MMASucka.com will be on scene and reporting LIVE from tonight’s Rebel FC 1: Into the Lion’s Den event in Singapore.

Rebel Fighting Championship was launched in mid-2013, underlining its plans to improve the Mixed Martial Arts scene in Singapore from the grassroots level. The promotion is set to bring about a line-up filled with pro MMA match-ups on the main card, and Amateur MMA bouts in the prelims.

Rebel FC 1: Into the Lion’s Den results, play-by-play

The fight card will be headed by a 145-lbs battle between Rob Lisita (12-5) and “Lion” Takeshi Inoue (21-8), and a co-main event feature pitting Singapore’s top MMA Lightweight Syafiq Samad (2-0) against Korean Top Team’s Gyo Pyung Hwang (3-3).

Also, former UFC and “TUF: Brazil” vet Marcos Vinicius (20-5-1) fights for the first time, post-UFC. He’ll lock horns with Japan’s Taiyo Nakahara (13-7) at 135-lbs. Phuket Top Team’s latest recruit Cristiano Kaminishi (8-1, 2 NC) was supposed to compete on the night’s pro MMA proceedings as well, in a Light-Heavyweight tilt opposite Doo Hwan Kim (5-1). But a nagging back injury forced the Brazilian out of the line-up, prompting the promotion to sought a late replacement in the Philippines’ Chris Hofmann (0-0), who stepped up to the plate on short notice.

To round off the pro MMA portion of the card, Alberto Mina (9-0), a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo, takes on Finnish vet Glenn Sparv (7-2) in an exciting Welterweight contest.

Royston Wee (2-0) vs. Sam Chan (5-2) was originally set to take place at the event, but following the former’s decision to sign with the UFC, the match-up was scratched from the card altogether.

In the prelims, it will be fourteen up-and-coming Amateur fighters looking to set their marks on a big stage. The pick of the lot will be Impact MMA’s rising Flyweight star, Garie Tang, a BJJ Blue Belt with a background in Muay Thai. Tang looks to pick up where he left off following an eye catching performance at the inaugural Singapore Combat Championship event. He followed that up with a victory at Ultimate Beatdown 13 in November, and now hopes to shine on a big platform when he contests Malaysia’s Mohd Amir Ghafar.

Amirul Syafiq will be another fighter to look out for in the ranks as well. The Juggernaut Fight Club representative is a Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu too, with an unbeaten 4-0 Amateur Muay Thai record. He will be one of many Singaporean and regional talents on board the Rebel FC Amateur MMA line-up.

The first fight of the card is expected to commence at 7pm (local time).

Be sure to follow MMASucka.com throughout the night’s proceedings as we bring you LIVE results, updates and play-by-play of the bouts below:

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MAIN CARD (Professional MMA match-ups)

 Main Event/Featherweights > Rob Lisita (12-5) vs. Takeshi Inoue (21-8)

Report: Lisita immediately rallies forward with punches that connect. Lisita continues to move forward constantly forcing Takeshi to move away. Lisita, as he said, is looking to make this a dog fight. Takeshi, though, is doing well with jabs and leg kicks. Lisita continues to surge forward but misses with a couple of overhand rights and punches. Takeshi eats a couple of hard blows from as Lisita, asserts his power in the bout. Lisita soon lands a takedown but Takeshi immediately recovers. The round concludes with Takeshi applying his usual methodical approach, and Lisita looking to make it a scrap.

Round 2 begins and Takeshi’s unorthodox style is starting to cause Lisita problems, as a couple of feints and strikes catches the Australian off guard. Lisita continues to use his Boxing, as Takeshi toys with the Phuket Top Team native with feints. As the round progresses, Lisita grabs a hold of Takeshi’s head in a bull-dog side head lock, then drops to the canvas, forcing Takeshi to tap.

Result: Rob Lisita def. Takeshi Inoue via Submission (Bulldog Choke) at 3:19 of Round 2

Co-Main Event/Lightweights > Syafiq Samad (2-0) vs. Gyo Pyung Hwang (3-3)

Report: Hwang swings for the fences after the opening stages, dropping Samad. But the Singaporean recovers and attempts to land punches of his own. In the midst of that, Hwang, however, lands a flying knee that knocks Samad out cold.

Result: Gyo Pyung Hwang def. Syafiq Samad via KO (Flying Knee) at 0:42 of Round 1

Bantamweights > Marcos Vinicius (20-5-1) vs. Taiyo Nakahara (13-7)

Report: Striking exchanges gets us going with both fighters trading strikes. Nakahara, in his southpaw stance, pushes the pace in the opening stages forcing Vinicius to fight whilst moving backwards. Vinicius though, is landing some hard kicks and punches. Nakahara lands a beautiful combination to the body momentarily rocking Vinicius, but the Brazilian recovers. Shortly after, Nakahara lands a powerful straight left that drops Vinicius. A few punches for good measure, and the referee stops the bout. What an upset!

Result: Taiyo Nakahara def. Marcos Vinicius via KO (Punches) at 3:21 of Round 1

Welterweights > Alberto Mina (9-0) vs. Glenn Sparv (7-2)

Report: Mina takes the center of the cage and Mina lands a trip takedown after Sparv’s kick gets caught. Mina passes to side control, and maneuvers to half guard soon after. Mina squats and slams Sparv onto the canvas. Mina isn’t attempting any substantial strikes or anything though, but he is trying to open Sparv’s guard by slamming him. Near the cage, Sparv uses his strength to stand-up, but Mina lands a knee and a couple of punches which sends Sparv crashing to the canvas. Referee steps in and calls a halt to the contest.

Result: Alberto Mina def. Glenn Sparv via TKO (Strikes) at 2:44 of Round 1

Light Heavyweights > Chris Hofmann (0-0) vs. Doo Hwan Kim (5-2)

Report: Hofmann shoots for an early takedown to which Kim defends well. Up against the cage, Kim lands a trip takedown, Hofmann recovers and gets back to his feet. A cage battle ensues with Kim fighting for underhooks. Kim lands a takedown, and finds himself in half guard. The Korean fighter starts landing some elbows and punches, before attempting an Arm-Triangle choke. He maneuvers to full mount, but Hofmann rolls and gets out of the submission. Great defense. Back on their feet, Hofmann lends a nice left and right. Kim, though, eats it and soon rocks Hofmann with a strong right, and goes for a standing Guillotine choke. Kim jumps guard with the choke, but Hofmann slips out of it. Hofmann, now in top position, gets sweeped by Kim who starts throwing some heavy leather in full mount. Hofmann gives up his back and Kim continues the onslaught. Hofmann goes to sleep, and the referee steps in to stop the bout.

Result: Doo Hwan Kim def. Chris Hofmann via TKO (Punches) at 4:35 of Round 1

PRELIMS (Amateur MMA match-ups)

• Featherweights > Suman Mokhtarian def. Mubarak Abdat via Unanimous Decision (28-27, 28-27, 28-27)
• Flyweights > Garie Tang def. Mohd Amir Ghafar via Submission (Armbar) at 1:21s of Round 1
• Welterweights > Andy Neo Hong Chee def. He Chong Qing via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Flyweights > May Ooi def. Amy Adam via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 0:38 of Round 3
• Featherweights > Ashraf Bin Shafi def. Azman Azman via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 1:58 of Round 1
• Flyweights > Amirul Syafiq def. Shafian Samsuri via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) 1:22 of Round 2
• Lightweights > Muhammad Nazri def. Mah Yong Jian via TKO (Punches) at 1:30 of Round 1

*Photos credit: Daryl Ong

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