Pinoy MMA fighter Roy Doliguez loses ONE FC title bid

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino fighter Roy Doliguez failed to bring home the inaugural ONE Championship strawweight title, losing to Thai kickboxer Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke in the “Warrior’s Quest” co-headliner on Friday, May 22 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore.

Doliguez, a former professional boxer who was coming into the five-round MMA championship clash with a four-fight winning streak, yielded to Sor Amnuaysirichoke via technical unanimous decision when referee Joey Lepiten waved it off after the second eye poke in the dying minutes of the fifth frame.

The 115-pound title tilt was plagued by accidental fouls and unintentional low blows when Doliguez kept on lunging in for takedowns.

The 33-year-old native of Malungon, Sarangani wisely avoided an on-feet trade with the three-time Lumpinee Muay Thai world champion in the first two rounds as he worked on his takedowns, converting four of his six attempts.

However, Sor Amnuaysirichoke handled his opponent’s ground game pretty well as he managed to place himself on top several times and opened a bloody gash over Doliguez’s left eye.

Doliguez stood toe-to-toe with Sor Amnuaysirichoke in the third stanza, where he ate a flying knee from his Thai foe and received lashing kicks to the midsection.

Sor Amnuaysirichoke continued his wrath by dropping Doliguez to the mat with solid knees to the body before he swarmed the Pinoy combatant with forearms and left hands on the ground.

When Doliguez tried to engage in a stand-up exchange and closed the distance in round four, he was caught by an inadvertent poke to the eye that prompted him to rest for five minutes.

As the fight resumed, Sor Amnuaysirichoke immediately went for a belly-to belly takedown, but the referee quickly brought both men back to their feet due to inactivity.

Sor Amnuaysirichoke committed another accidental foul with a low blow, but Doliguez shrugged it off and converted a head kick into a takedown.

 Doliguez accepted a knee to the left side of his head and got hit by a right kick to the body as a reply from Sor Amnuaysirichoke.

In the fifth and final round, Sor Amnuaysirichoke fully stepped on the gas pedal, punishing Doliguez with a stiff right hand and crushing body kicks.

Sor Amnuaysirichoke unbolted a floodgate of blood from Doliguez’s mouth when he delivered a flying knee and a vicious overhand right.

Doliguez stayed in front of Sor Amnuaysirichoke, who connected with another eye poke, causing the referee to call a halt to the contest as the Filipino was deemed unable to continue the fight.

When the scorecards were read, the cageside judges awarded the maiden ONE strawweight belt to Sor Amnuaysirichoke, who remains undefeated in MMA with a record of 5-0.

On the other hand, Doliguez downgrades his standing to 6-2 and loses his promotional debut under the ONE banner. – Rappler.com