It took lower than a minute into the One Championship’s Atomweight Girls’s Grand Prix for Ritu Phogat to indicate why the chances are in her favour to turn into India’s first ever skilled Combined Martial Arts (MMA) champion. A fast dip into the vary of her Philippine opponent Jenelyn Olsim, a profitable seize of her left leg, and the single-leg takedown was completed simply because the combat started. That choice remained together with her all night time as her superior wrestling-skills made up for another deficiencies she may need had. And it helped the Haryana grappler lengthen her document to 7-1 within the skilled MMA stream.
The 27-year-old’s Atomweight semi-final was initially in opposition to Japan’s undefeated fighter Itsuku Hirata, who needed to drop out due to a non-Covid associated sickness. In stepped Olsim and her Muay Thai background.
Wrestling, although, has been the calling card for Phogat’s fledgling MMA profession. And it’s plain to see why.
In a sport the place the combination and match of a number of disciplines can confound one of the best, sticking to your strengths and protecting issues easy can usually be the important thing to success. It additionally helps that her dominant self-discipline is a sport that continues to be the software of selection for champions merely due to how a lot management an excellent wrestler can exert.
Within the first spherical itself, Phogat’s wrestling was sufficient to subdue Olsim. However whereas the opponent was not capable of mount any defence when it got here to stopping the takedown makes an attempt, Olsim’s grappling and submission was a real take a look at for Phogat. The Philippine tried to lock Phogat down in a triangle choke in the direction of the top of the primary spherical. However when it was clear that Phogat wouldn’t hand over, Olsim tried to transition to an armbar. However the Indian slipped out of attain and reset as soon as once more.
🇮🇳 🐯 Congratulations to our winner! Wrestling Champion Ritu Phogat @rituphogat48 from the EVOLVE Battle Crew strikes on to the finals of the ONE Atomweight World Grand Prix. What an incredible combat and we are able to’t wait to see you within the finals! 👏 @onechampionship #ONENextGen pic.twitter.com/G6TFmDD8u1
— Evolve MMA (@EvolveMMA) October 29, 2021
Phogat’s takedowns had been clearly going to win her the opening spherical, however Olsim wasn’t fully out of the bout simply but. When on their ft, she was clearly the higher striker and would have been capable of utilise her five-inch attain benefit much more however for the wrestler in entrance of her.
One in every of Phogat’s largest issues together with her sport is when Plan A doesn’t work. Often, the first technique entails a takedown, which when profitable, transitions into facet management that permits clear fists to the opponent’s face. In opposition to Olsim although, that plan not often labored.
Olsim’s motion on the bottom, when in a defensive place, by no means allowed Phogat to carry onto her and unleash her palms. Whereas the place and factors at all times favoured the Indian, the Philippine would at all times have traps set for Phogat on the bottom.
That’s how Spherical 2 panned out. There have been a few triangle makes an attempt however Phogat would at all times handle to slide out of them. There could be a few stinging hooks that landed however Phogat continued to maneuver ahead. There would even be a slew of unlawful upkicks, which brought on the bout to be stopped for a couple of minutes late within the second spherical after one to the neck staggered Phogat. However the bout continued and Phogat would chalk up Spherical 2 in her identify as effectively.
The third spherical was the place Phogat received into a short second of bother. Olsim managed to lock in a good triangle choke. However Phogat stayed calm because the strain mounted on her neck and willed her means out of bother. She then ended the third on some ground-and-pound hanging so as to add one other win to her column.
Phogat will subsequent face Stamp Fairtex, a veteran Thai kickboxing legend with the same model to Olsim, however way more refined. The bout is about to happen on December 3. A win there’ll take her to an Atomweight title bout.
