TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2021 11

Sprinter Knott edges Mineiro vs Grabinski set closer to Olympics to headline BRAVE CF 51 German Marcel Grabinski will take on Brazilian Lucas “Mineiro” Martins in the Lightweight division at first-ever Belarus event

Grabinski made waves• in his native BETTER Germany before making his international KNOW transition Knott is finally getting into the groove again TDT | Manama Mineiro is eager to TDT | Manila bounce back from two he inaugural fight night ilipino-American sprinter consecutive title fight BETTER for BRAVE Combat Fed- FKristina Knott closed in eration in the country of losses and expects on a Tokyo Olympics berth fol- T that a convincing Belarus, scheduled for June 4th lowing her fifth-place perfor- KNOW in Minsk, has its main event. The victory over one of mance at the 2021 LSU Alumni truly global MMA promotion has the most prominent Gold at Baton Rouge, Louisi- announced that German ris- BRAVE CF newcomers ana over the weekend. ing star Marcel Grabinski will will put him in the In one of her best showings Knott checked home take on Brazilian veteran Lu- spotlight once again in nine months, Knott checked 11.28 seconds in the cas “Mineiro” Martins in what home 11.28 seconds in the promises to be a pivotal clash in women’s 100-meter dash to get women’s 100-meter the Lightweight division. ro boasts a professional record 13/100ths of a second closer to dash to get 13/100ths An up-and-coming star in the of 20 wins and only 5 losses, the qualifying standard time of a second closer global scene, the 29-year-old with an 85% finish-ratio, 12 KOs of 11.15 seconds for this year’s to the qualifying Grabinski made waves in his or TKOs and 5 submissions. Olympics. standard time of native Germany before making Mineiro is eager to bounce The 5-foot-6 Knott’s recent 11.15 seconds for this his international transition. He back from two consecutive title 100m performance improved year’s Olympics has dominated the European fight losses and expects that a from her recent feat at the scene in recent years, holding a convincing victory over one of Pure Springs Invitational in professional record of 21 wins the most prominent BRAVE CF Florida two weeks ago where ters because the schedules and only six losses. Grabinski, newcomers will put him in the she posted 11.33sec for silver. were too close. who fights out of Dusseldorf, spotlight once again. It was also a hairline from “She did run 11.28 which is has a staggering 71% finish-ra- his position as a top contend- will have the opposition of none BRAVE CF 51 will mark the her current national record of 0.01 off of her personal best tio, with 15 of his wins coming er. He is looking for his second other than former BRAVE CF first visit of the fastest-growing 11.27sec – the same mark that 11.27 and less than a hour lat- via or submission. straight BRAVE CF win after a Lightweight world champion MMA promotion in the world shattered Lydia De Vega-Mer- er, because they moved to a Ready to take over the Light- victorious debut against Issa and former BRAVE CF Feather- to Belarus, the 22nd nation to cado’s long-standing record in rolling schedule, she ran 23.17 weight division, Grabinski Isakov (at Super Lightweight) weight title challenger Lucas host a BRAVE Combat Federa- the said event. in the 200 for 0.16 off of her knows that fighting a former in the historic BRAVE CF 50 fight “Mineiro” Martins. tion fight night and is hosted in Knott’s clocking, which personal best in that event as world champion is a once-in-a- card on April 1st. One of the biggest names in- association with Rukh Sports came close to a national re - well.” lifetime opportunity to cement Across the cage, though, he side the BRAVE CF roster, Minei- Management (RSM). cord-breaking performance Meanwhile, 32-year-old in August last year, was good Fil-American Eric Cray also for fifth place, behind Alelia posted his season-best per- Hobbs, who earned first place formance in the men’s 400m Man City’s Walker in 10.91 seconds. hurdles at the Drake Relays in ‘The Vicious’ eyes second world title racially abused online “We took a week off and Des Moines, Iowa also over the worked on things. So, now it’s weekend, but was still three TDT | Manila after League Cup win time to rest and recover and seconds slower than the Olym- get back to it,” Knott’s coach pic standard time. orld Boxing Association Rohsaan Griffin said. Cray, who seeks a second W(WBA) minimumweight I am willing to face An hour later, the dou - Olympic appearance after world champion Vic “The Vi- anyone, the WBO ble-gold medalist at the 2019 competing in the 2016 Rio cious” Saludar is now training belt is still with Southeast Asian Games also Games, clocked 51.20sec his sights on a second world (Wilfred) Mendez. raced in the women’s 200m to better last week’s time of title. Olympic Deve category, 51.61sec in Texas. The Olympic The 30-year-old Saludar, a Hopefully, I can have clocking 23.17 seconds for standard time, however, is at two-time world champion, my rematch but a bronze-medal finish and 48.90sec. Kyle Walker joined an elite list of Filipino it depends on my moving closer to the 22.80sec Both Knott and Cray still world titlists last February in promoter Reuters | London Olympic standard time. have chances of hitting the Biñan, Laguna, after claiming a “It was great anytime you standard times with races controversial split decision win anchester City defend- run that close to both of your lined up in the coming weeks. over Robert Paradero to win the stopped in six rounds by Jap- Mer Kyle Walker shared personal bests, which are the Knott is set to fly to Europe vacant WBA minimumweight, anese in De - a screenshot of racist abuse national records. It’s great,” to be in the Meeting Inter - 105-lbs belt. cember 2015 in his first bid he received on social media added Griffin, who added national Citta Di Savona on A resident of Cagayan de for the WBO minimumweight following Sunday’s 1-0 win Knott did not have enough May 13, the first scheduled Saludar is eager to win another belt Oro City, Saludar joined cur- title. Saludar floored Tanaka over Tottenham Hotspur in time to rest in between the European outdoor meet this rent world champions IBF super Sporting a 21-4 win-loss re- in the fifth round before suc- the League Cup final and 100-meters and the 200-me- summer. titleholder Jerwin cord with 11 , Salu- cumbing to a vicious body shot asked, “When is this going Ancajas, WBO bantamweight dar also hopes to regain his from the Japanese in the sixth to stop?” champion Johnriel Casimero first world title — the WBO stanza. The England interna - and WBO Intercontinental su- minimumweight belt he relin- He regrouped and finally tional, who played the full per flyweight kingpin Donnie quished to Wilfredo Mendez became a world champion in 90 minutes as City claimed Nietes as the country’s present of Puerto Rico via unanimous July 2018 when he defeated a record-equalling fourth world boxing champions. decision last August 24, 2019, in Japanese for successive League Cup tri- Senator Manny “Pacman” San Juan, Puerto Rico. the WBO minimumweight strap. umph, posted pictures on Pacquiao was stripped of his “I am willing to face anyone, Saludar made no mistake this Instagram celebrating their WBA super world welterweight the WBO belt is still with Men- time, knocking down Yamana- victory before adding a title due to inactivity. dez. Hopefully, I can have my ka in the seventh canto on his screenshot of the abuse. Against Paradero, it was a rematch but it depends on my way to a unanimous decision “When is this going to very sweet victory for Saludar, promoter,” said the Polomolok, victory. stop?” Walker added and who has not fought since De- South Cotabato native. The Filipino made only one tagged the social media firm. cember 2019 in Naga City when Saludar turned pro in July successful defense before los- A host of players at Pre- he scored a sixth-round knock- 2013 and won his first two ing the WBO title to Mendez in mier League clubs have out win over countryman Mike fights before losing to Powell August 2019. been targeted in the past Kinaadman. Balaba in November 2013. The Saludar traveled to Mendez’s few months, including Man- Both Saludar and Paradero loss to Balaba was inconclusive backyard, Puerto Rico, sans his chester United’s Anthony were inactive for more than a as Saludar was forced to retire regular trainer (visa issues) and Martial and Marcus Rash- year due to the COVID-19 pan- on his stool after fracturing his manager (family-related emer- ford, Liverpool’s Trent-Al- demic. Also, the bout’s schedule hand. gency). With barely anyone to exander Arnold and Sadio was rescheduled twice for the ‘The Vicious’ won his next guide him, Saludar yielded the Mane, and Chelsea’s Reece same reason. nine fights before getting title to Mendez. James.