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After months of anticipation, Workforce Lakay’s Stephen “The Sniper” Loman lastly made his ONE Championship debut – and he lived as much as all of the hype.
This previous Friday, 17 December, the Filipino bantamweight sensation knocked out the division’s #3-ranked contender, Yusup “Maestro” Saadulaev, within the first spherical of their combined martial arts conflict at ONE: WINTER WARRIORS II in Singapore.
“I began out on word, and I used to be capable of present the fruits of my coaching,” Loman says. “I feel it is a good signal of issues to come back, and I’ll proceed to do my finest to reside as much as the expectations of the followers.”
For weeks, Loman had stated that he was trying to hit the Dagestani submission ace with a clear shot, and he actually backed up these phrases.
The 26-year-old Baguio Metropolis native always took purpose at Saadulaev all through the competition, even tagging “Maestro” with a picture-perfect overhand left that had him stumbling throughout the Circle.
However as soon as that occurred, Loman didn’t exhaust all of his power seeking the end.
The Workforce Lakay star knew the Dagestani was nonetheless harmful, so he maintained his composure and caught to his sport plan. In spite of everything, he knew it might be a matter of time earlier than one other alternative offered itself.
“I acquired him with a clear straight early on, however I felt like he was nonetheless robust and he might nonetheless get well,” Loman says.
“If I rushed, I might have gotten caught with a counter. That’s why I waited for the chance to get that clear shot. I patiently waited for him to let his guard down.”
Moments later, that endurance paid off.
When Saadulaev stepped ahead with a jab-cross, “The Sniper” noticed a window of alternative, stepped in, and cracked his bearded rival with a crunching overhand left that immediately dropped him to the canvas.
After a couple of follow-up punches to his grounded foe, referee Olivier Coste stopped the competition and awarded the Filipino debutant with the TKO victory on the 4:09 mark of the opening stanza.
“That counter is one thing that I’ve practiced contained in the fitness center numerous occasions earlier than,” Loman continues.
“Within the struggle, the intuition kicked in. I knew he was getting snug with that jab-straight combo, so I timed it properly and I acquired it in.”
By defeating Saadulaev, “The Sniper” pushed his report to 15-2 and prolonged his profitable streak to 9 victories. Following that success, he’s a lock to enter the top-five bantamweight rankings.
Now, Loman is trying to construct off his momentum and concentrate on his subsequent problem – however from the sounds of it, he doesn’t suppose it’ll be for the ONE Bantamweight World Title.
At the moment, reigning bantamweight king Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes is scheduled to defend his gold towards #1-ranked John “Palms of Stone” Lineker in 2022.
The Filipino accepts that the 2 Brazilians need to battle first, so he’s keen to remain busy and struggle one other extremely regarded athlete within the meantime.
“I’m actually not choosy, however I would like somebody who’s increased than me within the rankings,” Loman says. “Possibly I’m one struggle away from it. I do know that I’ll have to attend no less than after the bout between Lineker and Bibiano.”
There may very well be quite a lot of motion within the bantamweight rankings quickly, particularly after #4-ranked Fabricio “Marvel Boy” Andrade’s spectacular first-round knockout and “Fairly Boy” Kwon Gained Il’s stunning upset of Loman’s Workforce Lakay stablemate, #2-ranked Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon.
Regardless, Loman guarantees that he’ll be prepared for whoever the matchmakers put him towards subsequent.
“Any longer,” he says, “I count on extra challenges.”
Learn extra: Full Card Revealed For ONE: HEAVY HITTERS On 14 January
