Nou Srey Pov Upsets Hometown Hero Rika Ishige In Bangkok

Nou Srey Pov made a huge statement in her ONE Championship debut on Saturday, 16 February.

The 24-year-old Cambodian striker dominated hometown hero Rika “Tiny Doll” Ishige in their women’s atomweight mixed martial arts bout at ONE: CLASH OF LEGENDS in Bangkok, Thailand, and she left the Impact Arena with a clear-cut unanimous decision victory.

Nou, a Kun Khmer World Champion, made her striking credentials clear in the opening stanza, as she repeatedly landed her piston-like right hand on “Tiny Doll.” The Thai hit the canvas twice and, while her balance was partially to blame, she kept walking into hard punches. 

The Cambodian Top Team representative’s confidence grew the more she landed, and her output increased alongside it. The hook-cross was her best weapon, as she easily shrugged off Ishige’s clinch attempts.

In the second round, the Bangkok native continued to struggle in her attempts to close the distance.

Nou’s boxing made her pay when she entered range, and Ishige could not find a way in. She initiated a double-leg takedown in the final moments of the period, but was countered and found herself on the canvas.

The pressure was on “Tiny Doll” in the third round, as the bout was slipping away from the Thai in front of her compatriots.

She looked for a way to take the contest to the ground, however, her attempts to clinch behind an overhand right were foiled every time.

Nou’s output had slowed slightly, but she remained in control. She continued to frustrate the hometown hero with punches and low kicks.

When the final bell sounded, it was clear the promotional newcomer did more than enough to have her hand raised in her first appearance on the global stage for martial arts.

Nou’s experience in over 100 Kun Khmer bouts helped her en route to her first mixed martial arts victory.

She may be just 1-0, but the Cambodian Top Team representative instantly showed her ability to compete against high-level opponents in The Home Of Martial Arts.