Rene Catalan says he almost tapped against Yoshitaka Naito

He just scored his biggest career victory to date, but Rene Catalan admits that he almost succumbed to former ONE strawweight world titleholder Yoshitaka Naito when they met inside the cage.

Catalan ground and pounds Naito. Photo courtesy of One Championship

It was a classic striker versus grappler MMA matchup between the two, a fight that the Filipino striker won by first-round technical knockout on the undercard of ONE: Reign of Valor this past Friday at Thuwunna Indoor Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar.

"In his first takedown attempt, I nearly tapped because I felt my back cramp up. I was 99 percent sure that I was going to tap, the pain was so intense and I can’t breathe properly," Catalan said.

"But then he tried to adjust and he rolled, that’s where I got my wind, I really maintained my position so I can recover, and I never let up."

Naito, who has wins over the former world champions Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke, Alex Silva, and Joshua Pacio of Team Lakay, is known for his world class submissions and swift takedowns.

Catalan knew from the very start that Naito would want the contest on the mat, but he was well prepared for everything the Japanese would try that evening.

"I know that his grappling is on a high level, but with my wrestling training with coach Roque (Verangel Mana-ay Jr), I was able to pin him down," he said.

"Actually the game plan was to try and strike with him and knock him out with a straight punch in the first round, maybe in the second if I can’t get it in the first."

Catalan nevertheless had the job done with his ground and pound in the first round. He took advantage of the opportunity as he saw fit, and went for the finish en route to defeat the most decorated foe in his professional career.

"There was an opening for a knee that’s why I went for it, then I never stopped because I didn’t want to go to a second round." — LA, GMA News