Nagaowa claims WMMAL world title
JUJEATH Nagaowa made history during the weekend after bagging the World Mixed Martial Arts League (WMMAL) minimumweight world champion.
Nagaowa beamed the first Filipina world champion mixed martial arts after stopping Kannika Bangnara of Thailand in the main event of the World Kickboxing League in Hainan, China.
The 30 - year - old former boxer made short work of her opponent right at the start of the opening round by submitting Bangnara via a rear naked choke.
Promoter Brico santig of the Highland Boxing Gym in La Trinidad, Benguet earlier lauded the efforts of Nagaowa after claiming the title.
“Malaki ang pagasa ni Jujeath na umagta sa MMA kasi undefeated siya,” added Santig.
Before venturing as an MMA fighter, Nagaowa started her pro boxing career at 18 when she debuted and won against Chona Chokowen in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte.
Her big break in boxing came in May 2010 when she fought but lost to Samson Tor Buama for the vacant WIBA world minimum weight belt.
But on June 6, 2015, Nagaowa finally won the vacant WIBA International light flyweight title against Yu Jie Luo via a unanimous decision at the Forum de
Macao in Macao, China.
With the victory, the former Women’s International Boxing Association International light flyweight title improved her MMA record to 4- 0 after debuting in One Championship on May 2014 where she scored a second round technical knockout of Jeet Toshi then followed it up with another TKO win against Tharoth Sam on December 2014.
Prior to seeing action in WMMAL, Nagaowa also saw action in the World Series of Fighting where he scored a unanimous decision victory against Yuko Kiryu in 2016.
Three Cordillerans however failed to bring home the win as Jeremy Bastian and Biondi Dayangadang fell against their opponents via unanimous decision while Kathleen Papti-e loss via a referee stoppage in the first round.