Before advancing to the final, Phung delivered convincing wins over two strong contenders: Thanyaret Suksamran from Thailand and Narantur Enkhjin from Mongolia. The final showdown against Mobina saw Phung display unwavering confidence and technical precision.

Right from the start, Phung launched into a swift and aggressive offensive. She quickly closed the distance, executed a takedown, and transitioned the bout into ground combat. Although Mobina attempted to counter and regain control, Phung skillfully locked in a submission hold. Mobina was forced to tap out, sealing Phung’s victory in just 51 seconds.

Born in 1988 and of Thai ethnicity, Lo Thi Phung is a former kindergarten teacher known in the Vietnamese MMA scene as the “queen of knockouts.” Until her title bout in the 52kg category at the Lion Championship in August 2025  -  her first and only defeat to date  -  Phung had never needed a second round to finish a match.

Since shifting to modern MMA rules (which differ in structure and regulations from traditional MMA), Phung has continued to impress with her first-round victories.

“Lo Thi Phung has always shown consistency and high-level technique, not only in Ju-jitsu but also with significantly improved striking skills. This result was anticipated even before we formed the national team for the Asian championship,” said Tong Ngoc Hoa, head of the Vietnamese MMA delegation.

The 2026 Asian MMA Championship was held from January 9 to 11 in Luzhou, China, under the organization of the Asian Mixed Martial Arts Association. Vietnam sent a 10-member squad of both male and female athletes. The tournament plays a key role in earning technical ranking points for upcoming events, including the 20th Asian Games in Japan and the 2026 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Saudi Arabia.

Dai Nam