Sports Roundup: October 9, 2011-Boxing, Formula One, UFC 136

Donnie “Ahas” Nietes won the WBO junior flyweight championship belt with a unanimous decision victory over Ramon "Principe" Garcia Hirales of Mexico in a fight that was held in Bacolod City. All judges scored the bout for Nietes, 118-110, 118-111, and 115-113. By winning the junior flyweight title, Nietes became a two-division world champion.

In Formula One, Sebastian Vettel clinched his second straight F1 title after finishing third in the 2011 Japan Grand Prix. The 24-year-old German needed just one more point to earn the title, but since he came in third afterJenson Button, he finished with 15 points instead. With the win, Vettel became the youngest Formula One driver to win back-to-back championships.

In UFC 136, lightweight champion Frankie Edgar defended his title with a TKO win over bitter archrivalGray Maynard at the 3:54 mark of the fourth round. Maynard knocked down Edgar twice in the first round, but the champion bounced back in the second and third rounds. By the fourth round, the 30-year-old Edgar staggered Maynard with a clean right hook to the chin. As Maynard tried to stand up, Edgar pounded him with vicious right hands that forced the referee to stop the fight.

Boxing: Nietes wins light flyweight title

Even with a desperate defense from champion Ramon Hirales of Mexico, Donnie “Ahas” Nietes was too good and too talented to get rattled. In 12 grueling rounds, the Filipino punished the Mexican relentlessly and his hard work paid off when the judges all gave the fight to him.

Nietes won via unanimous decision to get Hirales’s WBO light flyweight title in a bout that was held in Bacolod City. With the win, Nietes took his second title in two weight classes, becoming only the fourth Filipino to achieve such a feat.

The three judges at ringside scored the bout 118-110, 117-11, and 115-13, for Nietes.

The 29-year-old Filipino dominated the fight from rounds one to five, unleashing vicious counters and hooks that rocked Hirales several times. At the start of round six, the Mexican began to assault Nietes more aggressively, but Nietes kept his composure by constantly throwing stiff jabs.

Knowing that he was behind in the judges’ scorecards, Hirales resorted to dirty boxing, resulting in head collisions that opened a cut on Nietes eyebrow in the 11th round.

Despite blood gushing from his cuts, Nietes sent Hirales backpedaling with huge bombs in the 11thround. The Filipino didn’t stop being aggressive in the final round where he attacked Hirales to push the Mexican against the ropes.

Hirales threw more punches from rounds six to twelve, but Nietes landed the more telling blows that earned the nod of the judges.

Formula One: Sebastian Vettel seals F1 title in Japan

24-year-old German phenom Sebastian Vettel earned his second straight Formula One title after finishing third in the 2011 Japan Grand Prix.

With four more races left this season, Vettel needed only one point to clinch the title. The German finished in third place to earn 15 points instead. This season, Vettel has won nine victories for Red Bullwhile becoming the youngest back-to-back champion in F1 history.

Meanwhile, Jenson Button took the Japan Grand Prix title, making it his third win this season forMcLaren. Button was followed by Fernando Alonso of Ferrari, who came in just a few ticks behind.

Though Vettel had a chance to overlap Alonso, he resisted the urge and cruised to an easy win knowing that he’s already won the season’s title.

Vettel was actually leading the race in the first 20 laps, but Button moved in for the lead when the German went for a pit stop.

UFC 136: Edgar retains title, beats Maynard

After nine long months, the much-awaited rematch between reigning UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard finally happened.

Just like their match back in January, Maynard moved in for an early kill in the first round by knocking down Edgar twice. Maynard landed a huge right hand to send Edgar to the canvas and moments later, the challenger followed it up with a right knee that wobbled Edgar again.

Just like their first fight though, Edgar showed that his recuperative abilities were no fluke, coming back to win the second and third round.

The 30-year-old champion used his faster footwork, better stamina, and more dependable counterpunching skills to dodge Maynard’s attacks.

In the fourth round, Maynard was already breathing heavily. Edgar took the opportunity to unload a vicious right hook that went straight to Maynard’s chin. The challenger immediately dropped to the canvas and when he was about to stand up, Edgar jumped on him to unleash a flurry of punches.

With Maynard unable to defend himself intelligently, the referee stepped in to stop the fight and to prevent Maynard from incurring additional damage.

With the win, Edgar didn’t only retain his title, he also avenged his only career loss at the hands of Maynard three years ago.

“Sebastian Vettel - 2011 F1 Australian GP” by Infiniti Global c/o Flickr. Some rights reserved.