One Championship: Demetrious Johnson struggles to decision win over Tatsumitsu Wada in Manila
- ‘I couldn’t get my game going,’ says former UFC star, who comes through stern test against his much bigger Japanese opponent Tatsumitsu Wada
- Johnson punches ticket to final of One’s flyweight grand prix after unanimous decision victory
Demetrious Johnson dug deep to dispatch a game Tatsumitsu Wada at One Championship’s blockbuster “Dawn of Heroes” show in Manila on Friday night.
Without his coach Matt Hume in his corner, the American battled through some first-round adversity to earn a unanimous decision at the Mall of Asia Arena, progressing to the final of the flyweight grand prix. He will face Danny “The King” Kingad in Tokyo on October 13 at Ryogoku Sumo Hall, after the Filipino took a split decision against Australia’s Reece McLaren earlier on Friday night.
“It sounds like a fun fight,” Johnson said in his post-fight interview in the ring. “Danny is a young prospect, very explosive.
“Tonight I just couldn’t get my game going. Wada did a good job of keeping me down. But I got to use my grappling tonight and got him with a nice cut over the eye.”
Johnson received a hero’s welcome during his raucous ring entrance, with the crowd energised after watching Kingad’s victory.
