Friday night delivered a major heavyweight upset in New Jersey, a statement performance from Vito Mielnicki Jr. and plenty of action from ONE Championship in Bangkok.
Former unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr. hoped his latest comeback would put him back on the road toward another title opportunity. Instead, Damian Knyba may have ended those plans before they could get started.
Meanwhile, Vito Mielnicki Jr. took an important step forward at middleweight, Eridson Garcia ruined Alan Chaves’ unbeaten record, and Stamp Fairtex continued rebuilding momentum in ONE Championship.
Here are the biggest results and takeaways from Friday, September 4.
Damian Knyba Upsets Andy Ruiz Jr.
Damian Knyba def. Andy Ruiz Jr. — Unanimous Decision
Scores: 117-110, 114-113, 114-113
Andy Ruiz Jr.’s return to the heavyweight spotlight did not go according to plan.
Knyba used his significant height and reach advantages to keep Ruiz on the outside for much of the fight at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Working behind a consistent jab, Knyba controlled the distance while Ruiz struggled to get close enough to unleash the fast combinations that once made him one of boxing’s most dangerous heavyweights.
The biggest moment came in the seventh round.
Knyba caught Ruiz with a hard shot and sent the former champion to the canvas. Ruiz managed to beat the count and survive the round, but the knockdown created an even bigger hole on the scorecards.
Ruiz showed some life in the eighth and ninth rounds, finally beginning to close the distance and land harder shots, but Knyba regained control behind his jab over the final rounds.
The judges ultimately awarded Knyba the unanimous decision, although the two 114-113 scorecards were surprisingly close considering Knyba’s overall control of the fight.
Knyba improves to 18-1, while Ruiz falls to 35-3-1.
Fight Week Takeaway
This was supposed to be the beginning of another run for Ruiz.
Instead, it raises serious questions about how much the former champion has left.
Ruiz still has the hand speed and power to be dangerous when he gets inside, but against Knyba he struggled badly with distance, movement and activity. At 36 years old and coming off another long layoff, returning to the top of the heavyweight division now looks like a very difficult road.
For Knyba, this is easily the biggest victory of his career.
Vito Mielnicki Jr. Makes a Statement
Vito Mielnicki Jr. def. Austin “Ammo” Williams — Unanimous Decision
Scores: 98-91, 98-91, 98-91
Vito Mielnicki Jr. may have delivered the best performance of his career.
Mielnicki dropped Austin Williams in the opening round and controlled most of the fight from there, using sharper punches, better defense and disciplined movement to keep Williams from building sustained offense.
Williams attempted to turn up the pressure late, but Mielnicki finished strong and repeatedly connected with uppercuts and combinations in the final round.
All three judges scored the fight 98-91.
The victory moves Mielnicki to 24-1 and puts the 24-year-old firmly into the conversation as a legitimate contender at middleweight.
Fight Week Takeaway
Mielnicki has officially graduated from prospect status.
There were questions about how he would respond against a proven, dangerous opponent like Williams. He answered them with perhaps his most complete professional performance.
At 160 pounds, bigger opportunities should be next.
Eridson Garcia Shocks Alan Chaves
Eridson Garcia def. Alan Chaves — Unanimous Decision
Scores: 99-87, 99-88, 98-88
The Ruiz-Knyba fight wasn’t the only upset of the night.
Eridson Garcia handed previously unbeaten lightweight Alan Chaves his first professional defeat in dominant fashion.
Garcia dropped Chaves four times during the fight and consistently used his reach and timing to frustrate the heavily favored Argentine.
Chaves showed tremendous toughness by surviving to the final bell, but there was little doubt about the winner when the scorecards were announced.
Garcia improves to 24-2, while Chaves falls to 22-1.
Fight Week Takeaway
This was a major opportunity for Chaves to establish himself as a serious lightweight contender.
Instead, Garcia completely changed the direction of both fighters’ careers.
Garcia suddenly becomes a name worth watching at 135 pounds, while Chaves will have to rebuild after a surprisingly one-sided defeat.
Zaquin Moses Remains Unbeaten
Zaquin Moses def. Angel Antonio Contreras — TKO 5
Newark prospect Zaquin Moses gave the hometown crowd another reason to celebrate.
Moses controlled the fight with his jab and increasingly effective body attack before Contreras’ corner stopped the contest following the fifth round.
The victory moves the 21-year-old Moses to 8-0 with four knockouts.
Moses remains one of the young fighters Fight Week will be keeping an eye on as he continues moving toward tougher competition.
ONE Fight Night 47: Stamp Fairtex Wins Again
While the boxing world focused on Newark, ONE Championship delivered another busy night from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok.
Stamp Fairtex Edges Selina Flores
Stamp Fairtex def. Selina Flores — Split Decision
Stamp Fairtex continued her comeback with a hard-fought split-decision victory over Selina Flores in the atomweight Muay Thai main event.
Stamp pressured early with body kicks, punches and knees in the clinch before Flores increased her activity as the fight progressed.
The third round turned into the most entertaining stretch of the fight, with both women exchanging aggressively before Stamp did enough to earn the decision.
The win gives Stamp consecutive victories and continues her recovery after the serious knee injury that interrupted her career.
Fight Week Takeaway
Perhaps more important than the victory was the way Stamp fought.
She looked more confident, more aggressive and more willing to exchange than she had during the early stages of her comeback.
A return to MMA could now become one of the most interesting storylines in ONE Championship.
Other ONE Fight Night 47 Results
Fabio Henrique def. Ryohei Kurosawa — Unanimous Decision
Henrique survived a competitive three-round battle and used his grappling and ground control to earn the victory.
Pawel Jaworski def. Rafael Lovato Jr. — Submission
Jaworski produced one of the night’s biggest surprises, submitting the decorated Lovato with a lateral kneebar at 1:51.
Pedro Dantas def. Hector Almonacid — Unanimous Decision
Dantas won a back-and-forth featherweight MMA battle that featured takedowns, reversals and extended ground exchanges.
Macarena Aragon def. Gabi Fujimoto — Submission, Round 3
Aragon finished Fujimoto with a scarf-hold Americana at 2:06 of the third round.
In Muay Thai action, Ricardo Bravo knocked out Mohamed Younes Rabah with just two seconds remaining in the opening round, while Jordan Estupinan earned a unanimous decision over Jaosuayai and Elmehdi El Jamari stopped Ngoc Phu Nguyen after scoring three knockdowns in the first round.
Fight Week Fighter of the Night: Damian Knyba
There were several candidates, but the biggest performance belonged to Damian Knyba.
Beating Andy Ruiz Jr. remains meaningful regardless of where Ruiz currently stands in his career.
Knyba entered the night needing a major victory after suffering the first defeat of his career earlier this year. He responded by beating a former unified heavyweight champion, scoring a knockdown and putting himself back into the heavyweight conversation.
Friday night belonged to Damian Knyba.
And for Andy Ruiz Jr., the questions about what comes next are only getting louder.
