Sumit Bhyan Downs Debuting Will Drewitt at ONE Friday Fights 72

Sumit Bhyan was in no mood for warm welcomes.

The Warrior’s Cove MMA export spoiled the ONE Championship debut of Will Drewitt, as he rode a hyperactive bottom game to a split decision in their three-round ONE Friday Fights 72 lightweight showcase on Friday at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. Two of the ringside judges struck scorecards for Bhyan (2-1, 1-1 ONE), who rebounded from his Nov. 23 technical knockout loss to Matheus Pereira.

Drewitt (0-1, 0-1 ONE) employed takedowns and top control but failed to consolidate those efforts with meaningful damage. Bhyan attacked with elbows off his back and a variety of submissions. He did his best work in Round 2, where he threatened Drewitt with a triangle armbar and a kimura that undoubtedly drew the attention of those entrusted with tallying points. Bhyan conceded a takedown inside the first 20 seconds of the third round but answered with elbow strikes from mission control and managed to dodge the occasional bullets being fired in his direction.

In other action, Kongsuk Fairtex outpointed Joachim Ouraghi to a unanimous decision in their 135.4-pound catchweight muay thai headliner; Theptaksin Sor Sornsing captured a unanimous decision against Jelte Blommaert in their catchweight muay thai co-main event at 126 pounds; Pentor SP Kansart Paeminburi eked out a split decision over Thongsiam Lukjaoporongtom in a 142-pound catchweight muay thai showdown; Petnamkhong Mongkolpet put away Lookkwan Sujeebameekiew with punches 2:48 into the first round of their catchweight muay thai attraction at 122 pounds; Muanglao Kiattongyot mapped out a unanimous decision against Songpandin Chor Kaewwiset in a 128-pound catchweight muay thai affair; Alex Roberts suffered a fight-ending leg injury 33 seconds into the first round of his light heavyweight muay thai pairing opposite Beybulat Isaev; Freddie Haggerty wiped out Kaichon Sor Yingcharoenkarnchang with a devastating right cross 2:59 into the first round of their strawweight muay thai encounter; Pataknin Sinbimuaythai took a unanimous verdict from Majid Karimi in a three-round 122-pound catchweight muay thai scrap; Akif Guluzada laid claim to a unanimous decision over Haruto Yasumoto in their catchweight kickboxing battle at 128 pounds; and Craig Hutchison tapped Banpot Lertthaisong with an armbar 1:57 into their lightweight submission grappling match.