Jenelyn Olsim beats Julie Mezabarba at ONE 158

From winning in the vovinam mat, Jenelyn Olsim got her biggest MMA win yet. ONE Championship (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—Jenelyn Olsim scored what could be her biggest win in ONE Championship after edging Brazilian opponent Julie Mezabarba at ONE Championship 158 on Friday night at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Fresh from winning a bronze medal for vovinam in the Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Olsim showed that her striking remains on point by being the more aggressive fighter in the stand-up game and tagging Mezabarba with pinpoint punches.

Olsim even showed her aggressiveness in going for the takedown and actually had a crack at submitting Mezabarba through a leglock late into Round 1, but Mezabarba was only saved by the bell.

The Brazilian fighter had chances at overturning the Team Lakay standout's takedown attempts into guillotine hold shots, but the latter quickly got out of the holds.

Mezabarba's near submissions got the nod from one judge, but the other two judges saw Olsim winning with her superb striking, giving the latter the split decision victory.

After the battle pitting alternate semifinalists in the ONE Women's Atomweight Grand Prix, Olsim moved up to 6-3, while Mezabarba fell to 9-4-1.

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