Balikatan MMA 16: La Salle alumnus overpowers Indian foe

BY SPORTS ILLUSTRATED PHILIPPINES (www.sportsillustrated.com.ph)

JJ Tabang of the Philippines made short work of Indian rival Abhinay Dadwal on Friday night (August 5), scoring a first-round submission win in their flyweight bout in the Balikatan MMA 16: Test of Courage at the Marikina Sports Center.

The 28-year-old MMA instructor at Hybrid Yaw-Yan in Cubao, saw the opening he tangled with the Dadwal and immediately went for an armbar, forcing the Indian visitor to tap out and referee Joey Lepiten to stop the main bout with just 27 seconds gone in the opening round.

“It was a quick decision. When I saw his arm come out, I decided to go for the submission,” said Tabang, who’s also an online business consultant for international clients.

(Read more: http://sportsillustrated.com.ph/FightSports/2016/08/06/La-Salle-alumnus-overpowers-Indian-foe-in-Balikatan-MMA-16)

Tabang was a BS Psychology graduate of De La Salle University.

In the co-main event, Richard Ayala of Hybrid Yaw-Yan had to endure the tough stand of younger, upcoming prospect Cyrill Malojao of Boss MMA before scoring a submission win via triangle with 46 seconds left in the round 2 of their featherweight tussle.

(Photos by Raul Landingin)

Michael Dulnuan of Herdoza Fitness Gym also scored a submission victory as he forced Jhong Hurtado of Yaw-Yan Kampilan to tap due to Rear Naked Choke at 1:04 of the third round of their bantamweight battle.

Jun Recillo made it up for Yaw-Yan Kampilan as he eked a Split Decision victory over Jay-R Bermoy Jr., of Boss MMA in their own bantamweight match.

Jomar Pal-iwen, a criminology student at Samson Colleges and carries the Omega Fitness banner, logged TKO win via ground-and-pound over Glen dela Torre (Elorde NAIA) in their featherweight showdown.

The event was backed up by Sante Barley Max, Swift Mighty Meaty, Athwal Car Center, Zija Super Mix, Gil Penaflorida and UGB MMA with media partners Powcast.net, Sports Illustrated and Fightnews Asia.