Filipino mixed martial artist Rolando Gabriel "Gab" Dy got his first taste of championship gold over the weekend, capturing the UAE Warriors featherweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Yerzhan Yestanov of Kazakhstan at UAE Warriors 6 last Friday at the Mudabala Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Dy, a UFC veteran, used his superior striking to outpoint Yestanov for most of the five round affair.

At the end of five rounds, the Pinoy walked away with a 49-47, 49-47, 48-46 win.

The son of former boxing world champion Rolando Navarrete, Dy improved to 12-7 in his professional career and and made it 3-0 in 2019.

Aside from capturing his first championship in mixed martial arts, the win was special for Dy, as it was a promised kept to his dying grandfather.

“Before I left home I told my lolo that I’m going to return with the title belt and to wait for me," Dy told UAE-based website The National. "I wish he would. I want to be by his side before he breathes his last.”

The 27-year old Dy made a name for himself with the Guam-based promotion Pacific Xtreme Combat, before getting a shot in the UFC, where he went 1-3 before parting ways with the company in 2018.

Since then, Dy has won three consecutive bouts in promotions such as UAE Warriors and Brave Combat Federation.

This story originally appeared on the ABS-CBN Sports website.