In a battle betwenn former ONE Bantamweight World Title challengers, Singapore-based Brazilian Leandro “Brodinho” Issa proved the better man on Friday, 24 November.
Issa, a BJJ world champion, used his world-class grappling to stifle South Korea’s “Ottogi” Dae Hwan Kim and earn a unanimous decision victory.
Referee Olivier Coste signaled the start to both men, and Issa immediately set the pace by putting Kim on his back foot. Issa’s forward pressure and kicks were merely a setup for the takedown, as the South Korean was too busy backpedaling and defending to block the shoot.
The Brazilian went for a kimura, but Kim sat up against the fence looking to wall walk. “Ottogi” scrambled and tried to sink in a guillotine, but the crafty Issa saw it coming and came out unscathed. Issa tried to get a head and arm choke, but Kim avoided it and pushed him to half guard before the bell ended round one.
The next two rounds were a familiar refrain, repeating in orchestral fashion as Issa would pressure early, score the takedown, fish for submissions, and force Dae to stay on defense.
When Issa could open up from mount, he would pour on elbows and fists. Similarly, whenever the South Korean gave up his back to avoid punishment, the BJJ world champion would fish for an armbar or a choke. In an effort to defend, Dae would turn to avoid the submissions, which allowed Issa to pour on more ground and pound.
Dae’s lone offensive flurry came with 30 seconds left in the final stanza, as he escaped an armbar to briefly deliver some ground and pound of his own. However, it was not enough, as all three judges unanimously scored the bout in Issa’s favor.
Although the BJJ World Champion was not able to score a finish on this night, his dominant performance against a wily opponent left little doubt about his standing in the promotion’s bantamweight division. He advances his record to 15-6, and gets another step closer to Bibiano Fernandes’ world bantamweight crown.
Dae, who made his return to the organization after a two-year hiatus, falls to 12-2-1, as Issa becomes only the second person, other than Fernandes, to achieve a victory over him.
