DELOS REYES WINS FIRST UFC FIGHT IN WILD AFFAIR

By Jay Leon Guerrero

MANILA – In the second night of this historic night at Mall of Asia Arena, Jon ‘The Heat’ Delos Reyes captured his first UFC win with a brutal and entertaining guillotine choke overFilipino fighter Rolden Sangcha-an.

The bloody war earned ‘Fight of the Night’ honors and both fighters received $50,000 bonuses.

Jon Delos Reyes raises his hands in victory Saturday night in UFC Fight Night 66. (photo by getty images)

The pair of flyweights both looked to go for the early finish in a slugfest. Sangcha-an looked to use his Muay Thai skills and went headhunting early for JDR’s head but his kick was partially blocked. JDR began to let loose and went for a high kick of his own that was countered with a punch by Sangcha-an that got the Filipinos cheering in anticipation for an early KO.

The punch got the attention of JDR and he had his back against the cage as Sangcha-an looked to land knees in clinch. The fight eventually went to the ground with Sangcha-an trying to control the ground in JDR’s guard. JDR demonstrated good technique and quickly reversed the guard taking Sangcha-an’s back with three minutes remaining in the opening round.

The fight eventually went to stand up after Sangcha-an escaped without any damage. They scrambled again on the ground and the round ended with both throwing combos as Delos Reyes landed a kick as the bell rang to end round one.

JDR looked to push the pace in the second round and took the center of the octagon, throwing a right that had Sangcha-an back pedaling. Delos Reyes follows with a flying knee as Sangcha-an’s back is against the cage. Bombs were thrown between both fighters as the crowd stood and cheered.

Delos Reyes got caught with a blow from Sangcha-an that opened up a big cut over his left eye. Despite the lack of vision and momentum not on his side, JDR dug deep and continued to push the pace.

His efforts were greatly rewarded after he dropped Sangcha-an with a right that sent his mouthpiece flying. Sangcha-an was in deep trouble after JDR followed up with four clean shots to the face as the referee looked to stop the fight. Sangcha-an held on and throw up-kicks that slowed JDR from getting clean shots and the finish.

The referee halted the action to check the cut above JDR’s eye. After 45 seconds of stoppage time, the doctor declared that the fight could continue. The two fighters resumed action with Sangcha-an in the guard. “The Heat” worked his ground game against the Muay Thai specialist and found an opening, committing to the rear naked choke.

The Guam fans cheered as JDR continued to go for the rear naked that he had deep, but Sangcha-an did not tap. Sangcha-an got out of the choke, but JDR quickly switched arms and cranked another tight rear-naked that forced his opponent to tap 3:13 into round 2.

After the fight, JDR celebrated with his cornermen Sonny Chargualaf, Jason Joson and Lloyd Cubacub.

He said that he was glad to get a win after two tough opponents in Dustin Kimura and Kyoji Horiguchi to start his UFC career.

“I feel great. It was a slow start. I knew it was a tough fight, and I wanted to show the fans two Filipinos fighting against each other in the UFC, I think it was a good fight for our first UFC fight in Manila. I was born on Guam, but I’m full Filipino. Fighting in the Philippines was going to be a lot of pressure—I love Filipinos. I get humbled here,” said Delos Reyes.

JDR survived a bad cut over his right eye to take out his Filipino foe and win his first UFC fight. (photo by getty images)