Brett Johns needed just one round to secure a devastating submission victory over Levan Kirtadze at the WOW 21 event in Marbella. The 33-year-old Welsh fighter showcased his veteran skills at the Starlite venue, quickly ending the contest against his Georgian opponent with a lethal submission hold.
The impressive win marks a successful debut for Johns (21-5) in the Spanish promotion backed by Ilia Topuria. Johns, who has previously competed in major organizations like UFC, PFL, and Bellator, managed to neutralize Kirtadze's combinations before executing his fight-ending submission.
Interestingly, the main event underwent a last-minute change when Alexis Vera (7-3) stepped in to replace the injured Zebenzui Ruíz against Scott Pedersen (6-4). Ruíz suffered a knee injury, forcing promoters to find an alternative fighter. Vera, who trains at Madrid's respected Black Panther gym, dominated all three rounds despite a period of inactivity before this contest.
The Peruvian fighter who now calls Madrid home even managed to score a knockdown in the first round. His performance impressed the judges who awarded him a unanimous decision victory.
The WOW event in Marbella's Costa del Sol attracted numerous combat sports celebrities, including PFL world champion Costello van Steenis and other notable figures from the promotion like Yaman El Diamante and Miguel Ángel Colombo. Could this successful showing help establish WOW as a significant player in the European MMA scene?
