The Nice native Jérôme Ardissone, WKN world champion of full-contact in under 54.9 kilos, retained his title by overcoming Argentine Federico Roma. Unfortunately, Jonathan Pastorino, the other Nice native of the evening, missed the step against Spaniard German Tabulenca, who won the WKN world title in under 60.8 kilos.
The Leyrit hall was packed last night for this major international tournament, which featured seven fights, including two for world titles. Jérôme Ardissone (aged 26 and 54.9 kilos) defended his world title acquired last June in Nice against Brazilian José Ricardo Santana Brito. And Jonathan Pastorino (aged 28 and 60.8 kilos), European champion during the same evening in June, was trying to obtain the vacant world title in his category.
The first match with stakes pitted Pastorino, with 33 matches for 26 wins, 1 draw, and 6 losses, against the Spaniard German Tabulenca, 25 years old from kickboxing and K1, who had 25 wins and 7 losses for 32 fights.
It was under the encouragement of the Ultras Populaire Sud from OGC Nice that the fight for the world title in -60.8 kilos began. The start of the match saw both fighters sizing each other up, both remaining cautious. Quickly, the fight resembled a real clash of styles. On one side, the calmer and more serene Spaniard chained leg kicks and tried to counter his adversary, whereas the Frenchman was more offensive, seeking an opening at every moment by harassing his enemy.
As Jonathan Pastorino declared afterward, “I got caught, I played his game.” The Nice native stringed together assaults and led midway. However, he appeared very tired while the Spaniard seemed solid, well-grounded, and always precise. “I was surprised by his stamina, I ran out of breath, I recuperated too late.” According to the Frenchman himself, Tabulenca then took the upper hand tactically and physically, waiting for the right moment.
Adding a bit of cunning and slyness in a purely Latin style, German Tabulenca executed sweeps repeatedly on Pastorino, who fell numerous times per round and became frustrated with this repetitiveness. Losing focus as the match progressed, the Spaniard began imposing his game and became more enterprising. Tabulenca adopts a tortoise-like strategy and overtakes the hare, Pastorino.
Despite a surge of pride at the end of the fight, Pastorino lost on points in a unanimous decision. The Ardissonne Nice Full Contact member thus sees Tabulenca take this world title on his home turf in Nice. Hard to swallow? Not really, the still European champion concludes by explaining that he wouldn’t mind a rematch and remains realistic, “It doesn’t matter, I’ll have other chances, tonight, there was a magical atmosphere, he got me on my strong point, well done to him.”
Pastorino then becomes a spectator for the second international match of the evening and to support someone he considers his brother. Jérôme Ardissone, with 29 fights for 27 wins and 2 losses, defends his WKN world champion title against Argentine Federico Roma, with 54 fights for 50 wins and 4 losses.
Once he removed his OGC Nice jersey, the contrast between Ardissone and Roma was stark. On one side, the Argentine displayed tattoos on an imposing musculature while the Nice native appeared more slender, less massive. But appearances can be deceiving, Jérôme is the world champion, and he intends to stay that way.
As with the previous fight, both fighters studied each other. The Argentine displayed a solid guard, like a true boxer, but the Nice native was more agile and generally hit the target, using his feet to keep him at a distance. As the match went on, Ardissone absorbed hits well, retaliated even harder, and appeared more complete. Roma remained timid, rarely using his feet and fearing counters.
The Argentine remained solid, more patient, using his strength. But without precision, power is nothing, and the few times he hit Ardissone, it had no effect. Playing on his speed and quick combinations, the Nice native dominated and delivered some fine attacks. Roma tried to be precise but seemed out of the fight, not hearing the referee or the bell; he scattered and couldn’t find a solution. It was up to him to go after the title.
In the 9th round, nothing seemed to stop Ardissone; the Argentine was outmatched. Jérôme managed the rounds, varied his game, and even attempted sweeps. The 11th round saw Roma finally wake up, perhaps realizing the title was slipping away. For one round, he created the illusion and managed to do some damage to the seemingly winded Nice native.
Ardissone weathered the storm, resisted the strikes, and regained his rhythm in the final round. His trainer father and the entire hall trembled for a moment, but the world champion’s experience prevailed. End of the match, Roma raised his arms, Ardissone did too. But the real winner was known for a while; Ardissone won unanimously and retained his world title.
At the end of the match, the winner explained that the fight was “complicated to manage physically, not tactically” and that it provided him with “immense pleasure, perhaps more than the first title.” Beyond the victory, he praised the successful evening, saying, “what we achieved on an organizational level is remarkable, it’s magnificent.” As for the future, he remains open and ready to defend his title again.
Edmond Ardissone, Jérôme’s father, and trainer of both champions, said he was “50% happy”. Remaining philosophical, he concluded by saying he “gives his all for both, but 1 out of 2 isn’t bad at all”.
