Super lightweight is made all the sweeter by ‘Sugar’ Cain Sandoval (14-0), who made himself a serious contender on Saturday with a searing knockout of durable fringe contender Romero Duno (26-5). The bout was the main event of a 360 Promotions event held in Santa Ynez, California and aired on UFC Fight Pass.
Sandoval was scheduled to share ten rounds with the ‘Ruthless’ Filipino, who has many accolades to his name. Instead, Sandoval used discipline to slowly grind the fight out of the 28-year-old veteran, who wore the fight out of him.
Although, that’s not to say Duno didn’t put up a fight; it was a power-punch affair from both men. Sandoval’s work paid off in the sixth, when an incendiary body shot dropped Duno for good. It was similar to the shot Diego Pacheco (22-0) would use to dispatch Maciej Sulecki (32-3), also in California on Saturday.
With the performance, Sandoval is certainly approaching top contenders in the division.
In the co-main event, ‘Soldier of Q’ Sadriddin Akhmedov (14-0) also improved to 14-0 with a blistering first round knockout of Georgia’s Antonio Todd (17-10). The Kazakh aggressor swarmed Todd from the opening bell and refused to give an inch as he stopped the experienced craftsman early.
It’s clear that Akhmedov is at a high level and, under the 360 Promotions banner, may be given the opportunity to test his skill against high-level opposition.
Heavy-hitting light heavyweight Umar Dzambekov (9-0) also extended his winning streak with a fourth-round stoppage of Edward Jeramie Ortiz (13-2-1) of Texas. Dzambekov’s pedigree was on display from the opening bell as he dealt with the wily Ortiz in a smart and disciplined manner and methodically loaded up on shots.
Ortiz felt the texture of the canvas twice before the stoppage came midway through their scheduled eighth round. It is clear that Dzambekov, a decorated amateur in Austria, is ready for ten rounds.
Also on the card, 19-year-old ‘Apocalipto’ Angel Carrillo (3-0-1) got back on track after a draw last time out. Here, Carrillo handled the unorthodox Filipino Josaphat Navarro (1-2-1) in a pressing manner, well beyond his years.
Daniel Robles (9-3-1) also unseated ‘The Dawg’ against Jonathan Almacen (7-12-3) by unanimous decision at featherweight.
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