Pang savours win

MIXED martial arts fighter Adrian “The Hunter” Pang (22-12) snapped a four-fight losing streak with a first round technical knockout of Japan’s Kota Shimoishi (21-6) in their ONE Championship lightweight clash at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Friday.
The Kokopo-born Pang opened a gash over Shimoishi’s right eye with a right hand off the floor at the 3:30 mark of the opening frame in a 3x5minute bout and proceeded to pound and grapple, a men 10 years his junior, to the bell.
Pang, 41, showcased his noted toughness and durability, punishing his 31-year-old opponent both on the feet and on the ground with heavy strikes.
Shimoishi’s corner pulled their fighter before the start of the second round fearing the cut would progressively get worse and referee Kemp Cheng awarded the stoppage to an ecstatic Pang, who was representing Brisbane’s Integrated MMA gym.
Pang’s father James, who is based in Port Moresby, said his son was determined to get a win on his ledger after losing his last four fights on points decision.
“Adrian lost his last four fights on points so he really wanted to get that win,” father James said.
“He fought runners in those last fights and then they just didn’t want to fight and feel the power, they just didn’t want to engage,” Pang said of his son’s vaunted striking ability.
“He got Shimoishi on the floor even though he prefers to stand and rough people up, cut them up and just batter them. That’s his style.”
Shimoishi, who goes by the ring name “Kong” was in effect bulled on the floor and against the wall by a man on the verge of retirement but certainly not showing signs of slowing down.
“He’s 41 but he’s told me he feels like he’s in the best shape of his life,” father James said.
“Adrian texted the week leading to the fight that he was he was gunning for him (Shimoishi) and would get a win no matter what.”
James Pang said his son although based in Queensland had a close affinity with PNG and proudly carried the flag to all his fights and had the PNG flag emblazoned on his trunks.
“Adrian feels for the country. He’s proud of where he comes from and has an attachment to PNG.
“It’s inspiring. Every time he comes back he’s always training and the boys here follow him.”
The ONE Championship is Asia’s leading MMA organisation which hosts shows through the region from the Chinese mainland to Macau, Hong Kong, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. It has up to 15 million subscribers and rivals other promotional firms in North America’s UFC and Bellator.
Result: Adrian Pang defeated Kota Shimoishi via TKO (medical stoppage) at the end of the 1st round.