Filipino flyweight contender Danny Kingad saw his hopes for a world title resurgence derailed Friday, suffering a devastating first-round technical knockout loss to Hu Yong.
The defeat, halted by a barrage of ground-and-pound with just 10 seconds remaining in the opening frame, marks a significant setback for the Baguio-based veteran as he attempted to fight his way back into championship contention.
Kingad opened the contest aggressively on his feet, trading heavy leather with his Chinese opponent. However, the momentum shifted once the action hit the canvas. Hu, a representative of Sunkin International Fight Club, effectively trapped Kingad in the corner of the ring, neutralizing the Filipino’s world-class wrestling.
The 30-year-old “Wolf Warrior” unleashed a series of knees to Kingad’s head that forced the former title challenger to shell up defensively, in the undercard of Saturday morning’s ONE Fight Night 40: Buntan vs. Hemetsberger II at Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium.
Hu then transitioned into heavy hammer fists that eventually pierced Kingad’s guard, leaving the referee no choice but to wave off the contest at the 4:50 mark of Round 1.
The loss is a bitter pill for Kingad, who was looking to build momentum and reclaim his spot at the top of the flyweight rankings.
Instead, it is Hu who inches closer to a crack at the ONE Flyweight MMA World Championship. Roderick Osis