Mixed Martial Arts

Nguyễn Tiến Long is announced champion of the men's 65kg traditional MMA event. Photo of organisers

HÀ NỘI — Nguyễn Tiến Long secured Việt Nam's only gold medal from the first Asian Mixed Martial Arts Championship without fighting a second in the final of the men's 65kg traditional event on August 20 in Thailand.

Long was awarded the win after his rival Lerence Seet Jia Le from Singapore withdrew because of injury minutes before the match.

Earlier, he defeated Mu Chun Seung of South Korea and Luo Tia Long of China on the way to the gold-medal bout. 

In addition to the gold, Việt Nam also took a silver through Dương Thị Thanh Bình in the women's 54kg modern MMA class.  

Việt Nam team at the Asian MMA Championship from August 18-20. Photo of VMMAF

Bình started her match with heavy kicks on her Chinese rival Liu Xiaoni who seemed to have prepared well. Liu mastered in grappling as she took Bình down and locked.

The Vietnamese escaped from the difficult position once but in the second time she had no way but tapping on floor to ask for a surrender.

Two other representatives of Việt Nam were Nghiêm Văn Ý, men's 65kg modern MMA, and Nguyễn Thị Thanh Trúc, women's 49kg modern MMA , took home two bronzes.

Athletes will return home and prepare for the Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games which will be held on February, 2024, in Thailand. VNS