ONE flyweight champion Adriano Moraes (19-3) became the first man to ever score a stoppage win over former UFC champ Demetrious Johnson (30-4-1), halting him with strikes in the second round of their featured bout at ONE on TNT I.
The contest served as the headlining MMA contest of Wednesday’s event, which took place at Singapore Indoor Stadium and aired live on TNT in the U.S.
The taller Moraes stayed on the outside early, constantly shifting laterally and forcing Johnson to try and press the action from range. Moraes eventually caught a kick from his opponent and then dropped to the canvas and tried to threaten the leg. While Moraes couldn’t finish the submission, the ensuing scramble saw him move to top position, where he finished the round.
Moraes stayed mobile in the second, with Johnson seamlessly switching stances and looking to press. The aggression was impressive, but it would backfire, with Moraes sneaking in a crisp two-punch combination against an advancing opponent that sent him crashing to the floor. Moraes took advantage of a stunned opponent, scoring a legal knee to a downed foe and earning the stoppage win at the 2:24 mark of the second frame.
Adriano Moraes 🇧🇷 SHOCKS THE WORLD, becoming the first man to finish Demetrious Johnson! @adrianomkmoraes #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship #ONEonTNT pic.twitter.com/HhvlmwDwW6
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) April 8, 2021
ONE Championship’s run on primetime in the U.S. got off to a rather frustrating start, with Eddie Alvarez (10-8) disqualified in the first round of his lightweight contest with Iuri Lapicus (15-1).
After a brief feeling-out process to start the fight, Alvarez shot inside for a takedown and was able to drag the action to the canvas in the opening minute. Seated near the cage and with his opponent in a dominant position, Lapicus turned his face toward the fence, leaving only the back of his head exposed. Alvarez threw a few right hands that landed to the base of the skull – and Lapicus screamed out before falling back to the canvas.
Referee Justin Brown immediately intervened as Alvarez turned to hammerfists. Following a brief moment of confusion, Brown presented Alvarez with a red card.
Should Eddie Alvarez have been DQ’d for this? 🧐 @Ealvarezfight @tntdrama #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship #ONEonTNT pic.twitter.com/pdNYqaOfeJ
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) April 8, 2021
After the call was made, a clearly emotional Alvarez said he thought the blows were legal but apologized for the transgression and expressed concern for his opponent’s well-being as he was carted off in a stretcher.
“You guys put me in a cage,” Alvarez said. “The referee, he’s in there. Whatever call he makes, that’s it. I apologize. I hope Iuri is OK.”
A former UFC and Bellator champion, Alvarez has now earned just one win in three ONE Championship appearances.
The night’s opening matchup saw heavyweight prospect Oumar Kane (3-0), better known as “Reug Reug,” keep his perfect career record unblemished with a first-round drubbing of kickboxer Patrick Schmid (0-1).
Kane was patient to open the contest but eventually swarmed with punches, working his way inside before taking the action to the floor. Schmid struggled to get back to his feet as Kane ted off with punches, and the fight was waved off at the 1:48 mark of the opening round.