Johan Estupinan shrugs off knockdowns in Sean Climaco fight in Denver: “I wasn’t hurt”
Johan Estupinan downplayed Sean Climaco knocking him down at ONE 168: Denver.
ONE Championship's return to North America in the Mile High City was a special night for the promotion filled with knockouts and emotional moments.
The event started with an entertaining flyweight Muay Thai bout between Estupinan and Climaco, where both fighters secured knockdowns in round one.
Estupinan overcame the adversity and knocked out Climaco in the second round, extending his promotional Muay Thai record to 3-0. Furthermore, the 21-year-old was awarded a $50,000 performance bonus from ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.
Following his impressive win, Estupinan did a backstage media session with MMA Sucka where he was asked about Climaco knocking him down.
The Columbian flyweight responded by shrugging off the damage:
"When he knocked me down, it was more of an off balance. I have a tendency on leaning back. So when he hit me, I fell back but I wasn't hurt."
Johan Estupinan had one of six KO/TKOs at ONE 168: Denver.
For those who missed the action-packed event, North American and Canadian viewers can watch the replay for free with an Amazon Prime Video subscription.
Watch Johan Estupinan's entire interview with MMA Sucka below:
Johan Estupinan's potential in ONE Championship
Johan Estupinan made his ONE Championship debut in May, knocking out Kouta Omori in 27 seconds on the ONE Friday Fights series.
The Columbian's impressive performance led to a spot on the main roster, where he's continuing his success with knockout wins against Zafer Sayik and Sean Climaco.
At 21 years old, Estupinan has the potential to evolve into a world title challenger. 'Panda Kick' arguably has plenty of room to improve but his unorthodox fighting style makes him a tough opponent to train for and fight.
Estupinan holds a lifetime Muay Thai/Kickboxing record of 25-0 and his last win was against a fighter with a 1-0 promotional record (Climaco). Therefore, the 21-year-old could be one or two wins away from fighting a ranked flyweight opponent.
Watch Estupinan's knockout win against Climaco below: