Fil-Japanese Junna Tsukii reflects on 35-second KO win

If you happened to blink over the weekend, you might have missed another electrifying showing from national team karateka-turned-MMA fighter Junna Tsukii.

The Filipina-Japanese striker delivered a resounding first-round knockout against Princess Saaya in their rematch on the undercard of Deep Jewels 51, held Sunday at New Pier Hall in Tokyo, Japan.

Tsukii needed just 35 seconds to finish the job. The 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist landed a stiff right hand that sent Saaya tumbling to the canvas, before she swarmed her opponent with ground-and-pound to close the show.

“It was incredibly tough and frustrating during the time when I struggled to showcase the best aspects of Karate in MMA and couldn't meet expectations,” Tsukii wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday morning.

“The world of competition isn't always smooth sailing, but this moment today—where I could share the joy of victory with all of you—makes me truly happy and reaffirms that it was worth taking the challenge.”

With the victory, Tsukii avenged the disqualification loss she suffered in their first encounter back in September. The impressive stoppage also improved her professional MMA record to an even 2-2.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News