From the opening bell, Cheese imposed a striking pace. He used sharp combinations of jabs and leg kicks to test Nichols’ range, frequently disrupting his timing and stance. Nichols tried to respond with periods of pressure, attempting to corner Cheese and force grappling exchanges, but Cheese maintained distance well, moving smartly and using footwork to avoid being tied up too long. His head‑kick game, sharpened by recent training, showed up in lighter jabs early, setting up heavier strikes later.
By round two, Nichols appeared to increase aggression, attempting takedowns and looking for clinch work. Cheese met this with solid defensive wrestling, showing improvements in his grappling defense that had been questioned in earlier fights. He didn’t let Nichols score heavily on the ground and repeatedly reset to striking range, where Cheese felt most comfortable.
In round three, Cheese’s cardio and composure paid dividends. Midway through the round, after a well‑timed overhand right that snapped Nichols’ head back, Cheese smelled blood. He followed with a flurry of punches, each more confident than the last, until Nichols could no longer defend. The final blow landed clean, the referee stepped in, and Nacho Cheese sealed the KO just after the two‑minute mark.
This win carries extra weight because Cheese is now operating under Smash FC’s 155‑lb banner and was set to face perhaps his toughest test yet—#1 contender Taromaru Momoji. Momoji is known for a well‑balanced style; he mixes sharp boxing with proficient wrestling, and has been a perennial presence in high‑stakes fights. Going into this bout, many saw Cheese vs. Momoji as a potential title eliminator. With his victory over Nichols, Cheese strengthens his case for that match, signaling that he has the tools to compete with the elite level in the division.
What stood out most was how much more complete Cheese looked: better cardio, sharper striking variety, improved defensive grappling, and importantly, the confidence to finish when the opportunity came. For the Smash FC 155‑lb rankings, this could shift things: Cheese moves from dangerous dark horse to a clear contender whose next performance could set up a title shot.
Taromaru Momoji, holding the #1 spot, is now in a position where he can’t ignore the threat Cheese represents. If Cheese can replicate this performance under higher pressure, with a top‑ranked opponent in Momoji, we may be witnessing the beginning of a changing of the guard at 155 lbs in Smash FC.
