| Fadhil Yunus |
BRUNEI Darussalam exponents Zaim Norzairi and Zaim Roslan guided the Fluffy Unicorns to a 3-2 win over the Powerpuff Ponies in the 5 v 5 no GI submission only grappling match in the Ultimate Beatdown Borneo 31 at the ITCC-Penampang in Penampang, Sabah recently.
The Khalifa MMA representatives joined forces with Raphael Moa of Rebel Grapplers Kuching and Warmonger Miri duo Nigel Lakai and Nathaniel Lakai. They went up against Alex Fong of Borneo Tribal Squad, Joel Nickolson of Sabah Top Team, Samuel Lai of Karabaw Tamparuli, Anrian Fabian of Rhino and Mohd Hasbullah of Karabaw Keningau.
Contested in a team format, Zaim highlighted that the fight differed from competing as an individual.
“Fighting for a team is completely different from competing individually. Individually, you work your way up to the finals where as a team you have to plan who’s fighting who and always have a plan B just in case things don’t go our way,” Zaim told the Bulletin.
Fluffy Unicorns won the toss to pick their first fighter but Raphael lost giving Powerpuff Ponies the opportunity to pick the fighter whom they chose the fight.
The decision to put Nigel in the cage backfired on the opponents’ as he won his match-up, giving him the opportunity to pick Zaim who puts his team one win away from winning the team fight. Subsequently, Zaim picked his Khalifa teammate whose win sealed the series.
With the last fight academic, they still however proceeded with it and Fluffy Unicorns lost via decision to make the score 3-2.
“Being part of the team is an honour. I respect them for believing and acknowledging my skills,” added Zaim.
Zaim fought against Sabah fighter Anrian, an opponent whom he had already shared the cage in a previous competition.
“My opponent was no stranger as he beat me in the final in the last competition ‘Copa De Borneo’ which was a few weeks before the Ultimate Beatdown,” the Khalifa MMA representative said.
“So I called him out, I must admit he’s a hard opponent. I took him down a couple of times even attempted a guillotine choke but it ended via decision by the referee. Alhamdulillah, I managed to secure the win for my team,” he said.
Khalifa MMA tasted successes in the meet with Eazy Anuar emerging victorious in his pro-MMA debut against Jess Delapena of Tribal Submission and Dayat Abdul also won his amateur MMA match-up against Ted of Evolve MMA.