LIGHTS OUT | Narantungalag Jadambaa puts Kotetsu Boku to sleep in battle of former champions (Photo : ONE Championship)
Former ONE Featherweight World Champion Narantungalag Jadambaa put his submission skills on display for the masses at ONE: ASCENT TO POWER in Singapore recently, earning his eleventh career win.
This one, though, came with added importance for the 40-year-old Jadambaa.
After dropping his title to reigning champion Marat Gafurov last November, Jadambaa (11-4) was able to regain momentum quickly in his pursuit of the belt by besting Boku, a former ONE Lightweight World Champion, who was on a three-fight win streak in the featherweight division since dropping in weight.
"I feel great, I am very happy," said Jadambaa, a man of few words. "Of course I would love to fight against the champion (next)."
Jadambaa has stated that he could return to featherweight or look to become the lightweight titleholder moving forward, leaving the door open for a rematch with Gafurov or a possible showdown with current ONE lightweight king Shinya Aoki.
Knowing what Boku brought to the cage, Jadambaa wanted to make sure to be patient, waiting for his time to attack.
"His style is very tricky," he said. "I felt it was a little difficult to fight with him. I tried to fight like my strategy, which was to use old MMA techniques. Of course, I tried to get him to the ground to use my tactics in this fight."
The submission finish was the first for Jadambaa since a 2012 guillotine choke he locked up on Yui Chul Nam, a current member of the UFC's lightweight division. He made his ONE debut in 2014 and scored a decision over Honorio Banario, claiming the title later that year with a five-round decision victory vs. Koji Oishi.
Jadambaa is a former lightweight titleholder as well, having captured the Legend FC belt back in 2011 when he bested Adrian Pang.
