Manon Fiorot stops Jasudavicius to re-enter flyweight title race

Manon Fiorot returned to title contention Saturday night, stopping Canadian contender Jasmine Jasudavicius by technical knockout at 1 minute 14 seconds of the first round at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. The swift finish ended Jasudavicius’s five-fight winning streak and marked a decisive rebound for Fiorot, who was fighting for the first time since losing a title fight in May.

Fiorot established range early with a sharp jab, and midway through the opening round landed a straight left hand that visibly rocked Jasudavicius. Fiorot followed with strikes after taking the fight to the canvas, and referee Dan Miragliotta stepped in to halt the action. Jasudavicius protested the stoppage at the time, and some fans questioned whether it came too soon, but replay showed Fiorot landing multiple unanswered blows while Jasudavicius was in a compromised position on the mat.

The result was the first finish of Jasudavicius’s professional career. The St. Catharines native had entered the bout ranked among the division’s top five and on a run that included a submission win over former champion Jessica Andrade. Fiorot’s victory was widely seen as a reassertion of her status after her loss to...