Ewa Beach’s Kailin Curran opened Thursday night’s UFC Fight Night event in Las Vegas with a second-round submission victory over Emily Kagan.
Curran (4-2 overall) notched her first UFC victory in three tries when she forced Kagan to tap out to a rear-naked choke at 46 seconds of the second round.
Kagan landed 17 more strikes but could not block Curran’s second submission attempt of the fight to fall to 3-2 overall and 0-2 in the UFC.
“I visualized this fight going several ways, and one of them was via rear-naked choke, but I didn’t think I’d get it,” Curran said. “It took me a round, but I was able to eventually capitalize on certain positions and find my range.”
The fight was contested at 115 pounds.
The UFC is holding three consecutive events in Las Vegas this week, headlined by UFC 194 on pay-per-view Saturday night.
“It was an honor to be the first fight of this historic three-fight weekend,” Curran said. “I’m so excited to get this win and I’m ready for whatever the UFC has next for me.”
Makaha’s Yancy Medeiros (11-3, 2-3 UFC) will fight John Makdessi (12-4, 6-4 UFC) in a lightweight preliminary bout for UFC 194 broadcast online on the UFC Fight Pass channel.
Waianae’s Max Holloway (14-3, 10-3 UFC) will open the pay-per-view broadcast in a featherweight bout against Jeremy Stephens (24-11, 11-10 UFC).
Holloway, who has won seven consecutive fights, is ranked fifth at 145 pounds, while Stephens is No. 8.
Bourne, Crabbs in beach exhibition
U.S. Olympic beach hopefuls Tri Bourne and brothers Taylor and Trevor Crabb are taking part in an exhibition match today at Queen’s Beach.
Bourne and Taylor Crabb will face Trevor Crabb and Japan’s Koichi Nishimura at 5 p.m. Bourne, an Academy of the Pacific graduate, finished first on the AVP Tour this season, partnered with John Hyden.
Bourne also is putting on free youth clinics Dec. 26 and 27 at Hunakai Park. On Dec. 26 clinics are at 10 a.m. for boys ages 15-18 and at 1 p.m. for girls ages 15-18. On Dec. 27, the 10 a.m. clinic is for boys ages 10-14 and the 1 p.m. session for girls ages 10-14.
For more information, call 295-6319 or email bourneyonthebeach@gmail.com.
The Crabb brothers also have found success on the AVP Tour, with Trevor being named Newcomer of the Year in 2014 and Taylor in 2015. The Punahou graduates have launched a CrowdFunding campaign that is not only raising funds to assist travel and tournament expenses but allows donors to receive rewards ranging from an autographed picture to a personal training session with the duo.
For more information, the website is us.sponsorise.me/en/project-crabb-brothers.
Chaminade men topple Hawaii Hilo
Sam Daly finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds and Rohndell Goodwin scored 20 points as the Chaminade men’s basketball team beat Hawaii Hilo 89-75 on Thursday at McCabe Gym.
The Silverswords improved to 2-6, 1-1 PacWest.
Parker Farris scored 23 points for the Vulcans (0-5, 0-1).
Maio lifts Silverswords women to victory
Lilia Maio had 14 points and 12 rebounds and Sabrina Angle finished with 12 points on 4-for-4 shooting from 3-point range as the Chaminade women’s basketball team beat Hawaii Hilo 53-44 on Thursday at McCabe Gym.
The Silverswords improved to 3-3, 3-0 PacWest.
Lauren Hong scored 13 points for the Vulcans (0-6, 0-1).
