Stephane Sebisaho defended his bantamweight title in a grueling five-round battle against Italian challenger "El Potro" Schisano at WAR MMA's event in Alicante. The Belgian fighter showcased superior strategy throughout the bloody encounter that served as the culmination of months of social media hostilities between the two competitors.
"This was exactly the fight I prepared for," Sebisaho could say after maintaining his championship status following 25 minutes of intense combat.
The fight began with Sebisaho establishing distance through front kicks, while Schisano responded with powerful curved punches aimed at the champion's face. The first round saw both fighters exchanging heavy strikes, with Schisano securing a takedown in the final 30 seconds to even the scorecard.
By the second round, fatigue became evident in Schisano's movements following his aggressive first-round approach. Nevertheless, the Italian challenger surprised the crowd with a powerful right hand that momentarily staggered the champion. The fighters engaged in a wild exchange before Sebisaho wisely took the fight to the fence, later securing a takedown to control his opponent and score points with the judges.
Interestingly, a cut opened above Schisano's eyebrow from an elbow strike, requiring medical attention but not stopping the contest. The blood-soaked octagon told the story of the battle's intensity by the championship rounds.
In the championship rounds, the Climent Club fighter demonstrated complete control, landing cleaner strikes at various levels while consistently threatening with takedowns. Sebisaho's superior conditioning proved decisive as he maintained his technical advantage throughout the contest.
The event, held at Alicante's Plaza de Toros, also featured Franco Tenaglia submitting Joseph Hapgood in the first round of their co-main event despite challenging conditions in the octagon where sweat and humidity created a slippery surface for both fighters.
Worth noting, all fighters from the Climent Club gym emerged victorious during the evening, including Luis Picó, Daniel Richardson, and Manguelo Navarro, each securing their second professional win at the Plaza de Toros venue.
Despite the fierce rivalry leading into the fight, both Sebisaho and Schisano showed remarkable sportsmanship after their 25-minute war, embracing in a display of mutual respect that exemplifies the true spirit of mixed martial arts. Will Sebisaho's next title defense come against an even more dangerous challenger? Only time will tell.
