Filipino-Kiwi Mark Abelardo finally got the elusive win in ONE Championship after knocking out American foe Emilio Urrutia in ONE: Fists of Fury II at the Singapore Indoor Stadium Friday night, March 5.
Abelardo, who improved to a 20-8 record, caught Urrutia off guard and unleashed a lethal elbow strike that floored the American fighter at the 3:20 mark of the second round.
"It was a real tough fight coming into, especially after two losses y'know. It's something I don't wanna go through again so I did everything I could on this camp to prevent that," Abelardo, 29, told ONE Championship commentator and analyst Mitch Chilson after the fight. "I'm very happy I came away with the win tonight. Especially with a tough guy like Emilio."
Before the end of the opening round, Abelardo unloaded a right hook that wobbled Urrutia and followed up the punishment with vicious elbow strikes, thanks to his intense muay thai background.
Still in dominant form, Abelardo carried the momentum from the first round to neutralize Urrutia, highlighted by the final blow that came midway through the second frame.
True to his word, Abelardo has shown a refined striking this time around.
The New Zealand-born fighter, who trains in Thailand stable Fairtex Training Center, started 2021 on a good note since suffering two straight defeats against American Troy Worthen and Brazilian Fabricio Andrade last year.
Urrutia, for his part, sustained a four-match skid since April 2018 and slid down 11-8 record.