Tai Tuivasa was bundled out of the Global FC 4 K-1 rules heavyweight tournament in his first fight on Thursday night, going down to eventual tournament winner, Ismael Lazaar, in the second round via TKO.
Play-by-play courtesy of fightsportasia.com.
Both men traded early and often in the first round. Tai Tuivasa landed flush on Lazaar’s jaw with about 30 seconds left in the 1st and the Israeli fighter moved back only slightly, showing his toughness. With increased pressure from Lazaar in the 2nd round, he lands a left high kick that hits the back of Tuivasa’s head and stuns the Aussie fighter. No knockdown was called as Lazaar went to put Tai away. The ref reset the fighters and Ismael went right back after the finish, throwing hooks to the head. A few stinging punches preceded the finishing combination against the ropes. A left hook to the head, right uppercut, left hook that stunned Tai. A high right knee followed by a right cross and grazing left hook. A brief clinch and a huge left knee snaps the neck of Tuivasa back. Ismael smashed his right hand and follow-up left into Tuivasa’s face before grabbing his head and forcing the referee to step in as Lazaar slammed another knee into the Australian.
The 21 year-old Aussie (pictured) took to Facebook following the fight to thank his supporters.
Thankyou everyone for your support. Love you’s all will be back better and stronger next time yah boy BAMBAM.
In other results from the night, Kiwi welterweight Luke Jumeau submitted Iranian Mohammad Mansouri with a rear-naked choke in the second round. And in the main event, Badr Hari proved too good for late replacement Arnold Oborotov, putting a stop to the 24 year-old Lithuanian with a right hand to the body at 2:22 of the opening period.
Unofficial Results (via arabsmma.com):
- Badr Hari def Arnold Oborotov via KO, Rd 1, 2:22 – Kickboxing
- Ismael Lazaar def Sam Tevette* via TKO, Rd 2 – HW Tournament Final (K1 Rules)
- Zabit Samedov def Jafar Ahmadi via Decision (Unanimous)- Kickboxing
- Sam Tevette def Mohamed Karim via Decision (Unanimous) – HW Tournament (K1 Rules)
- Ismael Lazaar def Tai Tuivasa via TKO, Rd 2, 1:30 – HW Tournament (K1 Rules)
- Fatih Ulusoy def Srdan Seles via Decision (Split)
- Jamnian Srikam def Erkan Varol via Decision (Unanimous)
- Ahmed Amir def Hussein Mollamahdi via Submission (Guillotine Choke), Rd 1- MMA
- Luke Jumeau def Mohammad Mansouri via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Rd 2, 2:30 – MMA
- Adrian Garlonta def Davoud Ojaghi via TKO, Rd 2, 1:45
* Tevette replaced Melvin Manhoef on short notice.
