Roshan Mainam Forces Liu Peng Shuai To Submit In Singapore

If Roshan Mainam could predict the lottery like he predicts finishes, he’d be a very wealthy man.

In pre-bout interviews, the Indian promised to finish ONE Hefei Flyweight Tournament Champion Liu Peng Shuai no later than round two, and on Friday, 9 October, at ONE: REIGN OF DYNASTIES, he did just as he said.

The 24-year-old submitted the Chinese star via rear-naked choke in the second round of their flyweight mixed martial arts matchup, which opened the show at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

In the first stanza, it was Liu who opened the affair with aggressive kicks, forcing Mainam to respond with his boxing. But after a minute and a half into the bout, the Indian scored his first takedown and began to rain down punches from within Liu’s guard.

The ONE Hefei Flyweight Tournament Champion got back on his feet, but Mainam quickly began to take control of the striking game. On the outside, he landed a straight right that sent his adversary back, and then he followed up with a head kick that directed Liu’s defending arm into his own head.

Soon thereafter, Mainam pinned Liu with another takedown, and this time, he landed in half guard. Liu, sensing a bit more urgency, freed himself and sprung to his feet, where he began to find his mark with punches. But after the brief exchange, the Evolve representative scored another takedown and rode out the remainder of the period by pelting his downed foe with punches.

Mainam opened the second frame in a highly aggressive manner, throwing one powerful right hand after another to push Liu back. The Chinese athlete regained his footing and started moving forward again, but the Indian caught one of his kicks and drove his foe to the canvas.

Working from within Liu’s guard, Mainam smoothly passed to take side control, and then he advanced to the full-mount position moments later. From the top, he landed heavy punches and elbows, and Liu had no choice but to try and wiggle his way out of the dangerous position.

By doing so, though, Liu gave his back to Mainam and put himself in an even more dangerous position. The Indian capitalized by sinking in a rear-naked choke and forcing the tap at the 2:27 mark of round two.

That was Mainam’s second consecutive submission victory in ONE Championship, and it proved that he is a force in the flyweight division.

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