Major League Muay Thai took place at the Arena José Sulaimán in Monterrey, Mexico. The night’s main event featured Women’s WBC Muay Thai World Super Bantamweight Champion Selina Flores putting her title on the line against Brazil’s Barbara Fersan.
Selina Flores used her teep to frustrate Barbara Fersan in their title fight. Nicknamed “Teep Queen” because of her ability to throw the teep from almost any angle, Flores was in control through most of the fight. She used her length well to evade Fersan’s push-forward approach and pepper her with counters. Fersan found some success in the second round, but Flores quickly adjusted and won the following rounds with her range and precise striking. It seemed like it would be a clear-cut win for Flores, but the judges surprisingly called this a split decision. It went in Flores’s favor, but it was some odd judging.
The co-main event featured Mexico’s Cynthia Flores and Brazil’s Ana Carolina battling for the Women’s WBC Muay Thai International Light Flyweight Title. Flores was in control of the fight from the opening bell. She took the center of the ring, mixing her punches and low kicks well. She opened up a cut over Carolina’s right eye in the final round. It seemed clear who had won, but the judges thought it was much closer. They awarded Flores the win by split decision.
Lucas Nobrega and Oswaldo Duque fought for the Nai Khanom Tom Prestige Heavyweight Title. Duque was the bigger of the two heavyweights and used his size well to control the fight. With less than a minute left in the fourth round, he cornered Nobrega, and a stiff right hand dropped him. He returned to his feet but was on wobbly legs, and the referee stopped the bout.
Elias Ghazali and Travis Petralba fought for the Nai Khanom Tom Prestige Super Lightweight Title. Petralba started the fight off strong, while Ghazali rallied in the later rounds as Petralba began to slow down. In the end, the judges awarded Ghazali the win by split decision.
Miguel Campora and Luis Morales fought for the Nai Khanom Tom Prestige Welterweight Title. The fight started close, but Morales turned up the pace in the second round. However, the deciding factor in this bout would be a cut on the shin of Campora. Before the third round started, the referee asked the doctor to check on the cut, and the fight was stopped. Campora wanted to continue fighting, but it was a big cut.
The WBC Muay Thai Nuevo León State Super Lightweight Title was on the line between Marcelo Pedrosa and Iker Batalla. The fight predominantly took place in the clinch, where things were pretty even. When they were separated, it was clear that Pedrosa had the better striking. In the fourth round, Pedrosa dropped Batalla with a body kick. Batalla got back to his feet to beat the count and Pedrosa went back to attacking the body, knocking Batalla down two more times to end the fight.
The night’s action opened with a welterweight bout between Jair Saldivar and Tyler Shaw. Saldivar came out pushing the pace and controlling the tempo of the fight. He seemed to slow down in the second round, which allowed Shaw to get back into the fight. Shaw started to slow down in the third round while Saldivar gained a second wind. In the end, the judges awarded Saldivar the decision to win.
Full Results:
Selina Flores def. Barbara Fersan via Split Decision (Defends Women’s WBC Muay Thai World Super Bantamweight Championship)
Cynthia Flores def. Ana Carolina via Split Decision (Wins Women’s WBC Muay Thai International Light Flyweight Championship)
Oswaldo Duque def. Elias Ghazali via TKO in Rd. 4
Elias Ghazali def. Travis Petralba via Split Decision
Luis Morales def. Miguel Campora via TKO (Doctor Stoppage in Rd. 2
Marcelo Pedrosa def. Iker Batalla via TKO in Rd. 4 (Wins WBC Muay Thai Nuevo León State Super Lightweight Championship)
Jair Saldivar def. Tyler Shaw via Unanimous Decision