Martin Stapleton loses to Goiti Yamauchi

Photo: Journeaux

Martin Stapleton

Martin Stapleton, Rochdale's professional cage fighter, lost to Goiti Yamauchi, a 21-year-old Japanese-born Brazilian, at Fresno, California, United States in his third Bellator MMA tournament fight in the early hours of this morning (Saturday 20 September).

Yamauchi, an expert in the ground game who has a fight history of 18 wins and two losses, caught Stapleton in a rear-naked choke after four minutes 37 seconds of the first round, forcing a submission. He had predicted prior to the fight that he would win saying: “Stapleton is very sound as a fighter, but at this point in my career I feel I am better than him in any aspect of the fight."

Stapleton went into the fight off the back of securing a win against Stanislav Enchev in June - winning by a guillotine in the first round - however, this is the second time in three Bellator fights that Stapleton has lost to a rear-naked choke, having submitted in the first round of his fight against Saad Awad in his Bellator MMA debut in Portland, USA in September 2013. 

After the fight, Stapleton said: "Not the result I wanted but you can't keep a good man down. I will be back training on Monday and looking to fight again ASAP.

"Well done to Goiti, a very skillful fighter.

"Thanks to everyone for the support.

"The journey continues, destination remains the same."

Wife Hayley, who watched the fight from home in Rochdale, is thankful for the strong support Stapleton received from his English fans, she said: "Thanks so much for all the support. Facebook has gone crazy for him today."

Stapleton's fight record is now 13 wins and four losses.