Nitro MMA 15: Sam Jo Toetu, Jack Tuave, Darwin Sagurit claim title wins

Under brand new ownership, Queensland based promotion Nitro made it’s return on Saturday night with an all professional fight card headlined by three title fights in the featherweight, welterweight and heavyweight divisions.

The event took place at the Logan Entertainment Centre in Queensland.

In the main event, Sam Jo Toetu claimed a clear unanimous decision against veteran Gokhan Turkyilamz to win the Nitro welterweight title.

Toetu fought smart and composed, often circling with his hands at his waist encouraging his opponent to strike. Turkyilmaz had success with a takedown late in the first round and early in the second but struggled from there as Toetu successfully sprawled a number of takedown attempts in the second round. Toetu mixed it up on his feet, in particular landing a stiff jab. Knowing he needed a stoppage to get the win, Turkyilmaz came out strong in the third round and has some of his best moments of the fight, though Toetu was still able to get better of the exchanges to claim the decision win.

Toetu, who went 5-0 in 2017, moves his professional record to 6-3 while Turkyilmaz drops to 15-15.

In the heavyweight division, Jack Tuave needed only 43-seconds to defeat Felise Leniu who was returning from an extended hiatus from the sport. Tuave rocked Leniu with a high kick before he pounced and unloaded with strikes on the ground to get the referee stoppage.

It’s a big win for Tuave against an experienced opponent, as he takes home the heavyweight title in just his second pro fight.

Returning from nearly 2-years out of the cage, Jai Bradney missed weight and was unable to win the featherweight title but it wouldn’t come into consideration as Darwin Sagurit stopped Bradney with strikes early in the first-round. It was a cautious start from both fighters as Sagurit controlled the centre of the cage. Sixty seconds in, Bradney threw a kick which Sagurit caught and countered with a swinging left that dropped Bradney to the canvas. Sagurit immediately pounced and threw heavy shots from the top. Bradney scrambled back to his feet but with his back turned, Sagurit kept on flurrying to drop Bradney again, this time forcing the referee to intervene to earn the victory.

It’s a fifth straight stoppage for Sagurit who is now undefeated in 10 fights on Australian shores. His last loss was a decision to Rex De Lara on PXC in Philippines.

Also on the card Jacob Holyman-Tague moved his record to 5-1 with a decision win against Matt Eland, while Marcus Galloway remains undefeated, submitting Sam Lawson in the first-round.

Results:

• Sam Jo Toetu def. Gokhan Turkyilmaz via Decision (Unanimous) – Nitro welterweight title
• Jack Tuave def. Felise Leniu via TKO (Strikes), Rd 1, 0:43 – Nitro heavyweight title
• Darwin Sagurit def. Jai Bradney via TKO (Strikes), Rd 1, 1:12 – Nitro featherweight title
• Jacob Holyman-Tague def. Matt Eland via Decision (Unanimous)
• Marcus Galloway def. Sam Lawson via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Rd 1
• John Brewin def. Kimo Smith via Decision (Unanimous)
• Dimps Gillies def. Jozey Stubicar via Decision (Unanimous)
• David Taumoepeau def. Bruce Kolio via Submission, Rd 2