Mark Jacobs 
Karate legend Rafael Aghayev added one more title to his collection capturing the welterweight crown at Karate Combat 40 with a unanimous decision victory over Josh Quayhagen Saturday in Miami, Fla. Arguably the greatest traditional style tournament fighter in history with five world championships, Aghayev abandoned some of his technique to turn the match-up into a wild brawl at times.
Possessing a significant height advantage, Quayhagen controlled the early exchanges on the outside with low kicks and knee strikes but Aghayev controlled the action in close where he wrestled his opponent to the mat several times. By the third, Aghayev was looking sloppy but still very effective wailing away with left hands from his southpaw stance. Quayhagen countered with more knees to the body but Aghayev got the better of the exchanges. He dropped Quayhagen with a right hook in the fourth but was looking winded by the end of the round.
The final stanza saw an exhausted, 38-year-old Aghayev trying to avoid Quayhagen. But when he got too tired to move, he stood in front of the other man swinging away with little regard for defense. Though it was Quayhagen’s best round, it wasn’t enough to earn him the win as Aghayev took the decision and the championship.
Karate, Karate combat, Traditional martial arts, News
Black Belt Magazine
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