Cebuano Toquero scores big win in One Championships

Cebuano Eugene Toquero tries to finish off Indonesia’s Brianata Rosadhi with a rear naked choke in their One Championships fight last Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena. Toquero won the fight via technical knockout in the first round. (INQUIRER)

Cebuano Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Eugene “El Torrero” Toquero scored a resounding technical knockout win in his second appearance in the One Championships last Friday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Toquero, a native of Alcantara town, midwest Cebu, stopped Indonesia’s Brianata Rosadhi at the 1:43 mark of the very first round.

Toquero, a former Philippine Muay Thai team standout, was in control of the fight and tagged Rosadhi with solid shots to the head and body.

A flurry of punches unleashed by Toquero that prompted the referee to stop the fight, sealing the Cebuano’s seventh win in his pro MMA career.

Toquero’s first win in One Championships was against Malaysia’s Gianni Subba whom he defeated via TKO last year.

Apart from Toquero, also featured in the event dubbed as One Championships 26: Valor of Champions, was Jimmy Yabo.

Yabo, however, went home empty handed after he lost to Team Lakay’s Edward Kelly via a first round rear naked choke.

It was Yabo’s first defeat in five fights, while Kelly improved to 7-2 (win-loss) card.

Top Filipino fighter Mark Striegl, on the other hand, debuted in One Championships with a bang after he defeated American Casey Suire via submission in the first round of the co-main event bout.

In the main event, One Championships reigning welterweight champion Ben Askren’s title defense was declared a no contest after he accidentally poked the eye of his Brazilian opponent Luis Santos in the early part of the first round.