WGP 75: Cabelo Monteiro dethrones Renzo Martinez and becomes the new champion of the Lightweights

The WGP Kickboxing starred in yet another historic event on the night of this Sunday, May 19, in Brasília. The federal capital hosted the 75th edition of the event, and the duels lived up to expectations. In the main fight of the night, Brazilian Cabelo Monteiro dethroned the Bolivian, then champion, Renzo Martinez, and became the new holder of the Lightweight title after a unanimous victory and much celebration from the audience present at the AABB gym. The event also revealed the last two semifinalists of the Super 8 Challenger GP of the Super-Lightweights. Denis Jr and Alex Reis defeated Hiago Pereira and Diego Piovesan, respectively, and will now face each other in one of the semifinals of the tournament. Another major highlight of the night was Argentine Marcos Wasabi, who defeated Julio Assunção and recorded his fifth knockout in five fights in the WGP, a historic record. The next edition of the WGP will take place on June 15, for the first time in the city of Cuiabá, in Mato Grosso.

The main fight of WGP 75 was highly anticipated. With a series of provocations leading up to the duel, Renzo Martinez and Cabelo Monteiro turned the AABB gym in Brasília into a true football stadium. With the entire audience on his side, Cabelo faced the challenge of dethroning the then champion. And he lived up to it. With an aggressive style from the outset, he took control of the fight, while Renzo relied on counterattacks. Not even a knockdown in favor of Renzo in the second round discouraged Cabelo, who continued to press forward and landed the best hits. At the end of the five rounds, a unanimous victory for the Brazilian brought great celebrations from the audience present. Now the division has a new champion.

The Super 8 Challenger GP of the Super-Lightweights witnessed on this Sunday night its last two semifinalists who joined Vinicius Mestrinier and Gabriel de Lima. In the first semifinal, Denis Jr faced Hiago Pereira, who accepted the duel a week in advance due to Mateus Machado's health issue. What unfolded in the ring was a true monologue. With a brilliant performance, Denis dominated the fight and after scoring a knockdown in the first round, he achieved three more in the second and ended the duel by knockout.

In the other semifinal, the fight between Alex Reis and Diego Piovesan was more contested. Nevertheless, with a loose and aggressive game, it was more convincing and left no doubts for the judges who awarded him the victory by unanimous decision. Now, Denis and Alex will face each other in the semifinal in a rematch, as Denis won the recent duel between the two in the WGP.

Two more duels were part of the Main Card of WGP 75. In the clash between Brazil and Argentina, Hermano Marcos Wasabi shone again and scored his fifth knockout in five fights in the event. The victory over Julio Assunção after an incredible sequence crowned his great phase. In the fight between Cicero Evangelista and Gabriel Vinicius, there was much balance. After three rounds of both alternating good hits, Cícero emerged victorious by split decision.

In the Super Fights of WGP 75, we had two international duels. In the match between Brazilian Mateus Pakitoo, who has been in great form in the event, against Chilean Diego Torres, Pakitoo prevailed by dominating the duel and winning unanimously. In the other fight between Brazilian João Pedro Simão and Bolivian Josias Nunez, it was more balanced. After three rounds with both alternating good moments, it was also better for the Brazilian, who came out ahead by unanimous decision.

Among the other Super Fights, two matches deserved more highlight. The clash between Augusto Almeida and Marlon Lourenço was undoubtedly one of the best of the night and thrilled the crowd in a true war won by Augusto after achieving two knockdowns in the second round. Another fight that delighted the audience was between Edgar Boca and Jonathan Koringa, who starred in a very aggressive match with both alternating excellent moments. In the end, Boca won by unanimous decision. Another winner in the Super Fights was Meijy Batista, who edged Thiago Oliveira in a lackluster duel.

The Undercard heated up the main fights of WGP 75 in grand style. With five matches, the highlight was Evandro Taipan's knockout victory over Jonathas Soares. The other winners of the night were Willem Brandão, Anderson Felix, Kauan Lee, and Amanda Vaz.