KOK kickboxing champion Sergej “Kuvalda” Maslobojev made a successful return to MMA with a first-round stoppage win over Nicolai Garbuz Friday in Vilnius, Lithuania. The bout was the co-main event of the MMA Bushido 77 card held at the Siemens Arena.
Moldova’s Garbuz quickly took Maslobojev down after he stepped in with a combination, and ended up in the Lithuanian’s guard. Garbuz stayed low and didn’t offer much offense. After nearly a minute without much action, the referee restarted the fight in the standing position.
Maslobojev landed a body kick, and after Garbuz unsuccessfully tried to toss him to the mat, followed up with a flurry and kept up the attack after Garbuz went down. The referee then halted the contest.
Maslobojev improved his MMA ledger to 11-6 with the victory. It was “Sledgehammer’s” first MMA bout since 2012. He’s expected to return to kickboxing late in the year to defend his KOK World Light Heavyweight Title.
In other action on the card, Dream and Strikeforce veteran Marius Zaromskis defeated opponent Aliaksandr Danilchenko by first round-TKO.