Otabeq Rajabov claimed the Pancrase Featherweight Interim Title by submitting Naoyuki Kinoshita with a triangle choke. Kinoshita had escaped a figure-four back control and moved to ground-and-pound, but Rajabov caught him from below to secure the finish.
Otabeq Rajabov captured the Pancrase Featherweight Interim Title on June 28, 2026, submitting Naoyuki Kinoshita with a triangle choke to claim gold in the Japanese promotion's 145-pound division.
The finish came in dramatic fashion. Kinoshita had worked his way free from a figure-four back control attempt by Rajabov and transitioned into ground-and-pound from a top position. With Kinoshita raining down strikes, Rajabov stayed composed on his back and locked up the triangle choke from below, forcing the tap and turning a moment of apparent danger into the winning submission.
Why it matters
- Rajabov now holds the Pancrase Featherweight Interim Title, positioning himself as a challenger or potential undisputed champion at 145 pounds.
- The finish demonstrated elite submission awareness under pressure, converting a defensive position into a fight-ending opportunity.
- Kinoshita's ability to escape back control showed his grappling competence, making Rajabov's recovery and counter-submission all the more notable.
