‘Lindol’ Brooks dismantles Abucayan Cebu-based British fighter is first GPC heavyweight champion

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu-based British fighter Cris "Lindol" Brooks of Yaw-Yan ArDigma Cebu had little trouble in pounding his way to a brutal second round stoppage of Davaoeño Lloyd Abucayan of Mindanao's Beefit Pythons Pit to clinch the first ever Ground and Pound Championship (GPC) heavyweight belt in the main event of ‘Ground and Pound 7:Resolution’ late Saturday night at the Cebu Coliseum.

It was a complete domination by the bigger and taller Brooks, who wisely used his vicious striking to keep Abucayan, a wrestling expert, at bay.

The 18-year-old Abucayan did show a big fighting heart as he survived Brooks' first wave of attack. It was the same story in the second round, only this time Abucayan wasn’t able to use his grappling skills to bring down the British giant.

The deciding moment came when Brooks got the mount position and started to drop heavy elbows to the face of Abucayan. The Davaoeño braveheart absorbed all the punishing blows and was clearly in great danger, forcing referee Junaz Azarcon to halt the carnage at 2:37 of the second round.

“He was a tough kid (Abucayan), but I came to get that belt and I am just happy that I made it,” said Brooks, moments after cruising to his third straight victory in MMA (mixed martial arts). “I may not be a Filipino, but this fight is for Cebu. I promised you guys that it will stay here in Cebu and I kept my promise. This is just the start and hopefully I can defend my title for a long time.”

In the supporting main event of the slambang card presented by Yaw-Yan Ardigma Cebu Martial Arts Federation, Inc. through its Founder and CEO Master Benigno "Ekin" R. Caniga, Jr., Mindanao's Lorde Rey "Punisher" Yamit defended his GPC lightweight title with an impressive rear naked choke submission in the opening session against Cebuano Kru Robert “Maldito’ Serdone.

Another Mindanao fighter and former URCC champion Victor “Gladiator’ Torre also broke the hearts of Cebuano MMA fans as he stopped the former unbeaten Cebuano warrior James ‘Spider’ Serenio in the first round with a powerful arm bar to snatch the GPC flyweight crown.

In the lone kickboxing duel, Yaw-Yan Fighting Challenge (YFC) junior featherweight champion Renante "Limbas" Noblefranca displayed excellent kickfighting ability in knocking out Marjun "Muma Warrior" Porriento at   the 1:57 mark of the opening round. He launched a string of deadly knee strikes that sent the haplesss Mindanao visitor sprawling on the mat writhing in pain.

In the other impressive triumph of the night, Lemuel "Musang" Maglinte needed only 39 seconds to knock the lights off John Edu "Excalibur" Torbiso.

In keeping his unbeaten record intact at 3-0, Maglinte used a devastating rear naked choke to force Torbiso to wave the white flag in just a short span of time to the delight of the crowd that included his friends from the media industry. Maglinte is assistant sports editor of The Freeman and sportswriter of Banat News.

In the other MMA bouts, Mark ‘Terminator’ Araneta scored a second round TKO of Rik ‘Hammer’ Cubillas; Frederick ‘Spider Lim stopped Maxlito ‘Hyper Eagle’ Yong in the first round; Rocky Tune ‘Outlaw’ Batolbatol demolished Ervin ‘Zombie’ Mosico in the second round, Alex ‘Pilot’ Abraham dished out a unanimous decision victory against Perkins ‘Predator’ Calixto; Ralp Loui ‘Silent Assassin’ Arcayan punished Jess ‘Alpa’ Catayas into second round submission;while Ismael ‘Tsunami Walk’ Gomez outlasted Leo ‘Lion X’ Rodrigo.  (FREEMAN)