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Rocha, Daniels Win at Karate Combat

Mark Jacobs 2023.05.24 2 min read

Karate Combat 39 provided a disappointing main event Saturday as lightweight champion Luis Rocha defended his title against UFC veteran Bruno Souza in a match largely without action. Rocha stalked his foe for much of the bout but seemed to be waiting on one big shot, while Souza looked more interested in moving and playing to the crowd than fighting for the first two rounds.

Souza finally mounted a little offense in the third but his strikes lacked commitment. Rocha scored the only telling blows though they were few and far between. The pair picked it up a bit in the final round as Rocha landed the blow he’d been waiting for, dropping Souza with a left hook. Souza got back up but it was enough to seal a unanimous decision win for Rocha.

The co-main event saw 43-year-old Black Belt Hall of Fame karateka Raymond Daniels turn back the clock defeating Sasha Palatnikov by decision. Daniels looked sharp dancing around and unleashing the wide array of dazzling kicks that have always been his trademark, at one point landing a spinning back kick to the body that sent Palatnikov flying into the angled wall of the pit and tumbling to the mat.

Karate combat, News, Karate

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