MMA ace Charlie Ratcliff earns second PH gold in Asian Youth Games

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Charlie Ratcliff, a Filipina-Australian who hails from Negros Occidental, rules the girls' 45kg modern MMA class as the Philippines matches its two-gold tally in the last Asian Youth Games

SAKHIR, Bahrain – Mixed martial arts ace Charlie Ratcliff needed just a little over a minute to win the Philippines’ second gold medal in the Asian Youth Games.

The 16-year-old from Negros Occidental delivered a dominant display as she submitted Thailand’s Nakanantaphon Khaihong in the girls’ 45kg modern MMA final at the Exhibition World Bahrain here on Saturday, October 25.

Flashing her superb grappling skills, Ratcliff quickly took down Khaihong and forced the Thai to tap out with 1:57 minutes remaining in the opening round to become the second Filipino in this edition to win gold after pencak silat standout Kram Airam Carpio.

Her victory allowed the Philippines to match its two-gold tally in 2013, the last time the Asian Youth Games were held.

It also made up for the defeat of her 17-year-old brother Travis, who fell short of the gold after his unanimous decision loss to Iran’s Amirmohammad Hatamianafshari in the boys’ 60kg traditional MMA final.

Born in the Philippines to a Filipina mother and an Australian father, the Ratcliff siblings learned grappling at a young age then transitioned to MMA.

Their mother, Maria Aisa, also competes internationally and became part of the national wrestling team.

In all, the Philippines won three MMA medals, with Alexander Tagure Jr. bagging bronze in the boys’ 50kg modern MMA. – Rappler.com