Stephane Sebisaho successfully defended his bantamweight championship with a dominant performance against Italian challenger El Potro Schisano at the WAR MMA event in Alicante, Spain. The Belgian fighter from "Climent Club" controlled the five-round battle that turned into a bloody spectacle following months of heated social media exchanges between the two competitors.
The fight began with Sebisaho establishing distance through front kicks while Schisano responded with powerful curved punches. Despite some early success from the Italian, the champion adjusted his strategy as the first round progressed, securing a crucial takedown in the final 30 seconds to edge a competitive opening frame.
By the second round, fatigue became visible in Schisano's movements, though he still managed to rock the champion with a surprising right hand. The unexpected success led to a wild exchange before Sebisaho wisely took the fight to the ground, where he could assert his dominance. A spinning backfist from El Potro briefly threatened the Belgian, but another takedown secured the round for the champion.
The third round saw Schisano suffering a significant cut from an elbow strike, with blood covering much of the octagon canvas. Despite medical concerns, the Italian challenger was allowed to continue but struggled against Sebisaho's increasingly confident boxing and ground control.
By the championship rounds, the pattern was established – Sebisaho connecting with more accurate strikes at various levels while mixing in takedowns that "entered like a knife through butter" against the tiring Italian. The blood-soaked canvas told the story of a brutal battle that lived up to the pre-fight hype.
In the co-main event, Franco Tenaglia submitted British fighter Joseph Hapgood in the first round after a fierce striking exchange. The Argentine, who calls Alicante home, secured his second victory at the venue and now looks toward defending his lightweight title in Bare Knuckle FC against Tony 'Loco' Soto.
It was a perfect night for the Climent brothers' gym, with all their fighters securing victories. Luis Picó earned a unanimous decision win over Mohamed Majid, while Daniel Richardson and Manguelo Navarro also dominated their opponents, giving all three fighters their second professional victories in as many attempts.
The successful event at Alicante's Plaza de Toros cemented WAR MMA's growing reputation for delivering compelling matchups, with Sebisaho confirming his status as the division's true king. Despite the pre-fight animosity, both main event fighters embraced after the 25-minute war, showing the respect that ultimately defines this brutal sport.
