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Vera still One heavyweight champ after knocking out Cerilli

Reigning One Championship Heavyweight Champion Brandon "The Truth" Vera downs his Italian challenger Mauro "The Hammer" Cerilli to retain the championship belt after two years of break from professional mixed martial art. Photo by Rick Johnsen dela Cruz


By Ivan Saldajeno

PASAY--A two-year layoff and all, Brandon Vera showed on Friday night that he can still pack a punch.

Vera made a triumphant return to One Championship by knocking out Mauro Cerilli in the main event of One: Conquest of Champions at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Vera needed just barely a minute to finish off Cerilli.

Cerilli missed out on a huge right hook, and Vera capitalized by connecting on a left hook of his own that sent the former down for good, forcing the referee to stop the contest at the 1:04 mark of the very first round.

Vera moves up to 21-6 overall.

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