is instantly caught in a triangle.  Zhang Li Peng defeats Yao Qiang via triangle choke at 1’58” of round 1.

Arthit “Ating” Hanchana (Thailand) vs. Liu Guo Quan (China)

Both fighters start by exchanging some strikes.  Liu Guo Quan goes for the clinch and brings Ating to the canvas.  Ating instantly goes for the kimura shoulder lock from the guard and locks Liu Guo Quan very tight.  Liu Guo Quan tries to escape but the kimura is very tight.  Liu Guo Quan manages to stand up but Ating maintains the kimura hold.  Ating is cranking the kimura hold and it looks very painful but Liu Guo Quan does not tap.  Both fighters go back to the canvas and Ating is still cranking the Kimura.  Ating executes a perfect hip bump sweep and is now in mount position on Liu Guo Quan.  Ating starts to give solid strikes and elbows forcing Liu Guo Quan to defend.  Ating secures the arm and performs a straight armbar.  Ating defeats Liu Guo Quan via straight armbar at 3’20”of round 1.

Yoann Gouaida (France) vs. Xu Chao (China)

Round starts off with Xu Chao landing some solid punches.  Gouaida returns the strikes with some solid knees from the clinch position.  Xu Chao gets the takedown and starts a vicious ground and pound from inside Gouaida’s guard.  Gouaida is able to defend well and transitions into an armbar.  Joann Gouaida defeats Xu Chao via straight armbar at 1’25” of round 1. 

Munkhayasgalan Dorjderem (Mongolia) vs. Luo Qiang (China)

Round starts off with Luo Qiang backing Dorjderem up with strikes.  Dorjderem drops underneath and goes for the takedown.  Dorjderem immediately passes the guard and transitions to the mount position where he starts to drop massive hammer fists to Luo Qiang’s face.  Munkhayasgalan Dorjderem defeats Luo Qiang via strikes from the mount at 26” of round 1.

Kim Dong Hyung (Korea) vs. Lubomir Guedjev (Bulgaria)

Both fighters immediately get to the clinch, with Guedjev gaining a single leg takedown position.  Kim Dong Hyung controls the head and jumps guard to get the guillotine choke.  Guedjev manages to free his head and is now on top inside Kim Dong Hyung’s guard.  Guedjev manages to pass the guard but Kim Dong Hyung is able to get back to his feet.  Guedjev gets the takedown again but is able to transition to Kim Dong Hyung’s back.  Guedjev is not able to secure a choke or submission and Kim Dong Hyung manages to reverse the situation and gets the top position inside Guedjev’s guard.  Guedjev attempts an armbar and triangle attack sequence but is unsuccessful.  Kim Dong Hyung lands a big elbow which opens a massive cut underneath Guedjev’s eye.  Referee John McCarthey stops the fight and declares Kim Dong Hyung the winner via doctor’s stoppage at 4’38” of round 1. 

Kang Kyung Ho (Korea) vs. Ning Guang You (China)

Both fighters exchange strikes in the middle of the ring.  Kang Kyung Ho lands some good leg kicks.  Ning Guang You lands an overhand right.  Ning Guang You charges in and clinches with Kang Kyung Ho against the ropes.  Ning Guang You lands some solid  knees against the ropes.  Ning Guang You pulls his opponent off the ropes and executes a foot sweep takedown to bring Kang Kyung Ho to the canvas.  Kang Kyung Ho immediately gets half-guard.  Kang Kyung Ho defends the ground and pound of Ning Guang You.  Kang Kyung Ho reverses the position using a hook sweep and gets the top position on Ning Guang You in half-guard.  Kang Kyung Ho transitions to mount position and attacks with a barrage of elbows and strikes.  Ning Guang You is having a difficult time to escape from the mount position and is taking a lot of damage.  Ning Guang You explodes with an escape and gets the top position.  Kang Kyung Ho applies a triangle choke from the guard.  Kang Kyung Ho defeats Ning Guang You via triangle choke at 7’34” of round 1.

Yu Woo Sung (Korea) vs. Egon Racz (Slovakia)

Yu Woo Sung shoots in for the clinch and takedown early in the round.  Yu Woo Sung gets mount position and begins to unload punches and elbows to Racz.  Racz explodes to escape the position, only to have Yu Woo Sung transition to an armbar submission.  Yu Woo Sung defeats Egon Racz via armbar submission at 2’54”of round 1.

Shukhrat Minavarov (Uzbekistan) vs. Wu Hao Tian (China)

Wu Hao Tian lands a right cross early that backs up Minavarov.  On the next exchange, Minavarov lands a thundering right hand that drops Wu Hao Tian. A suprising upset victory for Shukhrat Minavarov.  Shukhrat Minavarov defeats Wu Hao Tian via knock out at 21”of round 1.

Marcin Pionke (Poland) vs. Dai Shuang Hai (China)

Dai Shuang Hai displays textbook Sanda skills throughout this match with Marcin Pionke.  Dai Shuang Hai is able to take down Pionke several times throughout round 1 where he delivers a good ground and pound to his opponent.  Pionke is able to display his grappling skills in a back and forth battle, and is able to return to his feet each time.  Dai Shuang Hai’s striking skills prove superior and he is able to close the eye of Pionke using big overhand rights.  In round two, Dai Shuang Hai again obtains the takedown and delivers a heavy ground and pound.  Despite dominating his opponent the entire fight, Dai Shuang Hai is not able to finish his opponent.  Hats off to Pionke for putting up such a strong fight.  Marcin Pionke draws with Dai Shuang Hai.

Narantungalag Jadamba (Mongolia) vs. Bernueng Sakhomsin (Thailand)

Both athletes exchange kicks starting off the round in a feeling out process.  Sakhomsin lands a solid right cross and Jadamba immediately follows up with a sharp left hook.  Jadamba executes a perfect spinning back kick that lands into the ribs of Sakhomsin.  Jadamba gets the clinch and takes Sakhomsin to the ground.  Jadamba is not able to capitalize on his position and Sakhomsin returns to this feet.  Jadamba again gets the clinch and is able to take down Sakhomsin.  Jadamba immediately transitions to mount position.  From the mount, Jadamba launches a barrage of strikes.  Jadamba spins into an armbar.  Narantungalag Jadamba defeats Bernueng Sakhomsin via straight armbar at 2’ 28”of round 1.

Claes Beverlov (Sweden) vs. Wang Sai (China)

Both athletes start in the middle of the ring.  Wang Sai attacks early with two solid thrusting side kicks.  Beverlov attacks with a double leg takedown but Wang Sai defends.  Both fighters return to their feet in the center of the ring.  

Beverlov attacks with a clinch and lands a big right elbow that staggers Wang Sai to his knees.  Wang Sai goes for the takedown but is reversed.Beverlov secures the mounted position and begins his attack with elbows and punches.

Wang Sai maintains his composure and is looking for a way to escape.  Wang Sai explodes into an escape by turning and exposing his back. Beverlov immediately moves to take Wang Sai's back.  Wang Sai defends well and gets on top.  Beverlov transitions into a reverse triangle lock from the bottom. Wang Sai is trapped and cannot attack effectively.  

Wang Sai starts to escape the reverse triangle and gets to side control.  The fighters are now against the ropes and referee John McCarthey returns them to the center of the ring.  Beverlov immediately replaces the guard position.  Wang Sai is now on top and begins to ground and pound Beverlov using a combination of elbows and punches.  

Beverlov traps Wang Sai's leg and spins for the heel hook.  Wang Sai's foot is trapped deep, but Wang Sai is able to spin out. Beverlov uses the opportunity to reverse the position and gets to his feet.  Wang Sai escapes from the bottom and returns to his feet.

Both fighters are visibly tired from the battle, but are determined to finish the fight.  Both fighters explode into another exchange in the center of the ring, but Wang Sai is able to clinch and sweep the foot of Beverlov.  Wang Sai is on top in Beverlov's guard, attacking with a barrage of elbows and punches.

Bell rings and signals the end of round 1.

Round 2 starts and Wang Sai attacks immediately with several low kicks and rib kicks which land effectively. Wang Sai is the aggressor and backs Beverlov against the ropes with strikes.  Beverlov does a great job of covering up and answers with a big uppercut that staggers Wang Sai.  

Beverlov goes for the double leg but Wang Sai defends well and answers with a knee to the head and puts Beverlov on his back.  Wang Sai attacks with punches from inside Beverlov's guard.

Beverlov spots the opportunity and spins into a straight armbar from his back.  Claes Beverlov defeats Wang Sai via straight armbar at 2’48” of round 2.

Great fight as both fighters displayed technique and heart. It was a true battle and could have went either way.