Sasha Palatnikov becomes first Hong Kong-born MMA champion with middleweight title win at AFC 12
- The 30-year-old grinds out unanimous decision in Seoul dogfight against South Korea’s Son Sung-won
- Palatnikov becomes inaugural Angel’s Fighting Championship middleweight titlist
Sasha Palatnikov ground out a tough victory against South Korea’s Son Sung-won in Seoul on Monday night to make history as the first Hong Kong-born MMA world champion.
The 30-year-old fighter, who trains out of the Hybrid MMA gym, took a unanimous decision against his taller, heavier opponent to become Angel’s Fighting Championship’s inaugural middleweight champion.
The victory at Sindorim Techno Mart Grand Ballroom took Palatnikov’s record in MMA to 4-1. He has also previously fought in Hong Kong-based promotion Just MMA.
It was undoubtedly the high point of the ambitious Palatnikov’s burgeoning career – he told the South China Morning Post last week he is targeting a place in the UFC within two years.
On the same show, Hungarian kick-boxer David Mihajlov knocked out Korean K-1 and Pride veteran Choi Hong-man in just 49 seconds.
