Vera scores 1st round TKO in return to MMA; Folayang wins easily

One Championships

MANILA, Philippines — Brandon Vera knocked out Italian challenger Mauro Cerilli with a jarring counter left hook in the first round to successfully defend his heavyweight title even as Eduard Folayang dominated an inexperienced Amir Khan of Singapore in their lightweight duel to join a stable of Filipino champions in the ONE Championships.

Vera, 41, didn’t show the rust of a two-year layoff as he floored a game Cerilli, who charged into the former by landing a right hand only to get hit by that devastating hook that knocked the lights out of the latter and capped a night of high-wire action in ONE’s Conquest of Champions at the MOA Arena in Pasay Friday night.

Nobody saw it coming as Cerilli, the current heavyweight champion of Europe-based Cage Warriors, was coming into the fight with a five-match winning streak and a solid 12-5 (win-loss) record.

Vera improved to 16-7.

“I was surprised,” said an ecstatic Vera, who went on film-making during his hiatus. “I’m glad I dropped my left hook in and dropped him.”

After displaying his punching power, Vera showcased his much-improved Tagalog after the fight.

“Galing Manila, mga kababayan miss na miss na kita (Manila is great, I miss you so much my countrymen). Ang tagal ng dalawang taon, pasensya na ha, mukhang kaya pa (Two years was too long, sorry but it looks like I can still do it),” said Vera.

“Kababayan, kailangan intindihin nyo ito (Countrymen, you need to understand this). In the world of martial arts, the Philippines owns five world titles. Kaya natin dito sa bansa natin, kaya natin kolektahin lahat ng belts (We can do it in our country, we can collect all belts),” he added.

Vera was referring to the five championship belts in nine weight categories in ONE including the lightweight title reclaimed by Folayang in the co-match of the fight card that ended a little before midnight.

Kevin Belingon (bantam), Geje Eustaquio (fly) and Joshua Pacio (straw), who are all from Team Lakay just like Folayang, were the other Filipino ONE titleholders.

After sizing up Khan, who came into the match showing a lot of promise, in the opening round, Folayang went on attack mode starting in the second when he punished the 24-year-old Singaporean with everything he got, from spinning elbows and punches to roundhouse kicks and mixing it with a much-improved ground game.

Folayang improved to 21-6 and recovered the crown he lost following a heartbreaking defeat to Martin Nguyen a year ago.

Another Team Lakay bet, Honorio Banario, made it a triple celebration after he won by unanimous decision over India’s Rahul Raju, a last-minute replacement to Korean Dae Song Park who was scratched off the card due to lack of medical clearance.