Tigre turns anger into X-1 championship
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
Here's a lesson for other mixed martial arts competitors: Don't get Tigre mad.
As in Marcelo Tigre.
He defeated John Lober in the main event of the X-1: Judgment Day card Saturday night before a crowd of around 3,000 at the Blaisdell Center Arena.
Tigre was awarded the victory just 1 minute, 37 seconds, into the first round after applying an armbar submission hold on Lober. Tigre improved to 8-3, and won the X-1 organization's championship belt for the 210-pound class.
"I think I sweat too much tonight," said Tigre, who is from Brazil. "I was supposed to beat this guy in 50 seconds. But he's a good fighter, very strong. That's why it took me a little longer."
Tigre said he was upset prior to the bout because he was forced to lose six pounds in a four-hour span on Friday.
"I was a little over, but I thought (Lober's camp) would let me go," said Tigre, 28. "When they said I had to lose it all, I wasn't very happy."
He became even more upset in the moments before the start of the bout when the referee made him remove his lycra top. Tigre had the names of his supporters and sponsors listed on the jersey.
"That just made me more upset," he said. "One of the mayors in Brazil helped me with a lot of things, so I wanted to put his name on there and show him I was fighting for him."
Lober, who is 38 and from California, was making his return to mixed martial arts after a seven-year hiatus. He dropped to 4-6-4.
In the semi-main event, Mark Moreno of Kalihi earned a majority decision over Hilo's Ross Ebanez. Moreno was awarded the X-1's championship belt for the 170-pound class.
"This is the biggest win of my career," said Moreno, 26.
Moreno landed more punches and kicks during the three-round bout, although Ebanez kept the judges' scores close with numerous takedowns.
"I thought I had a chance to knock him out, but my leg started hurting really bad," Moreno said. "I was hurting him with the kicks, but in that last round, I had to back off a little bit because of my leg."
Moreno, who improved to 8-6, left the ring with a swollen right foot. Ebanez dropped to 10-4.
Two other Hawai'i fighters won X-1 championship belts:
In the preliminary bouts:
145 pounds: Dave Moreno def. Kevin Delima by choke-out, first round. 185: Bryson Kamaka def. Peter Kahananui by TKO, first round. 205: Randy Leuder def. Derik Thornton by choke submission, first round. 135: Albert Manners def. Lorenzo Coca by unanimous decision. 145: Eddie Yagin def. Donald Gonzalez because of an arm injury to Gonzalez, third round. 160: Jamal Perkins def. Shane Nelson by unanimous decision. Heavyweight: Shane Carwin def. Kasey Jackson by choke-out, first round. 185: Jay Carter def. Josh Ferreira by TKO, second round. 185: Dan Higgins def. Fernando Gonzalez, choke submission, second round. Heavyweight: Reuben "Warpath" Villareal and Miles Tynnanes, three-round draw. 195: Junior Sua def. Derik Thornton by unanimous decision. Heavyweight: John Marsh def. Shane Faulkner by TKO, third round.
Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.
