Two Cambodians made the short trip from Phnom Penh to Bangkok to compete at Full Metal Dojo 7 on Saturday night, but both lost by first round stoppage. Cambodian fighters had previously held their own competing for Thailand’s biggest MMA promotion, but this was not to be their night.

Most unlucky of all was Cambodian Top Team’s Thai Ritthy who came out all guns blazing in the first round of his fight with Jaroslav Jartim. The 18-year-old attacked his opponent with soccer kicks, knees and punches and seemed on the verge of securing a stoppage win.

The Czech fighter looked in desperation mode as he repeatedly dived for takedowns, but when he finally succeeded in putting Ritthy on his back the Cambodian instantly reverse position and looked to land more offence from on top.

It was all one-way traffic, but MMA can be an unforgiving sport and, despite being on his back, Jartim was able to lock in an armbar that forced Ritthy to tap out. The end came at the 1:25 minute mark and the disappointed Cambodian’s record drops to 4-1 while his opponent improves to 4-4.

Speaking afterwards, Ritthy stated that he felt he was on the verge of securing a stoppage win when the submission came.

“I was beating him and hitting him with hard elbows and punches the whole fight. He didn’t hit me once, and I remember he went to take me down, but I reversed it and was on top and was pounding his face.

“I felt I was about to get the knockout but he manage to lock in a very sneaky armbar and I was forced to tap out.”

The Cambodian is also hoping to get an opportunity to fight Jartim for a second time in a future FMD card.

“I’m not satisfied with this fight. I was winning, he had nothing on me and I feel that he got lucky. I want a rematch with him in the next FMD.”

Debuting strawweight Do Meng from Phom Penh’s Selapak gym can have no such complaints. He was up against highly ranked Filipino prospect Jhaymie Gayman and was dominated from start to finish.

To his credit the Cambodian did survive a couple of submission attempts before succumbing to a rear naked choke after 3:35 of round one.