Olympic champion Rafaela Silva secured a victory over Mexico’s Prisca Awiti at the Spaten Fight Night 3 event on Saturday night (29), at the Arena Pacaembu in São Paulo, Brazil. In a clash between judokas competing in the 63 kg half-middleweight division, Silva defeated her opponent by waza-ari and yuko, according to reports from Brazilian media outlets covering the card.
Rafaela Silva Wins Spaten Fight Night Debut in São Paulo
The card at the Arena Pacaembu featured judo matchups. Silva, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, squared off against Awiti in an unprecedented meeting between the two competitors. Because the athletes spent the majority of their respective careers in different weight classes, they had never faced each other in official competition prior to Saturday night. Silva transitioned to the half-middleweight division during the current Olympic cycle after a decorated career in the lightweight category, which featured an Olympic gold medal at the Rio 2016 Games alongside World Championship titles secured in 2013 and 2022.
Awiti entered the bout as the current Olympic silver medalist in the 63 kg division. Despite Awiti’s standing, Silva utilized tactical adjustments in their first-ever meeting to earn the scores necessary for the win. The bout formed part of a broader judo showcase at the São Paulo venue that drew attention from major sports desks across Brazil.
Bia Souza Suffers Defeat Against Raz Hershko
While Silva triumphed in her opening test, heavyweight Bia Souza faced a setback on the same card. Souza squared off against Israel’s Raz Hershko in a +78 kg showdown. Prior to Saturday night, Souza held a 6-0 head-to-head record against Hershko in official competitions, highlighted by her victory in the gold medal match at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where she secured the win via a waza-ari utilizing an o-soto-gari throw, as detailed by event reports.
Entering the match as the favorite given her historical dominance over the Israeli judoka, Souza was unable to replicate her previous successes. Hershko capitalized on tactical openings during the encounter at the Arena Pacaembu to hand the Brazilian heavyweight her first defeat in their head-to-head series.
Broader Card Highlights at Arena Pacaembu
The Spaten Fight Night 3 event blended traditional combat sports disciplines with high-level judo exhibitions. Alongside the women’s judo matchups, the event card featured notable bouts, including a heavyweight encounter where Glover Teixeira faced Shogun, according to comprehensive coverage of the evening by sports networks.
Organizers and officials have not yet announced subsequent dates or fixtures for a potential continuation of the Spaten Fight series. Fans and followers of the athletes can monitor official governing body portals and sports news networks for updates regarding the judokas’ tournament schedules as the next international judo calendar block approaches.
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