South Korea's Jeju Island hosted its debut mixed martial arts event this past Saturday when Road Fighting Championship 53 landed ashore. The main event $1 million lightweight tournament culminated at the Halla Gymnasium with tournament challenger Mansour Barnaoui (19-4) securing a first-round submission victory over now former champion A-Sol Kwon (21-11).
The new lightweight champion journeyed through a two-year, 16-man tournament before reaching the final stage. Making quick work of Kwon, the 26-year-old closed the distance with punches then used his grappling to drag his opponent to the mat. Barnoui worked Kwon's body with fists and holds before finally taking the 32-year-old's back and securing a rear naked choke.