‘Flash’ Strikes Again: Renan Noblefranca Stops Jhan Villegas in Explosive CFC Main Event
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Renan “Flash” Noblefranca reminded Cebu's fight community why he remains one of the Philippines' most dangerous strikers after stopping 2024 Muay Thai national gold medalist Jhan Villegas in the third round of the Cebu Fighting Championship's “Return of the Warriors” event on Saturday, Sept. 5.
Noblefranca ended the kickboxing main event at the 2:03 mark of the third round, connecting with a straight back kick to Villegas' midsection that left the younger fighter in visible pain and unable to continue.
The bout took place at the Barangay Day-as Multipurpose Complex in Cebu City, marking the return of Cebu Fighting Championship after an eight-year hiatus.
For Noblefranca, the victory was another reminder that experience, timing and technique can still make the difference against a younger national champion.
Noblefranca Comes Out Firing
The 31-year-old Noblefranca wasted little time establishing his presence.
Known for his speed and powerful striking, the veteran immediately pressured Villegas and scored a knockdown in the opening round with a spinning backfist.
He continued attacking the legs while mixing in backfists and other combinations, forcing Villegas to deal with a constant stream of strikes.
But Villegas showed why he entered the bout as a national-level champion.
The younger fighter survived the opening-round trouble and came back strongly in the second, connecting with several solid knees against Noblefranca.
For a moment, the fight appeared to be turning into the competitive striking battle many expected.
Then came the finish.
The Kick That Ended It
In the third round, Noblefranca found the opening he needed.
He landed a straight back kick directly to Villegas' midsection.
Villegas immediately showed signs of pain and was unable to beat the count.
The official stoppage came at 2:03 of Round 3, giving Noblefranca the victory in the CFC main event.
After the fight, Noblefranca acknowledged that Villegas was tougher than he initially expected.
“He’s a tough kid. He trained well for the fight. He was a national gold medalist,” Noblefranca said.
The veteran admitted that he had hoped to finish the fight earlier.
“I expected to stop him in one round or two rounds,” he said, adding that he did his best to end it in the second.
A Veteran Still Has Something Left
Noblefranca's performance was particularly significant because the veteran has already built a reputation in Cebu's Muay Thai and kickboxing scene.
Before the fight, Yaw-Yan Ardigma Cebu founder and CEO Master Benigno “Ekin” Caniga Jr. described the matchup as a major test for Noblefranca because he was facing a younger fighter with national championship credentials.
The fight ultimately provided exactly that test.
Villegas brought youth and championship experience.
Noblefranca brought veteran timing, striking accuracy and composure.
The result favored experience.
ONE Championship Could Be Next
The victory has also opened an intriguing possibility for Noblefranca.
Caniga said he wants to bring the veteran striker to ONE Championship, widely regarded as one of Asia's biggest combat-sports promotions.
There is, however, one significant obstacle: Noblefranca's age.
Still, Caniga believes the veteran's performance showed that he remains fast, technically sharp and capable of producing entertaining fights.
That assessment could give Noblefranca another opportunity to pursue the biggest stage of his career.
But first, he has another fight already lined up.
Noblefranca is scheduled to return on Sept. 26 for another kickboxing bout in an event promoted by Tiger Muay Thai Bohol.
CFC Returns With More Than One Big Finish
The night was not only about Noblefranca.
The revived Cebu Fighting Championship delivered several notable finishes across its MMA, Muay Thai and kickboxing cards.
In one of the featured MMA bouts, Jance Barbaso submitted Owen Fabular with a deep armbar at the 2:16 mark of the third round, handing Fabular his first professional loss and improving Barbaso's record to 5-1.
Meanwhile, Tristan Yasay remained unbeaten after stopping Zen Pacible at just 1:01 of the opening round.
Yasay dropped Pacible with a right hand before following up with another powerful strike on the ground.
Other winners included Div Boja, Frances Neil Quilaquiga, Mark Jaymon Cabase, Josh Amatobg, Stephen John Veliganio, Jem Jyad Ababon, Jun Ivan Navaja and Niño Lee Illut.
The Muay Thai card also produced a stoppage when Jerimiah Camota forced Kim Gabo to quit on his stool before the third round.
In kickboxing, July Salatan stopped Francis Diniel Robaro in Round 2, while Syd Alcaraz also scored a second-round stoppage against Lyndon Paul Pescador.
The Return of Cebu Fighting Championship
The event represented an important comeback for Cebu's combat-sports community.
Caniga returned to promoting CFC after an eight-year hiatus, bringing the “Kumbati Na! Return of the Warriors” card to Barangay Day-as.
The original fight announcement positioned Noblefranca vs. Villegas as one of the night's major attractions, pairing a veteran local striking star with a younger national champion.
The result delivered the kind of dramatic finish fight promoters hope for.
A veteran.
A young champion.
Three rounds of striking.
And one perfectly timed kick.
What Comes Next for Noblefranca?
At 31, Noblefranca knows opportunities at the highest level may not remain available forever.
But Saturday night's performance demonstrated that he can still compete with younger, accomplished opponents.
The question now is whether he can reproduce that performance on Sept. 26 in Bohol — and whether another impressive victory will be enough to convince ONE Championship that “Flash” deserves a shot.
For now, however, the message from Cebu is clear.
Renan “Flash” Noblefranca is not finished yet.
He may be a veteran.
He may be facing younger fighters.
And there may be questions about how much time he has left at the highest level.
But against Jhan Villegas, the veteran showed that speed, technique and experience can still produce spectacular results.
And if his next fight goes anything like this one, the conversation about a possible ONE Championship opportunity may only get louder.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D