Suzuki tops Larson to win inaugural ONE FC 170-pound belt

Nissi Icasiano

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Nobutatsu Suzuki needed five rounds to dispose of Brock Larson en route to claiming the inaugural ONE Fighting Championship (ONE FC) welterweight title in the main event of ONE FC: War of Nations

GROUND AND POUND. Nobutatsu Suzuki (top) puts work in on a grounded Brock Larson on his way towards winning the first ONE FC 170-pound championship. Photo courtesy ONE FC

Nobutatsu Suzuki needed five rounds to dispose of Brock Larson en route to claiming the inaugural ONE Fighting Championship (ONE FC) welterweight title in the main event of ONE FC: War of Nations on Friday, March 14 at the Stadium Negara in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Larson was no match for Suzuki in the stand-up department, where the 5-foot-8 Japanese mauler utilized his effective stepping knees and kicks to the body that forced his American opponent to retreat to the butt-scoot position.

Moreover, Suzuki showcased his underrated takedown defense against a world-class wrestler in Larson as he met the advances of the 36-year-old Minnesota native with an efficient sprawl and clean counter punches. 

The Kyokushin Karate practitioner continued landing blows to his foe’s midsection in the championship rounds, prompting Larson to tempt Suzuki to compete with him on the ground.

However, Suzuki forced Larson to go back into his feet and prolonged the agony by dishing out significant strikes to the body.

All three judges awarded Suzuki the unanimous verdict, crowning him as the first ONE FC welterweight champion.

“I didn’t expect I could win, but everyone here cheered me on,” Suzuki stated through his translator.

Suzuki has now won back-to-back bouts inside the ONE FC cage and improves his professional record to 11-1-2.

(RELATED: Kevin Belingon yields to Dae Hwan Kim at ONE FC: War of Nations)

With the remarkable triumph over Larson, Suzuki is set to defend the 170-pound trinket versus ONE FC newcomer and former Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren at ONE FC: Honor & Glory in Singapore on May 30.

Meanwhile, Larson snaps his four-fight winning streak due to the disappointing setback and drops his win-loss card to 37-8.

In other matches, former ONE FC lightweight champion Kotetsu Boku took out Arnaud Lepont by technical knockout in the first frame.

Malaysian superstar Peter Davis finished Pakistan’s Waqar Umar in the second round, while Andrew Leone outpointed Shinichi Kojima.

Adriano Moraes became the first man in nearly six years to submit Yasuhiro Urushitani as he stopped the seasoned fighter with a second-round rear-naked choke.

On the other hand, Kamal Shalorus outwrestled Costa Rican lightweight Ariel Sexton to claim a unanimous nod from the cageside officials. – Rappler.com

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