Road FC 52: Lightweight GP Final - February 23 (OFFICIAL DISCUSSION)

Road FC 52
February 23, 2019
Jangchung Gymnasium
Seoul, South Korea

Main Card:
Shamil Zavurov (34-5)   vs.  (17-4) Mansour Barnaoui
Main Card  |   Grand Prix Final | Lightweight | 155 lbs (70 kg)

Min Woo Kim (8-2)         vs.      (11-12) Je Hoon Moon
Co-Main Event |  Title Fight | Bantamweight | 135 lbs (66 kg)

Dae Sung Kim  (4-5)      vs.        (21-9) Michel Pereira
Main Card | Openweight

Young Gi Hong (5-4)      vs.       (11-3) Bruno Miranda
Main Card  | Lightweight | 155 lbs (70 kg)

Ik Hwan Jang (6-2)        vs.       (5-2) Dae Young Jang
Main Card  | Bantamweight | 135 lbs (61 kg)

ROAD FC has set the date for its $1 Million Lightweight Tournament finals, where Shamil Zavurov and Mansour Barnaoui will clash for a shot at reigning lightweight champion Kwon A-Sol and the US$1 million prize.

The final will take place at ROAD FC 52 at the Jangchung Arena in Seoul on 23 February. The winner is likely to face Kwon sometime in May.

Shamil Zavurov (35-5-1) is an Octagon FS champion who defeated Kim Wong-Gi, Leo Kuntz and Khuukhenkhuu Amartuvshin all by decision to make it to the semifinals. In March this year, he defeated tournament hopeful Ronys Torres to advance through to the finals.

Mansour Barnaoui (17-4) got his shot at the $1 million prize pool with a third round submission win over Shimoishi Kota. Barnaoui, who fights out of Team Magnum, is the former M-1 and BAMMA champion. He locked in first round submission win over Ki Won-Bin, Kim Chang-Hyun and Nandin-Erdene to reach the semifinals.

So the winner of the tournament gets the $1M or do they have to beat the champ for it I wonder.

The ROAD FC Bantamweight Title has long been a very hotly contested title. The first Bantamweight Tournament yielded the first Champion, Kang Kyoung-Ho, one of the best bantamweight fighters in the world today. After he relinquished it, Lee Kil-Woo won it, then had to return it due to a surgery. Lee Yun-Jun then fought Moon Je-Hoon and won, but a tragic health issue kept him from defending. Kim Soo-Chul finally got his shot after an incredible win streak, and defeated Kim Min-Woo to become the fourth Champion. Kim Soo-Chul retired and vacated the title.

At ROAD FC 052, the last two challengers for the Bantamweight belt will face off for the chance once again to own it. This will be a rubber match, as they have fought twice before, each holding a decision win over the other.

Kim Min-Woo (8-2, Moai Gym) is a very well-rounded fighter with wins over Shoko Sato and Yuta Nezu. His only losses come against Moon Je-Hoon – which he avenged in their second meeting – and the title match against Kim Soo-Chul.

Moon Je-Hoon (11-12, Octagon Multi Gym) is a Taekwondo specialist and a stalwart of Korean MMA. He has been representing ROAD FC in RIZIN and DEEP in the last two years, and counts many fight of the night accolades in his 11-year career.

The ROAD FC Bantamweight Championship match between Kim Min-Woo and Moon Je-Hoon promises to bring another amazing performance from these two aggressive rivals!

Kingfedor wrote:
The ROAD FC Bantamweight Title has long been a very hotly contested title. The first Bantamweight Tournament yielded the first Champion, Kang Kyoung-Ho, one of the best bantamweight fighters in the world today. After he relinquished it, Lee Kil-Woo won it, then had to return it due to a surgery. Lee Yun-Jun then fought Moon Je-Hoon and won, but a tragic health issue kept him from defending. Kim Soo-Chul finally got his shot after an incredible win streak, and defeated Kim Min-Woo to become the fourth Champion. Kim Soo-Chul retired and vacated the title.

At ROAD FC 052, the last two challengers for the Bantamweight belt will face off for the chance once again to own it. This will be a rubber match, as they have fought twice before, each holding a decision win over the other.

Kim Min-Woo (8-2, Moai Gym) is a very well-rounded fighter with wins over Shoko Sato and Yuta Nezu. His only losses come against Moon Je-Hoon – which he avenged in their second meeting – and the title match against Kim Soo-Chul.

Moon Je-Hoon (11-12, Octagon Multi Gym) is a Taekwondo specialist and a stalwart of Korean MMA. He has been representing ROAD FC in RIZIN and DEEP in the last two years, and counts many fight of the night accolades in his 11-year career.

The ROAD FC Bantamweight Championship match between Kim Min-Woo and Moon Je-Hoon promises to bring another amazing performance from these two aggressive rivals!

The winner of this should be considered for our BW rankings. Good title fight coming up from ROAD FC.