Upset Victory at Tay Ho Stadium

In a stunning turn of events at Tay Ho Stadium in Hanoi, Pham Cong Minh overcame initial adversity to defeat Zakhar Dmitrychenka, nicknamed “thunder god,” in the 84kg MMA Lion Championship [[3]]. Zakhar, the Belarusian wrestler, was initially favored due to his wrestling prowess, but Pham cong Minh’s resilience and strategic adjustments led to a second-round victory [[1]].

The Fight Unfolds: From Grappling to Ground and Pound

The first round saw Zakhar capitalize on his wrestling background, quickly taking Pham Cong Minh down and maintaining control for a critically important portion of the round. Pham Cong Minh endured a barrage of attacks, showcasing notable defense and determination to survive the initial onslaught. Despite being pinned for over four minutes, he managed to weather the storm and make it to the second round.

In the second round,Pham Cong Minh,seemingly having learned from the first round’s challenges,successfully avoided Zakhar’s early takedown attempts. Capitalizing on Zakhar’s fatigue, Pham Cong Minh managed to turn the tables, taking zakhar down and unleashing a series of strikes [[1]].

Dù ngay lập tức khiến Công Minh ngã ra sàn, nhưng Zakhar vẫn không thể chiếm lợi thế trước sức mạnh của nhà vô địch MMA LION hạng 84 kg.
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The national Wushu Sanshou champion employed a combination of elbows and powerful punches to Zakhar’s face and ribs, considerably depleting the Belarusian fighter’s stamina. By the end of the second round, Zakhar was unable to continue [[1]].

Victory and Records

Zakhar’s corner was forced to stop the fight, awarding Pham Cong Minh a technical knockout victory. This win allowed Pham Cong Minh to successfully defend his 84kg Lion Championship belt and maintain his undefeated record. For Zakhar, this marks his first defeat in Vietnam’s MMA arena [[2]].

Fighter Backgrounds

Zakhar Dmitrychenka, born in 1996, is a highly decorated Belarusian wrestler, holding the title of Belarus Wrestling Sports Master. He achieved a top-10 finish at the 2017 U23 World Championship in Classic Wrestling and secured a bronze medal in the 97kg category at the 2018 world University Championships.

Pham Cong Minh, born in 1994 and hailing from Quang Ngai, has dominated the national Wushu Sanshou scene, winning the national championship for eight consecutive years (2014-2022). He also earned a world silver medal in 2019 and is recognized as the ‘Ubatsu’ (84-85kg) champion.

Pham Cong Minh’s MMA Dominance

pham Cong Minh’s victory solidifies his position as a force to be reckoned with in MMA Vietnam. He previously won the 84kg Championship Belt in December 2023. Notably, he holds the record for the fastest finish in the competition, defeating Hwang-min Hihou in just 15 seconds.