Singaporean Standouts Target Clean Sweep at ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT

Three outstanding Singaporean homegrown talents will don the country’s colors on the undercard of ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT on Friday, 24 November at the iconic Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Amir Khan is slated to lock horns with hard-hitting Australian combatant Adrian “The Hunter” Pang in the co-main event of ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT.

“Mighty” May Ooi is set to duke it out with Cambodia’s Vy Srey Khouch, while Tiffany “No Chill” Teo faces Indian debutant Puja Tomar.

The aforementioned three Singaporean standouts are seeking to hoist their country’s flag aloft by winning their respective matches at ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT, which is headlined by a welterweight championship clash between division kingpin Ben “Funky” Askren and former lightweight titleholder Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki.

“It’s an honor to represent the country on a global stage like ONE Championship. I promise that I will do my best to give my beloved nation another spectacular win,” Khan said.

“It’s also a privilege to compete alongside Tiffany Teo and May Ooi. For sure, both of them are also eager to win their respective bouts for Singapore. We are aiming to walk away as victors in our upcoming matches. We don’t’ want to disappoint our countrymen as we perform our best in front of them,” he added.

Khan already holds the record for the most knockouts in ONE Championship history, but he believes that one more finish should be enough to propel him to a shot at the ONE Lightweight World Championship, which is currently in the possession of Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen.

“I feel I am ready to be a world champion anytime soon. I believe once I put away Adrian Pang, I will be ready for the world championship. Adrian Pang is one of the top guys right now, so a title shot makes sense if I beat him,” Khan stated.

The 23-year-old Singaporean knockout artist stressed that he has the skills to deal with an experienced foe like Pang, but he will have to put in the legwork early on to apply the finishing touches in the latter part of the contest, claim the eighth knockout of his career, and stake his claim for a world title shot.

“He has got quadruple the amount of experience that I have. He has been around for a long time. He is just really tough and durable. I’ve just got to take my time and not fall into his game plan,” Khan expounded. “I will just keep my range, dance around him a little bit, and wear him out. He is going to be swinging for the fences, from what I visualize. I’ll make him ticked off a bit, and then take him out in the second round.”

Meanwhile, Ooi is booked to make her second appearance inside the ONE Championship cage at ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT opposite Srey Khouch.

Although Ooi was more successful against a common opponent in Ann Osman, she is taking her new assignment very seriously and acknowledges the danger that her Cambodian foe presents.

“She is obviously a kickboxer, but she is a good striker. You have to be careful in the cage,” Ooi shared.

“I cannot speak for the other martial artists, but for me, there is always a certain level of uncertainty because you never know what is going to happen. Yeah, there is fear, but it has been managed in such a way that I do not really feel it anymore. There has to be some level of fear being in there, but you have to manage it,” she further explained.

Even if her professional career is still in its infancy, one particular thing that motivates her is the fact that ONE Championship currently does not have a women’s strawweight world champion.

“I have been signed for a number of bouts, and I am competing in a division that does not have a title holder. So it is wide open, and I have already beaten Ann Osman. I do not do stuff just to do stuff. Whether or not I attain it is a different matter,” she stated.

On the other hand, Teo is a woman on a mission as she is also making a beeline for the top of ONE Championship’s women’s strawweight division.

Competing at home is always a highlight for Teo, who looks to continue her winning ways and eventually vie for a divisional world championship

“I like it more in Singapore,” Teo revealed. “It is really nice when you walk out and you have a lot of people cheering for you. When I compete, I am focused on my opponent, but I realize that every time I land a punch or get a takedown, I can hear the crowd responding, and that is really awesome.”

“My long-term goal would be getting a shot at the title belt that is currently vacant. Looking at the other female athletes in the division, I am undefeated and I feel like a top contender. I do not mind any opponent they give me – I am ready to take on any one of them,” she maintained.

In her upcoming bout against Tomar, she is yearning to get the first knockout win of her professional martial arts stint.

“I am hoping to get a KO win. I have had submissions and a few unanimous decisions so far, even a TKO, so it will be nice to get a pure knockout. I have actually been saying that for a long time, but I have never been able to get it done. Hopefully this time around, I will,” Teo ended.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit http://www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Pinoy MMA Fighter Richard Corminal looks to spoil Arnaud Lepont’s ONE Championship return

Filipino standout Richard “Notorious” Corminal does not view himself as someone who possesses any superhuman qualities, but he vows to do something truly exceptional on Friday, 24 November as he makes his second trip to the ONE Championship cage.

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Corminal is booked to lock horns with French veteran Arnaud “The Game” Lepont on the undercard of ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT, which takes place at the iconic Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore on Friday, 24 November.

Holding a 4-2 record with every win coming by way of knockout, Corminal has made a statement in each of his victories as for the knockout artist called “Notorious,” talking with his hands in the cage is something that comes naturally.

After falling short in his promotional debut against Thai martial arts superstar Shannon Wiratchai last March, the 35-year-old Filipino lightweight sets his sights on a colossal goal at ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT as he plans to place himself back on the winning track by spoiling the celebrated return of Lepont.

“I have watched his fights, He is good. Tough. I am just going to do my thing. “I want to finish my fights standing,” Corminal said. “Sometimes when I have an opponent on the ground, I can beat them up. But I prefer to finish a fight standing.”

After two years away from the cage, Lepont is finally making his long-awaited return to ONE Championship.

Lepont took a break from competition to manage one of Vietnam’s biggest martial arts gyms in the nation’s capital of Ho Chi Minh City.

A fixture in the Asian martial arts scene who sports an experienced standing of 11 wins and five losses, the 37-year-old Frenchman had his maiden assignment under the organization’s banner in 2012 and has since notched two hard-earned victories in the ONE Championship cage.

“He is a more experienced fighter than I am. I know what he is capable of doing inside the cage,” Corminal said of Lepont. “I will do my best. I’ve worked hard just to make it here in ONE Championship. I won’t waste this opportunity.”

Although he has a tough opposition in front of him on Friday, Corminal is confident that he could notch a decisive triumph in his favor.

“I take pride on being an exciting competitor inside the cage, willing to please the crowd by always seeking the highlight-reel finish. In my second ONE Championship match, fans are in for a treat,” he guaranteed.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Gina Iniong Views Rematch with Mei Yamaguchi as Gateway to World Title Shot

Gina “Conviction” Iniong has been a professional martial artist for the greater part of the last seven years as the six-time Philippines national Wushu champion’s extensive experience has brought her from the boxing ring to the Muay Thai circuit and eventually to the ONE Championship cage, where she has chosen to pursue her dreams of becoming a world champion.

Soft-spoken and generally reserved, Iniong admitted that it has been difficult adjusting to the spotlight.

While the biggest stars relish their time in front of the cameras, Iniong prefers to do her talking on the battlefield.

“Although I have been in this game long, I am still very shy. I do not think I will ever get used to talking to a large group of people. Speaking my mind and sharing my thoughts is a lot scarier than being inside that cage, that is for sure. It is better to let my fists do the talking,” she said.

Ever since she directed her career path to ONE Championship, Iniong has let her actions speak louder than her words as she looked absolutely dominant on the global stage.

The 28-year-old Team Lakay product battered Natalie Gonzales Hill en route to a unanimous decision this past April.

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In front of a hometown crowd last 10 November at ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD, Iniong extended her winning streak inside the ONE Championship cage to two matches with an outstanding second-round finish of Indonesia’s Priscilla Hertati Lumbangaol.

Exactly fourteen days after her remarkable conquest of Lumbangaol, Iniong will make an immediate return to action to face Mei “V.V” Yamaguchi in a three-round atomweight encounter at ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT, which takes place at the state-of-the-art Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore on Friday, 24 November.

Iniong accepted the offer to fill in for ONE Atomweight World Lee Angela Lee, who withdrew from her title defense against Yamaguchi after suffering injuries from an unfortunate car accident nearly two weeks ago.

The aforementioned atomweight collision on the main card of ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT is a rematch from their first encounter three and a half years ago under a regional show in the Philippines, where Iniong pulled away with a razor-thin split decision victory over Yamaguchi.

Iniong believes that her second meeting with Yamaguchi could be seen as a stepping stone to a future shot at the world title.

“That is my ultimate motivation, to become world champion. That is why I joined this organization, to showcase my skills and to prove to the world that I have what it takes to be the best. My opponent is a good striker, so I have no doubt that this will be an entertaining contest,” she stated.

Iniong would have no qualms about going into an instantaneous title shot against Lee should she be victorious over Yamaguchi on Friday.

“I will face whoever ONE Championship wants me to face. I am ready, anytime. But I have my eye on the champion, and I want that belt,” she declared.

As Iniong is set to step inside the ONE Championship cage for the third time this 2017, she has a clear vision in her mind.

Iniong knows that she will be locked inside the steel structure opposite a familiar foe like Yamaguchi, but she also recognizes what she has to do to get the job done.

“I will try to finish my fight in with a first-round knockout or submission. This is an opportunity to put me closer to my dream. I am giving everything that I have to get my hand raised this Friday,” she ended.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit http://www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Ben Askren has No Intention of Giving Up Welterweight Gold in the Final Bout of his Career

Ben “Funky” Askren isn’t just the reigning ONE Welterweight World Champion, but he is also universally recognized as one of the best welterweights in the entire world.

Askren is highly regarded for his outstanding wrestling background that earned him two NCAA Division I national championship trophies and the privilege to represent the United States at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Growing up in the Midwestern United States, a region traditionally known as a hotbed for amateur wrestling, Askren was motivated by the spirit of competition and wanted to participate in a sport where he could be the master of his own fate.

Askren had long planned switch to mixed martial arts and conquer that sport once he hung up his wrestling boots.

Following his 2008 Olympic campaign, Askren made the transition and has flawlessly translated his exemplary grappling skills into his growing skillset.

In his eight-year run as a professional martial artist, Askren holds an immaculate standing of 17-0, 1 No Contest, owning five submission victories and five knockout triumphs.

The 33-year-old American will step into the cage for the very last time on Friday, 24 November as he defends his coveted title against former ONE Lightweight World Champion Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki in the main event of ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT, which takes place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore.

Coming off masterful performance against talented challengers such as Agilan Thani and Zebaztian Kadestam in 2017, Askren looks to cap off a momentous year and an illustrious career with one last title defense versus a tough opponent like Aoki.

“Shinya is a really good final opponent. Obviously, he is a legend of the sport, and he is a really big challenge on the ground, which is where I like to compete, personally. I am excited for this bout,” he said about his marquee match-up with Aoki.

Askren revealed that he did not think a match with Aoki was an option, considering the 34-year-old Tokyo, Japan native is an Evolve MMA teammate.

However, Askren admitted that the more he thought about it, the more he loved the idea of sharing a martial arts platform with Aoki.

“He is a grappler and has a great skill set that I respect, so I think it will be a great battle,” Askren quipped.

Known by his cage moniker “Tobikan Judan” or “The Grandmaster of Flying Submissions” due to his spectacular submission victories, Aoki is widely regarded as the most dominant lightweight in Asia for the better part of the last decade as he has had 47 professional bouts and strutted his wares in various promotions.

In addition, Aoki proudly owns black belts in both Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and has won an astonishing 25 of his 39 matches via submission.

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Even with Aoki’s accomplishments and his dynamic grappling pedigree, which vastly contrasts from the American’s approach in the cage, Askren guaranteed that he will continue to employ his signature game plan of wrestling his opponent to the ground and using an impeccable top game to finish off his opposition.

“I said from day one that I am the best in the world at what I do, and this is what I am going to do every single time. I have been saying that since I started in 2009, and I believe it more strongly than ever because I have proved it 17 times now, and I am pumped to prove it again,” he stated.

Askren maintained that he has no intentions of giving up his gold-plated strap to Aoki as he collides with the Japanese submission wizard at ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT.

“He’s going to stick around until I put him out,” the undefeated ONE Welterweight World Champion declared with confidence.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit http://www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Yoshitaka Naito to Defend One Strawweight World Championship Against Alex Silva at ONE: Warriors of the World

20 November 2017 – Bangkok, Thailand: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced another blockbuster showdown at ONE: WARRIORS OF THE WORLD, scheduled for the Impact Arena in Bangkok on Saturday, 9 December. Undefeated ONE Strawweight World Champion Yoshitaka “Nobita” Naito of Chiba, Japan will defend his title against Alex “Little Rock” Silva of Sao Paulo, Brazil in the main event of the evening.

Ticket information for ONE: WARRIORS OF THE WORLD is available at http://www.onefc.com.

Yoshitaka Naito, ONE Strawweight World Champion, stated: “Winning the ONE Strawweight World Championship and becoming world champion has always been a dream of mine. To be recognized amongst my peers as the best at what I do, it’s important to me. Having this belt means I am a master of my craft. It hasn’t been easy. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but I am prepared to do whatever it takes. Alex Silva is a worthy challenger and an amazing competitor. I look forward to testing my skills against him.”

Alex Silva, ONE World Title Challenger, stated: “Defeating Hayato Suzuki has been one of my greatest accomplishments inside the ONE Championship cage. I was very well prepared to for him, I expected a tougher match and I did not expect him to try to take me down and compete with me on the ground because I knew if it went to the ground that I would submit him. So I saw the armbar, I went for it and now we’re here. I’m competing for the ONE Strawweight World Championship and have a chance to be known as the best strawweight in the world. I’m excited for the opportunity and in the name of Jesus Christ, I will bring this belt back to my team, Evolve! Honor and glory to God!”

Reigning and defending ONE Strawweight World Champion Yoshitaka “Nobita” Naito of Chiba, Japan, is an unbeaten in his professional career with a perfect 12-0 record. He owns six victories by submission and one by knockout. The 33-year-old, who made a name for himself at Japan’s world famous Korakuen Hall competing for Shooto as its Flyweight Champion, captured the ONE Strawweight World Championship in by submitting the Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke in his promotional debut in 2016. Naito makes the second defense of his strawweight belt against Alex Silva in Bangkok this December.

Alex “Little Rock” Silva of Sao Paulo, Brazil, is a second-degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and world champion with a professional record of 6-1. Silva is riding high on a five-bout winning streak, rapidly climbing ONE Championship’s stacked flyweight ranks. He is a technical grappling specialist with a penchant for securing highlight-reel submission finishes. With steadily increasing confidence, Silva’s last five victories have all ended in spectacular fashion. In his most recent contest, Silva made quick work of the highly-regarded and previously unbeaten Hayato Suzuki, earning him an opportunity at the ONE Strawweight World Championship.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit http://www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Mei Yamaguchi not Letting Go of Position as Top Atomweight Contender Against Gina Iniong

These past few weeks have been quite emotional roller coaster ride for Japanese martial arts veteran Mei “V.V.” Yamaguchi as she was originally slated to challenge Angela “Unstoppable” Lee for the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Championship title in the main event of ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT in Singapore on 24 November.

However, Lee was involved in a car accident nearly two weeks ago, and the injuries that she sustained in the unfortunate incident forced her to regretfully withdraw from the highly-anticipated championship clash.

Lee’s sudden pullout from her world title defense left Yamaguchi without an opponent at ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT, but the latter was advised by the top brass of the organization to continue her training.

“I was told that Angela was in a car accident. I was surprised, but was so glad that she was okay. Then, I tried to keep concentrating on my training because I believe that ONE Championship was looking for another opponent,” Yamaguchi revealed.

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ONE Championship found a suitable replacement a few days later as Filipino standout Gina “Conviction” Iniong accepted the offer to fill in for Lee to square off with Yamaguchi at ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT, which takes place at the state-of-the-art Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Although Yamaguchi is not getting the world title rematch that she anticipated against Lee, she is still getting the chance to settle an old score as the seasoned Japanese combatant once crossed paths with Iniong.

The aforementioned atomweight collision is a rematch from their first encounter three and a half years ago under a regional show in the Philippines, where Iniong pulled away with a razor-thin split decision victory over Yamaguchi.

For Yamaguchi, the situation could not have worked out any better as she plans to avenge her setback to the hard-hitting Filipino.

“I was glad that Gina answered ‘yes’ to the match on the Singapore card with me,” she said. “I have always looked for a chance for revenge. T is the perfect moment.”

Both ladies engaged in a thrilling war,as the aggressive Iniong demonstrated her crisp striking and scrambling ability to defend takedown and submission attempts.

Meanwhile, Yamaguchi threatened early with a tight armbar, and consistently leaned on her grappling and clinch knees against the cage fence.

Even though the judges rendered a split decision in favor of Iniong, Yamaguchi and her team felt the decision should have gone the other way.

“My image of the last match was Gina getting some points with her boxing, and me with my ground game,” she stated “It was back and forth, but all of my team thought I won.”

Since their grueling three-round atomweight contest, Yamaguchi and Iniong have never seen eye-to-eye. Moreover, a lot of things have changed in their respective professional careers.

Yamaguchi captured the DEEP Jewels featherweight trinket in May 2015 before unsuccessfully challenging Lee for the inaugural ONE Women’s Atomweight World Championship in her promotional debut back in May 2016.

Following her unsuccessful bid to become ONE Championship’s first-ever atomweight queen, she dropped a razor-thin split decision to Istela Nunes three months later before redeeming herself by submitting fellow former world title challenger Jenny “Lady GoGo” Huang this past June.

On the other hand, Iniong directed her career path to ONE Championship in 2017 and has looked absolutely dominant ever since she debuted on the global stage.

The 28-year-old Team Lakay product battered Natalie Gonzales Hill en route to a unanimous decision t past April.

Yamaguchi admitted that she was able to watched Iniong recent outing very carefully and acknowledges her growth as a martial artist, but the Japanese sensation also believes that she has vastly improved as well since their last meeting.

“Gina has a really good right hand she throws, and she is strong and physical. I am better with the ground game and improved more in my boxing skills compared to our previous match,” she observed.

“She competed against a good kickboxer recently, was controlling her opponent well on the ground, and was really aggressive. She looked like she won without taking much damage,” Yamaguchi added.

As Iniong poses to be a potential threat to take her place as the atomweight title contender, Yamaguchi is confident that she will keep her status as next in line for Lee’s gold-plated strap.

“My story will not end here,” a determined Yamaguchi quipped.

Yamaguchi is planning to make the most of her second chance against Iniong as her objective is to leave the Singapore Indoor Stadium with her hand raised in triumph and leave the decision out of the judges’ hands.

“It is going to end early. It will be a clear finish by me. It is going to be a knockout,” she guaranteed.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit http://www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Rich Franklin’s New Documentary : One Warrior Series

ONE CHAMPIONSHIP INTRODUCES NEW DOCUMENTARY RICH FRANKLIN’S ONE WARRIOR SERIES

The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced the production of new documentary series “Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series” which features martial arts legend Rich “Ace” Franklin as he travels from gym to gym all across Asia in search of the next martial arts superstar.

Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “I am pleased to announce Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series. At ONE Championship, one of our biggest missions is taking martial arts, Asia’s greatest cultural treasure, and placing it front and center for the entire world to witness. One of the ways to do this is by developing local homegrown martial arts superheroes. We are excited to travel across Asia, visiting the most iconic cities, to discover the next big superstar.”

Franklin, a multiple-time middleweight world champion, will travel to various Asian nations to visit local gyms beginning in Bangkok, Manila, Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing to discover new and upcoming martial arts talent. Deserving prospects will be rewarded with a six-figure contract with ONE Championship. The promotion’s elite video production team will be following Franklin’s journey across the region, chronicling the action to produce a series of compelling documentary videos.

Rich Franklin, Vice President of ONE Championship, stated: “Asia is the hotbed of the industry’s top martial arts prospects. It comes as no surprise, since martial arts has been home to the region for the past 5,000 years. Throughout my time in ONE Championship, I have been witness to some of the best martial arts talent I have ever seen. Stars today such as Angela Lee and Eduard Folayang came from the grassroots level of talent in Asia, and the next martial arts superstar is just waiting to be discovered. Follow me on this journey to showcase Asia’s greatest cultural treasure, and join me on the hunt to find ONE Championship’s new wave of superstars.”

Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series is a new documentary feature which will run in 30-minute episodes. Since the establishment of ONE Championship in 2011, various martial arts athletes have shot into superstardom in Asia, names such as “Unstoppable” Angela Lee of Singapore, Eduard “Landslide” Folayang of the Philippines, and “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang of Myanmar. Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series aims at discovering new talent, providing promising young athletes with the platform to unleash their martial arts greatness.

The screening and tryouts process will consist of pad sessions, grappling demonstrations, conditioning exams, and an interview process, among others. Once selected, athletes will compete in trial exhibition bouts with a chance at earning a six-figure contract with ONE Championship based on performance. The first episode of Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series is scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2018.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

One FC: Immortal Pursuit in Singapore Complete with 10 Bouts

17 November 2017 – Singapore: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced the full card for ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT, set for 24 November at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Fans will be treated to another exciting evening of authentic martial arts action, as the best martial artists in the world take to the ONE Championship cage. In the main event, reigning ONE Welterweight World Champion Ben “Funky” Askren will defend his title against former ONE Lightweight World Champion Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki. It is Askren’s final bout as a professional before he retires from professional competition, and takes an executive position with ONE Championship.

Ticket information for ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT is available at http://www.onefc.com.

BEN ASKREN TO DEFEND ONE WELTERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST SHINYA AOKI IN FINAL PROFESSIONAL BOUT

A former NCAA Division I All-American and US Olympian, Ben “Funky” Askren is a collegiate wrestling legend and one of the finest martial artists in the world today. Askren joined ONE Championship in 2014, taking the promotion by storm and capturing the ONE Welterweight World Championship with a resounding technical knockout victory over Nobutatsu Suzuki. Since then, Askren has successfully defended the title on multiple occasions, and has stopped six of his last seven opponents to maintain a perfect 17-0 professional record. In what is being billed as the last bout of Askren’s illustrious professional career, the American is set to defend his title against the legendary Shinya Aoki of Japan.

Global martial arts veteran Shinya “Tobikan Juda n” Aoki of Shizuoka, Japan, is one of the world’s most decorated athletes. He is the DREAM Lightweight Champion, former Shooto Welterweight Champion, and the former ONE Lightweight World Champion. The 34-year-old Aoki is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under the famed Yuki Nakai and has won multiple grappling tournaments all over the world. Aoki also holds a black belt in judo and is widely considered one of the best pure grapplers in professional martial arts competition today. In his next bout, Aoki makes his ONE Championship welterweight debut, taking on reigning ONE Welterweight World Champion Ben Askren of the United States for the title.

AMIR KHAN TAKES ON ADRIAN PANG IN THE CO-MAIN EVENT

22-year-old Singaporean top lightweight contender Amir Khan is a martial artist with a stellar professional record of 8-2. He is considered one of the most promising young talents to represent Singapore on the international stage of martial arts. Khan is currently riding a five-bout win streak, with all of his victories coming by way of scintillating finish, including one by submission and four by devastating knockout. In his most recent outing, Khan needed less than one round to finish Jaroslav Jartim with a combination of punches and kicks. Next in line for Khan is the always-dangerous Adrian Pang.

Adrian “The Hunter” Pang is a martial arts veteran from Queensland, Australia, with a 22-10-2 professional record. The veteran Pang has decimated opponents with his incredible power and no-frills approach to striking in nearly two decades as a professional. He is known for his astounding durability and overwhelming strength, with the ability to walk through opponents with little to no resistance. Pang will need to muster all of his strength however, when he takes on rising star Amir Khan of Singapore in his next appearance inside the ONE Championship cage.

Leandro “Brodinho” Issa is a 34-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion black belt from Sao Paulo, Brazil, who trains and competes out of the world-renowned Evolve Fight Team in Singapore. With a record of 14 wins and six losses, including nine wins by submission and two by knockout, Issa has proven to be an exciting competitor with a penchant for spectacular victories. A pioneer of ONE Championship’s bantamweight division, Issa will take on Dae Hwan Kim in his next assignment.

30-year-old South Korean martial artist Dae Hwan Kim owns a professional record of 12-1 with one draw. He joined the promotion in 2013, posting victories over Thanh Vu and Kevin Belingon in his first two bouts in ONE Championship. In 2014, Kim challenged Bibiano Fernandes for the ONE Bantamweight World Championship. With incredible striking prowess and solid grappling ability, Kim is one of the top contenders at bantamweight, and will look to make his return to the ONE Championship cage a successful one when he takes on Leandro Issa.

Singaporean female strawweight contender “Mighty” May Ooi is a martial artist with a professional record of 3-2. A former champion swimmer, Ooi represented Singapore in the 1992 Summer Olympics held in Barcelona. Today, she is one of the country’s most talented martial artists, and a hard-working competitor possessing well-rounded striking and grappling skills. In her most recent contest, Ooi scored a thrilling upset, defeating Malaysia’s Ann “Athena” Osman by first-round submission in her promotional debut. Ooi is now set to make her second appearance inside the ONE Championship cage opposite Cambodia’s Vy Srey Khouch.

Vy Srey Khouch is a highly-regarded Cambodian martial artist and former female boxer who competed in numerous international competitions. She is also a national Khun Khmer champion in her native Cambodia. She made her professional debut in 2015, winning by decision at ONE: KINGDOM OF KHMER. In her most recent bout, Srey Khouch fell just short of victory against Malaysian icon Ann Osman at ONE: THRONE OF TIGERS. In her next bout, she will take on Singaporean women’s martial arts standout, May Ooi.

22-year-old Li Kai Wen of Tianjin is the ONE Featherweight Beijing Tournament 2014 Champion and is one of the most fearsome young competitors from China. Li utilizes his tremendous striking ability and aggression to overwhelm foes with his offense, which has resulted in a series of impressive highlight reel stoppages so far in his young career. On his way to becoming a complete martial artist, Li will be faced with a tough challenge in fellow rising star Ahmed Mujtaba.

Ahmed “The Wolverine” Mujtaba is a Pakistani martial artist competing in ONE Championship’s stacked featherweight division. He owns an impressive professional record of eight wins with only one defeat, with almost all of his wins coming by spectacular finish. Mujtaba is known for his tremendous grappling technique which has led to four submissions out of eight total victories. Mujtaba makes his highly-anticipated return to the ONE Championship cage against Li Kai Wen.

34-year old Japanese martial arts veteran Mei “V.V” Yamaguchi is a female atomweight standout and a former ONE world title challenger from Tokyo. She is the DEEP Jewels Featherweight Champion, and owns seven submissions and two knockouts in her 27-bout professional career. In 2016, Yamaguchi challenged Angela Lee for the inaugural ONE Women’s Atomweight World Championship in an epic showdown that would later win multiple ‘Bout of the Year’ honors from international media publications. In her last bout, Yamaguchi submitted top contender Jenny Huang impressively within two rounds. Yamaguchi will now take on fast-rising Gina Iniong.

37-year-old Arnaud “The Game” LePont is a lightweight veteran from France who sports a professional record of 11 wins and five losses. A fixture in the Asian martial arts scene, LePont is well-known in local martial arts circles and lives and trains in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. A Pan-Asian Absolute BJJ Champion, he made his promotional debut in 2012, and has since notched two hard-earned victories in the ONE Championship cage. He now returns to action after a short break to take on Richard Corminal.

Filipino lightweight competitor Richard “Lion Heart” Corminal is a Filipino martial artist based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He holds a professional record of four wins and two losses, with each of his career victories to date coming by way of knockout. In his most recent bout, Corminal debuted inside the ONE Championship cage opposite Thai martial arts star Shannon Wiratchai. Corminal now aims for redemption, as he takes on Arnaud LePont in his second appearance in the promotion.

Yang “The Pugilist” Fei of Hubei, China, is a newcomer to ONE Championship, and one of the most promising young Chinese martial arts talents in the game. He sports a professional record of two victories and only one defeat, with both of his wins coming by finish. Making his promotional debut, Yang will seek victory against Muhammad Aiman in a three-round bout.

Former amateur standout Muhammad Aiman of Malaysia is one of Malaysia’s top martial artists. Featuring a well-rounded skill set, Aiman has impressed in his time inside the ONE Championship cage, defeating Hisyam Samsudin by unanimous decision in his first fight inside the ONE Championship cage before stopping Brazilian grappler Eduardo Novaes in his second outing. The 22-year-old is now set to take on another top test when he goes up against Yang Fei.

Tiffany “Soul Crusher” Teo is a female martial artist who competes in ONE Championship’s women’s flyweight division. She holds an unblemished professional record of six wins and no losses, including two submissions and two knockouts. Born in Brunei and raised in Singapore, Teo began training in taekwondo before moving on to compete in boxing and Muay Thai and eventually transitioning to the ONE Championship cage. In her last bout, Teo impressed with a thorough decision victory over Rebecca Heintzman. Teo’s next assignment is against Puja Tomar.

Flyweight competitor Puja Tomar is a martial artist from India with a professional record of three wins and one loss. With a penchant for showcasing her solid striking skills, Tomar has recorded all three of her victories by knockout. Competing largely in her home country of India, the former India wushu champion Tomar now makes her way to the biggest stage in Asian martial arts as she is set to make her ONE Championship debut against top Singaporean talent Tiffany Teo.

Chinese bantamweight prospect Miao Li Tao and Cambodian Khun Khmer practitioner Sim Bunsrun are set to kick off all the action at ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT in the evening’s first bout offering. The two strikers will lock horns in an exciting three-round contest, setting the pace of what should be an amazing night of martial arts competition.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit http://www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Japanese Veteran Mei Yamaguchi Faces Filipino Standout Gina Iniong at One: Immortal Pursuit

14 November 2017 – Singapore: The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced an additional bout for ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT, which will be held live at the state-of-the-art Singapore Indoor Stadium on 24 November. Fans will be treated to another exciting evening of authentic martial arts action as a three-round atomweight bout has been added to the blockbuster event, pitting Japanese martial arts veteran Mei “V.V” Yamaguchi against Filipino top contender Gina “Conviction” Iniong.

Mei Yamaguchi, ONE Athlete, stated: “I commend Gina Iniong for taking this match on a short notice. She is a good martial arts artist with promising potential in the division. Gina is in good hands, training with no less than the best at Team Lakay. I have faced her before, and she is always in good condition. As always, I am in tiptop shape for every bout. Brace yourselves for fireworks.”

Gina Iniong, ONE Athlete, stated: “Facing Mei Yamaguchi three years ago was like going through the eye of a needle. That bout opened doors of great opportunity for me in this sport. I am expecting a tough duel with her again on 24 November in Singapore. I have lofty goals in ONE Championship, and I must win this match to achieve them.”

34-year old Japanese martial arts veteran Mei “V.V” Yamaguchi is a female atomweight standout and a former ONE world title challenger from Tokyo. She is the DEEP Jewels Featherweight Champion, and owns seven submissions and two knockouts in her 27-bout professional career. In 2016, Yamaguchi challenged Angela Lee for the inaugural ONE Women’s Atomweight World Championship in an epic showdown that would later win multiple ‘Bout of the Year’ honors from international media publications. In her last bout, Yamaguchi submitted top contender Jenny Huang impressively within two rounds. Another tough opponent awaits her at ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT as she is set to square off with Gina Iniong of the Philippines.

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Top Filipino women’s martial arts contender Gina “Conviction” Iniong of Baguio City, Philippines, is a six-time national wushu champion and member of the renowned Team Lakay. She owns a professional record of 6-2, with four of her six victories coming by thrilling finish, including two highlight-reel submissions and two knockouts. In front of a hometown crowd last 10 November at ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD, Iniong extended her winning streak inside the ONE Championship cage to two matches with an outstanding second-round finish of Indonesia’s Priscilla Hertati Lumbangaol. Iniong has the opportunity to elevate her stature in the organization’s growing atomweight talent pool as she is tasked to duke it out with Japan’s Mei Yamaguchi.

ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT will feature the best and brightest stars in both local and international martial arts scenes, including ONE Welterweight World Champion Ben “Funky” Askren who will defend his title against former ONE Lightweight World Champion Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki in the main event. Meanwhile, Singaporean lightweight standout Amir Khan will take on hard-hitting Australian, Adrian “The Hunter” Pang, in the card’s co-headliner.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit http://www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Martin Nguyen Scores 2nd Round KO to Capture Lightweight Crown from Eduard Folayang

10 November 2017 – Manila, Philippines: The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), had another memorable and historic evening in Manila as the capacity crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena witnessed an amazing display of heart-pounding martial arts action.

ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD featured a series of compelling bouts, punctuated by two unforgettable championship clashes that left fans on the edge of their seats.

In the main event, ONE Featherweight World Champion Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen knocked out Filipino martial arts superstar Eduard “Landslide” Folayang to capture the ONE Lightweight World Championship, becoming the first two-division champion in the promotion’s history. In the co-main event, Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes of Brazil retained the ONE Flyweight World Championship with a quick victory over Danny “The King” Kingad of the Philippines.

Visit the official ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD photo gallery by clicking: http://bit.ly/onephotos

In the main event of ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD, Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen wrote his name in history books as the first man to hold two world titles simultaneously in ONE Championship by knocking out Eduard “Landslide” Folayang.

After plastering each other with hard strikes in the first round, both men picked up where they left off in the second stanza, when Folayang and Nguyen continued to trade heavy blows at the center of the cage. When Folayang launched his patented spinning backfist, Nguyen saw an opportunity to turn the lights off on his Filipino foe by uncorking explosive signature right hand. With his remarkable conquest of Folayang, Nguyen now has both the ONE Featherweight World Championship and ONE Lightweight World Championship titles in his possession.

Martin Nguyen, newly-minted ONE Lightweight World Champion, stated: “This is a special place for me. Last year, I came in and won Fight of the Night, right now it’s possibly the Knockout of the Night. I think coming into the fight my main objective was a TKO or a submission. Eduard, I still love you like a brother, I hope you’re fine and I hope you come back stronger. I’m still your number one fan.”

In the co-main event of the evening, Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes remained the undisputed king of ONE Championship’s flyweight bracket, denying Danny Kingad’s bid to become a world champion by submitting the Filipino talent with a rear-naked choke in the first round. Moraes put on a masterful performance, pacifying Kingad’s striking advantage in the early going as the Brazilian grappling expert utilized his high-level ground game. On the mat, Moraes executed a forceful transition into a rear-naked choke that left Kingad no choice but to submit in the final seconds of the round to retain his ONE Flyweight World Championship.

Adriano Moraes, ONE Flyweight World Champion, stated: ”This night was amazing for me. It was a tough fight against Danny Kingad. He has a big future ahead of him, but now it’s my time. This is my house, this is my belt, and this is my class.”

Filipino knockout artist Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon captured another sensational victory in front of a jubilant hometown crowd by routing South Korean-American dynamo Kevin “Oldboy” Chung, solidifying his position as a top contender in the stacked bantamweight division. Belingon effortlessly dictated the pace in the stand-up, where his opponent was at a stylistic disadvantage. The Baguio City native frequently caught Chung with crushing right crosses and lashing kicks to the body from bell to bell. Chung tried to change the complexion of the match by resorting to his superb grappling skills, but Belingon’s defense against submission attempts was enough to steer him to a unanimous decision triumph.

Previously unbeaten Japanese prospect Hayato Suzuki bowed down for the very first time in his professional career as he yielded to Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion black belt Alex “Little Rock” Silva. Both combatants started out aggressively, but it was SIlva who showed a more capable set of grappling skills. Silva spun a web of crafty grappling to overwhelm Suzuki as the Brazilian was able to get the submission finish in the first round, making Suzuki tap from an armbar.

Former world title contender Reece “Lighting” McLaren found a new home at flyweight as he pulled off a successful submission victory by defeating flyweight mainstay Anatpong Bunrad. Debuting effortlessly in his new weight class, McLaren showcased his fluid grappling skills and solid striking. With a mere eight seconds remaining in the very first round, McLaren caught Bunrad in an anaconda choke and transitioned into a D’arce choke to force the tap.

Chinese martial arts superstar “The Ghost” Zhao Zhi Kang made an astounding statement in his first assignment as a ONE Championship competitor, submitting Cambodian standout Thai Rithy in the first round. With a game plan to take matters to the ground, Zhao got the job done by fastening a rear-naked choke to force the tap from Rithy.

Team Lakay’s highly-touted atomweight prospect Gina “The Conviction” Iniong extended her winning streak inside the ONE Championship cage with an outstanding second-round finish of Indonesia’s Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol. With a diverse striking arsenal, Iniong unloaded her signature right hand on multiple occasions, finding the mark. In the second frame, Iniong found an opening to take Gaol down to the mat. Applying a crucifix, Iniong delivered a flurry of ground punches to force the referee to step in and call a halt to the contest.

In a battle of former world title challengers, Joshua “The Passion” Pacio emerged victorious against veteran martial artist Roy “The Dominator” Doliguez by notching a highlight-reel knockout in the second round. The young Team Lakay standout exhibited stellar form from the get-go, wearing down his fellow Filipino opponent with impeccable grappling and heavy high kicks. Hungry to place himself back on the winning track, Pacio put the finishing touches in the second frame, where he unleashed a well-timed spinning back-fist that sent Doliguez crashing down to the canvas.

After an impressive promotional debut in Shanghai, China last September, Xie Chao made his trip to Manila a memorable one by picking up his second-straight win in ONE Championship at the expense of Malaysia’s Kelvin Ong. Xie easily staggered Ong with a hard knee, giving him the leverage to convert a takedown. Employing sturdy top control, Xie drilled Ong with crisp elbows to get the stoppage in the opening stanza of the featherweight showdown.

A three-round strawweight encounter set a promising tone for the entire evening of ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD as Peng Xue Wen collided with Phat Soda in the curtain-raiser for the event. Peng, a National Youth Greco Wrestling Champion, left a lasting impression in his maiden trip to the ONE Championship cage by scoring a knockout victory over Soda with a high-impact slam in the first round.

Official Results for ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD

ONE Lightweight World Championship bout: Martin Nguyen defeats Eduard Folayang by Knockout (KO) at 2:20 minutes of round 2

ONE Flyweight World Championship bout: Adriano Moraes defeats Danny Kingad by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:45 minutes of round 1

Bantamweight bout: Kevin Belingon defeats Kevin Chung by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds

Strawweight bout: Alex Silva defeats Hayato Suzuki by Submission (Armbar) at 1:22 minutes of round 1

Flyweight bout: Reece McLaren defeats Anatpong Bunrad by Submission (D’arce Choke) at 4:52 minutes of round 1

Featherweight bout: Zhao Zhi Kang defeats Thai Rithy by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 2:31 minutes of round 1

Women’s atomweight bout: Gina Iniong defeats Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol by TKO (Strikes) at 2:12 minutes of round 2

Strawweight bout: Joshua Pacio defeats Roy Doliguez by Knockout (KO) at 0:38 minutes of round 2

Featherweight bout: Xie Chao defeats Kelvin Ong by TKO (Doctor’s Stoppage) at 1:48 minutes of round 1

Strawweight bout: Peng Xue Wen defeats Phat Soda by Knockout (KO) at 2:15 minutes of round 1

In case you missed the action log on to http://www.onefc.com/livestream for the full replay of the fights at only US $9.99.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit http://www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Six Filipinos Will Punch Their Way To Become Legendary

ONE Championship is geared up for another exciting night of fights. The biggest mixed martial arts promotion in Asia stacked its fight card for their return to Manila, Philippines.

ONE: Legends of the World goes down November 10 at the Mall of Asia Arena. The card is set to showcase two high profile champions of their divisions go to war in the night’s main event. Lightweight world champion Eduard Folayang will be taking on fellow champion Martin Nguyen who moved up from Featherweight for a championship bout.

12 November 2016. The day the Philippines and Filipino fight fans were treated to a night of unforgettable fight as EDUARD LANDSLIDE FOLAYANG defeated MMA legend Shinya Aoki via TKO in a 5-round battle to claim the ONE Championship LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD TITLE in Singapore with ONE: DEFENDING HONOR at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. The finish came in the third round as Aoki’s face planted on the canvas taking unanswered relentless punches from the face of Philippine MMA.

Eduard Folayang retained his ONE Lightweight World Championship with a masterful display of striking to defeat top Malaysian lightweight Ev “E.T.” Ting at ONE: KINGS OF DESTINY last April at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila.

Eduard Folayang successfully defended his lightweight strap

He will defend the crown against Martin Nguyen of Australia on November 10. Nguyen shocked the world by stopping Marat Gafurov in their rematch to become the ONE Featherweight World Champion last August. Now he look to become the first two-division champion in ONE Championship history.

That’s not the only world championship on the line in Manila. The ONE Flyweight World Championship pits the reigning titleholder Adriano Moraes against number two contender Danny Kingad at the co-main event. This big fight could give Team Lakay the third world champion in mixed martial arts honor and prestige.

An unbeaten flyweight contender from Team Lakay, Danny Kingad, has a perfect five win, no loss record. One of the top prospects to come out of the high altitudes of Baguio City, Philippines, Kingad is a tremendous striker, operating out of his world-class wushu base. In his last bout, Kingad emerged victorious against Muhammad Aiman of Malaysia by unanimous decision. His undefeated record was supposed to be challenged by Hexigetu of China four months ago, but their bout was cancelled twice. Now it’s time to touch gloves with his Brazilian foe for the World Flyweight Championship.

Kevin Belingon had a good timing when he dropped Reece McLaren at ONE: Quest for Greatness in August and gave barrage of punches earning Belingon a TKO victory. In January 2016, Belingon challenged the bantamweight champion Bibiano Fernandes in the main event of ONE: Dynasty of Champions. The title bout didn’t go as planned for the challenger as Belingon was submitted by Fernandes in the first round. Team Lakay’s heavy-hitter looks to extend his win streak to four against the undefeated Kevin Chung of U.S.A. “The Silencer” could be one win away from another title shot.

Joshua Pacio is also a former world title challenger. The testament to just how good the 20 year-old warrior from Baguio’s Team Lakay were his fights with the reigning and former world champions Yoshitaka Naito and Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichokei. “The Passion” is a very capable and persistent fighter taking all the sweat he have experienced inside the cage to become a better version of himself. He will show that he is able to sustain the growth as he try to get back in the win column as he take on compatriot Roy Doliguez next. Roy Doliguez showed the world last September that he is still one of the competitive strawweights by knocking out Yago Bryan at ONE: Total Victory in Jakarta.

The rose among the thorns, Gina Iniong, will attempt to get her second win in a row since successful ONE Championship debut at Kings of Destiny held in Manila. With a solid display of striking superiority, she added the Filipino-English fighter Natalie Gonzales Hills to her resume. French fighter Nathalie Heidel and Japanese veteran Mei Yamaguchi are also this Team Lakay’s atomweight standout notable victories. Iniong is looking to win her second ONE competition against Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol of Indonesia.

Make sure you don’t miss these fights. Be at SM Mall of Asia Arena! Let us support these Filipinos excelling in MMA as they take on their opponents in front of their home crowd.

Below is the night’s stacked fight card:

Main Card:

Eduard Folayang vs Martin Nguyen

Adriano Moraes vs Danny Kingad

Kevin Belingon vs Kevin Chung

Alex Silva vs Hayato Suzuki

Anatpong Bunrad vs Reece McLaren

Zhao Zhikang vs Thai Rithy

Prelims:

Gina Iniong vs Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol

Joshua Pacio vs Roy Doliguez

Xie Chao vs Kelvin Ong

Peng Xue Wen vs Phat Soda

CHATRI SITYODTONG TO RECEIVE 2017 INFLUENTIAL BRANDS TOP CEO OF THE YEAR AWARD

07 November 2017 – Singapore: The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced that Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, is scheduled to receive the 2017 InfluentialBrands® Top CEO of the Year award at the 2017 CEO Asia Conference organized in conjunction with Deloitte.

In the presence of esteemed guests from all over the world in various industries, Sityodtong will ascend the stage at the Capitol Theatre on Tuesday, 7 November to accept the award, which is given to CEO’s who have proven exemplary in various areas, namely: exhibiting strong business leadership, building confidence from stakeholders and fully embracing Branding as part of the business strategy. In 2016, past recipients of this prestigious award include other notable CEO’s such as Mr. George Quek; Chairman of BreadTalk Group, Mr. Anthony Tan; Co-Founder and CEO of GrabTaxi Holdings, Dr. Michael Tan; Co-Founder and Group CEO of Fullerton Healthcare Corporation, Mr. Richard Eu; CEO of Eu Yan Sang International, Mr. David Chiem; Founder, CEO and Chairman of Mindchamps Holdings and Mr. Alain Ong; CEO of Pokka International.

A lot of ONE Championship’s massive growth has to do with it’s rapid rise across Asia. Established in 2011, ONE’s tireless efforts to bring Asia’s unique flavor of martial arts to fans all over the world has seen the company achieve incredible success, landing major partnerships which includes deals with Disney, Marvel, LG, Kawasaki, Panasonic, Haier, NagaWorld, Universal Music Group and Tune Talk, to name a few. The company’s ability to form deals that are mutually beneficial to all parties has been essential in its growth.

Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “It is an honor to receive the 2017 Top CEO of the Year Award from Influential Brands, but I have to give credit to an amazing team we have at ONE Championship. ONE Championship promises to continue to dedicate itself to highlighting Asia’s greatest cultural treasure, martial arts, and telling its inspirational stories through our local homegrown martial arts superheroes. 2018 promises to be an even better year, and I can’t wait to share every moment with our beloved fans. Thank you for the recognition, InfluentialBrands.”

With nearly two decades of insight into Asia’s top global brands, businesses, and rich Asian cultural heritage, InfluentialBrands recognizes exceptional performance of some of the biggest names from various industries. InfluentialBrands identifies, engages and recognizes Asia’s most influential companies.

InfluentialBrands is a think-tank formed to gain consumer insights through various methods of research. Leveraging on more than 19 years of branding knowledge, know-how and expertise in Asia, InfluentialBrands seeks to provide knowledge, raise awareness of desirable brands, celebrate the unique aspects of Asian-based businesses and our rich Asia’s brand heritage.

It has been a phenomenal 2017 for ONE Championship, Asia’s largest sports media property. Led by Sityodtong, the martial arts organization has achieved sensational growth, marking significant increases in social media influence and television distribution in the past three years. The company has managed to garner a whopping 8.3-billion social media impressions in 2017 from just 352-million in 2014, which is more than a 23x increase. Social media video views is even more impressive, totalling 1.5-billion across multiple platforms compared to 312 thousand just three years prior.

Furthermore, ONE Championship has posted astronomical increases in global TV distribution, now being broadcast to a potential one-billion viewers in over 128 countries worldwide. In the past three years alone, ONE has come to a peak TV ratings share of 1-2% to a staggering 11-36% projected by the end of 2017. That is up to 36x the amount of growth. In comparison, TV ratings in Asia for global sports media properties such as the EPL, F1, and the NBA only sit at 1-6%. This includes an increase in annual TV broadcast per core country, coming from 12-18 hours to a phenomenal 100-2800 hours, a more than 230x spike.

In addition, the martial arts promotion’s recent highlighted growth has already seen it rival the growth of Formula One (F1), the highest class of single-seat auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). ONE Championship, which launched in 2011, is scheduled to hold 24 events in 2018, compared to F1 which is scheduled to hold just 21 events. ONE’s 1-billion potential global broadcast reach is coming close to F1’s 1.5-billion. On the social media front, ONE is completely crushing the competition, with a more than 5-million user fanbase with over 1.3-million average Facebook video views. In contrast, F1 has only registered 3.86-million with 400,000 average views.

While 2017 certainly continues to be spectacular for the promotion, 2018 already promises to be even better as ONE Championship pulls out all the stops to become the global leader in martial arts and sports entertainment. ONE announced earlier this year its blockbuster 2018 calendar featuring 24 massive events taking place in iconic cities across Asia. The promotion continues to set the bar for authentic world-class martial arts, bringing a unique experience to fans all over the region. Apart from events previously held in major Asian cities, ONE Championship also introduces inaugural events in new markets South Korea and Japan.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

EDUARD FOLAYANG FACES OFF WITH MARTIN NGUYEN AT ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD KICK-OFF PRESS CONFERENCE

Photo from Robert Lim

The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), recently held the ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD Official Kick-Off Press Conference on 7 November at the Grand Ballroom of City of Dreams, Manila. In attendance was Vice President of ONE Championship, Rich Franklin, as well as athletes Eduard Folayang, Martin Nguyen, Adriano Moraes, Danny Kingad, Kevin Belingon and Kevin Chung.

This press conference was held ahead of all the action which takes place 10 November, at the Mall of Asia Arena, which features reigning ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang who will defend his title against ONE Featherweight World Champion Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen in the evening’s main event.

Rich Franklin, Vice President of ONE Championship, stated: “It is my honor and my pleasure to see some of the greatest martial artists on the planet compete in ONE Championship. The thing that makes ONE Championship different from any other organization in the world, is that we want to build and unleash martial arts superheroes to ignite the world with inspiration, hope, dreams, strength and courage. Our heroes are role models not only in the cage, but also outside the cage. On Friday, we are one with the Philippines in celebrating the beauty of martial arts as we have prepared the very best match lineup for the delight of our Filipino audience and the rest of the world.”

Eduard Folayang, ONE Lightweight World Champion, stated: “Representing the Philippines and showcasing my skills is an honor for me. Filipinos are truly world-class. We have the ability to hang with the best, no matter what the field. That is why I accepted this challenge in front of me. Join me as I continue my journey this coming Friday. Winning this bout is my top priority, to keep this belt on my shoulder. It is going to be tough, but I have my people to support me. I want to make everyone proud. I want to show the fans that Filipino athletes are world-class.”

Martin Nguyen, ONE Featherweight World Champion, stated: “I have worked very hard to be in this position. Eduard Folayang is a great champion and embodies the true values of martial arts. I know chances like this are very rare. I will do my best to take another world title home for my family and all of my fans. 2017 has already been a big year for me, and I am looking to end it with another belt on my shoulder.”

Adriano Moraes, ONE Flyweight World Champion, stated: “It’s my first time in Manila. I am very excited to compete against a highly-touted prospect like Danny Kingad. I respect him. It’s going to be a tough night, but I’m looking forward to it. I’m going out on Friday to try to keep my world championship belt around my waist.”

Danny Kingad, ONE Athlete, stated: “I have waited so long for this. Ever since I joined ONE Championship, I had my eyes set on becoming champion. This is what I wanted when I became a martial artist – to be the best in the world. Now that it is finally happening, and I have this opportunity right in front of me, the feeling of nervousness quickly turned into motivation. I’m ready to showcase my skills in front of the world. I believe it’s going to be a good and exciting match with Adriano [Moraes].”

Kevin Belingon, ONE Athlete, stated: “I would like to thank all the Filipino people, and all fans of martial arts for the support. If you’re a fan of non-stop action and excitement, come and see us at the Mall of Asia Arena on Friday. It’s going to be an amazing show. I am preparing very hard so that I can make my country proud again. I know my opponent is incredibly well-rounded and highly-skilled, so I will surely not be taking him lightly. It’s going to be an absolute battle from beginning to end.”

Kevin Chung, ONE Athlete, stated: “I am in this to prove my skills and my heart as a warrior. It doesn’t matter who I am matched up against. What matters is that I am prepared well and that I am in great physical condition. Everyday I put myself through the rigors of training to become the best martial artist I can be. I am excited for this showdown against Kevin Belingon. I believe there will be a big reward waiting for me if I win.”

Eduard “Landslide” Folayang of the legendary Team Lakay in Baguio City is one of the Philippines’ most experienced martial artists. After nearly a decade of competing in various promotions, Folayang has amassed an impressive 18-5 professional record. The 33-year-old veteran is currently riding a four-bout winning streak against high-profile opponents, including an emphatic technical knockout victory over Japanese legend Shinya Aoki to capture the ONE Lightweight World Championship in 2016. Showcasing a highly-improved wrestling and grappling arsenal, Folayang thoroughly defeated top challenger Ev Ting in his first title defense last April. Now set to return to the ONE Championship cage in Manila, Folayang will face ONE Featherweight World Champion Martin Nguyen in a cross-divisional showdown.

28-year-old Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen of Sydney, Australia, is a highly-skilled finisher and one of the most talented featherweights in martial arts. In his most recent bout, Nguyen stepped into the ONE Championship cage last August, scoring the biggest victory of his career when he stopped former undefeated featherweight champion Marat “Cobra” Gafurov in Kuala Lumpur to capture the ONE Featherweight World Championship. Sporting a 9-1 professional record, Nguyen’s all-around skill set allows him to compete at the highest level of competition. In a much-anticipated battle between division champions, Nguyen is set to face the Philippines’ Eduard Folayang in Manila for the Filipino’s coveted ONE Lightweight World Championship.

28-year-old Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes of Brazil is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt with well-rounded striking and grappling skills. He is the undisputed ONE Flyweight World Champion, and one of the most highly-skilled and dominant world champions in martial arts. Rarely opposed in the ONE Championship cage, Moraes thoroughly defeated former champion Kairat Akhmetov in an epic rematch last August, snapping the Kazakhstani’s perfect 23-bout win streak and reclaiming his belt. He is now set to defend his title against rising star Danny Kingad.

An unbeaten flyweight from Team Lakay, Danny “The King” Kingad is a regional wushu champion and martial artist with a perfect professional record of 5-0. A true warrior from the mountains of the Philippines and one of the top prospects to come out of Baguio City, Kingad is a tremendous striker who possesses well-rounded grappling skills. In his most recent bout, Kingad turned in a complete performance, putting his wide range of techniques on full display in a unanimous decision victory over Malaysia’s Muhammad Aiman. The impressive victory earned Kingad a shot at the ONE Flyweight World Championship, as he next meets defending champion Adriano Moraes.

Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon of the famed Team Lakay in Baguio City, Philippines, is one of the country’s most talented martial artists. With a professional record of 16-5, the Filipino champion and former world title challenger is known as a fierce competitor with the ability to finish opponents in a variety of methods. The 29-year old wushu stalwart owns seven huge knockouts on his resume, and is one of the most feared strikers in ONE Championship’s deep bantamweight division. In his last bout, Belingon stopped a top contender in Reece McLaren of Australia with a volley of devastating strikes. He now takes on another tough task ahead in Kevin Chung.

Kevin “Old Boy” Chung is a 24-year-old South Korean martial artist who was born and raised in the United States. He began his amatuer career in his adoptive hometown of Centreville, Virginia, in 2010, and has since impressed with his spectacular performances inside the cage. Chung turned professional in 2015, and currently holds a perfect professional record of 4-0, with two of his four career wins having come by way of spectacular stoppage. Chung prides himself on being an exciting competitor, willing to please the crowd by constantly seeking the highlight-reel finish. He is set to face feared striker Kevin Belingon next.

Myanmar’s favorite son Aung La N Sang defeated Alain Ngalani at ONE: HERO’S DREAM

The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), once again electrified the Thuwunna Indoor Stadium with another blockbuster evening of authentic martial arts. ONE: HERO’S DREAM showcased the absolute best in local and international martial arts talent competing inside the ONE Championship cage. In the main event, reigning ONE Middleweight World Champion and Myanmar’s favorite son, “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang defeated Alain “The Panther” Ngalani to emerge victorious in the evening’s Open Weight Super-Bout.

In the main event of the evening, national icon “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang clinched the most impressive victory of his career, defeating Muay Thai and kickboxing heavyweight champion Alain “The Panther” Ngalani in the promotion’s first ever Open Weight Super-Bout. The reigning ONE Middleweight World Champion, Aung La N Sang weathered an early storm from Ngalani, working in guard to defend himself from Ngalani’s top game. Recognizing an opening for a standing guillotine choke, Aung La N Sang wrapped his arm around Ngalani’s neck and pulled guard to finish his opponent by submission in the first round.

“This is amazing, thank you Myanmar, I love you,” said Aung La N Sang. “I do this because I love you guys, that’s it. If Alain and I can be friends afterwards, then every tribe, every brother and sister in Myanmar can be friends. I love you guys. Moving up to heavyweight was not ideal for me. Middleweight is the class I compete in, but if there’s an opportunity I will take it and I felt the guillotine.”

In the co-main event of the evening, local martial arts heroes Phoe Thaw and Saw Ba Oo figured in an inspiring display of heart and tenacity, exchanging their best offense in the full length of the ONE Championship cage. As the two poured their energy and left it all out on the biggest stage of martial arts, it was Thaw who came away with a hard-earned victory in a closely-contested three round affair. In the end, two of three judges saw the bout in favor of Thaw who bagged a split decision for his efforts.

China’s “The Southern Eagle” Ma Hao Bin continued his rapid rise through the ranks, notching the eighth victory of his professional career and his sixth straight overall with a first round submission of charismatic Filipino striker Eugene Toquero. Toquero, a Muay Thai specialist and former celebrity fitness coach, would do his best to thwart Ma’s aggressive takedown game, but was proven ineffective in doing so. Ma, with mere seconds left in the first round, caught Toquero in an armbar who soon tapped out.

In a battle of Myanmar’s homegrown flyweight talents, Ye Thway Ne established his first winning streak inside the ONE Championship cage by defeating compatriot Saw Thar Nge. As soon as the bell rang, the two warriors engaged in a fiery exchange of haymakers at the center of the cage. Ye Thway Ne then clipped Saw Thar Nge with a wild left hook to send his opponent crashing to the canvas, ending the bout in the very first round.

Thai martial arts prospect Pongsiri Mitsatit of Bangkok once again impressed in a masterful offensive performance against live Filipino challenger Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado of Manila. Mitsatit came out ultra-aggressive, looking to bring the action right to Miado who had other plans. Miado aimed to take matters to the ground to nullify Mitsatit’s striking advantage, but Mitsatit would have none of it. In the end, it was Mitsatit who effectively executed his gameplan, stopping Miado in the second round by forcing a verbal tapout.

Local Myanmar athletes and former lethwei stars Saw Darwait and Sit Mhan locked horns at the center of the cage to the roar of a packed arena. Saw Darwait, who came into the contest looking to test his grappling skills, ended the contest early when he latched onto a rear naked choke just 41 seconds into the match, forcing the tap from Sit Mhan.

Bantamweight competitors “Rock Man” Chen Lei of China and Burn “Hitman” Soriano of the Philippines provided fans with a tremendous display of offense in a short contest that lasted just under two rounds. After an incredible first round which saw Chen score major points for his cage control and powerful strikes, Soriano came back towards the end and nearly submitted the Chinese warrior with an armbar. Chen was eventually saved by the bell and in the second round, took Soriano to the mat and quickly secured full mount, stopping the Filipino with ground-and-pound.

After pulling off a solid promotional debut last September, “Supermom” Miao Jie of China continued to impress in ONE Championship as she submitted debuting Australian competitor Amira Hafizovic in the first round of their strawweight showdown. Miao showcased her grappling skills, easily getting the job done in just 45 seconds of the first round by forcing Hafizovic to tap to an armbar.

In the second preliminary bout of the evening, China’s “The Ghost” Zhang Ze Hao and India’s Bala Shetty sent tremors of excitement throughout the iconic Thuwunna Indoor Stadium with a spirited display of striking. As both combatants exchanged heavy blows at the center of the cage, it was Zhang who came away with the knockout win in the first round, delivering a thunderous left hook to shut the lights off on Shetty.

A three-round atomweight contest served as the curtain-raiser at ONE: HERO’S DREAM as Filipino female atomweight prospect Jomary Torres defeated Indonesian grappling specialist Nita Dea by unanimous decision after three rounds. Torres employed an efficient strategy from start to finish, utilizing her speed and power to connect a multitude of thudding strikes on Dea. Torres also dominated Dea on the mat with her ground-and-pound, which was enough to earn the judges’ nod.

Official results for ONE: HERO’S DREAM

Open Weight Super-Bout: Aung La N Sang defeats Alain Ngalani by Submission (Guillotine) at 4:31 minutes of round 1

Featherweight bout: Phoe Thaw defeats Saw Ba Oo by Split Decision (SD) after 3 rounds

Flyweight bout: Ma Hao Bin defeats Eugene Toquero by Submission (Armbar) at 4:51 minutes of round 1

Flyweight bout: Ye Thway Ne defeats Saw Thar Nge by Knockout (KO) at 3:50 minutes of round 1

Strawweight bout: Pongsiri Mitsatit defeats Jeremy Miado by TKO (Verbal Submission) at 4:23 minutes of round 2

Bantamweight bout: Saw Darwait defeats Sit Mhan by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 0:41 minutes of round 1

Bantamweight bout: Chen Lei defeats Burn Soriano by TKO (Strikes) at 1:06 minutes of round 2

Women’s strawweight bout: Miao Jie defeats Amira Hafizovic by Submission (Armbar) at 0:45 minutes of round 1

Lightweight bout: Zhang Ze Hao defeats Bala Shetty by TKO (Strikes) at 2:01 minutes of round 1

Women’s atomweight bout: Jomary Torres defeats Nita Dea by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds

In case you missed the action log on to www.onefc.com/livestream for the full replay of the fights at only US $9.99.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Joshua “The Passion” Pacio a man on a mission at ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD

Joshua Pacio’s road to redemption begins at ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD

Ever since falling short in his bid to capture the ONE Strawweight World Championship title over a year ago, Filipino standout Joshua “The Passion” Pacio was a man on a mission to get a rematch with division kingpin Yoshitaka Naito.

After redeeming himself by notching a split decision victory over former champion Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke this past March, it seemed that Pacio was one bout away from securing a second encounter with Naito when he faced Hayato Suzuki on the main card of ONE: KINGS & CONQUERORS in August.

However, his hopes to dance once again with Naito inside the ONE Championship cage for the coveted gold-plated strap were derailed as Pacio yielded to Suzuki by first-round submission.

For the 21-year-old native of La Trinidad, Benguet, he is back to square one following his submission setback to Suzuki three months ago.

“That’s the hard part of losing because I have to start over again. A win over Hayato Suzuki could have given me a rematch for the belt, but it is what it is. I just have to move on and work my way up in the rankings once more,” Pacio expressed.

Eager to erase the memory of his loss in August and put himself back on the winning track, Pacio returns to action on 10 November as he squares off with compatriot and fellow ex-title contender Roy “The Dominator” Doliguez on the undercard of ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD, which emanates from the 20,000-seater SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines.

Pacio guarantees a better version of himself as he crosses paths with a mixed martial arts veteran and a former boxing champion like Doliguez.

“Coming into this bout, I have a renewed confidence now and I am training hard. With the help of my teammates at Team Lakay, I am motivated to show the world that I am worthy to compete on an international stage like ONE Championship,” he stated

“I have dreams of really becoming a world champion in this wonderful sport someday, and I am coming and willing to work for it,” Pacio added.

Now using the moniker “The Passion” due to his ardent desire to improve each day as a martial artist, Pacio knows that having his hand raised in triumph will not be a walk in the park against Doliguez, who vied for the inaugural ONE Strawweight World Championship against Amnuaysirichoke in 2015.

In his most recent bout, Doliguez scored the biggest victory of his professional career, stopping Brazilian stalwart Yago Bryan via third-round knockout last September.

“Obviously, Roy Doliguez has a ton of experience both in the ring and cage. He is strong and very fierce. I will do my best and really show what I have. I will put my best foot forward because I have trained very hard for this fight,” Pacio said about his preparation for his encounter with Doliguez.

As almost everyone in the sport has his or her own shortfalls, Pacio hopes to bounce back on an astounding note and topple Doliguez at ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD.

“I respect an esteemed competitor like Roy Doliguez. I will keep up with him, and I will try to top his toughness and quickness to make this my moment,” he ended.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Kevin Belingon Hungry for Another KO Win to Cement Position as Next Title Challenger

For the past three outings of Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon inside the ONE Championship cage, the Filipino mixed martial artist has proven himself as the next worthy contender for the coveted ONE Bantamweight World Championship.

Ever since unsuccessfully challenging Bibiano Fernandes for the gold-plated strap in January 2016, Belingon has run through his recent opposition by piling up three-straight stellar victories.

Following his submission setback to Fernandes, Belingon took several months off before re-emerging in October 2016 by handing top Tajik prospect Muin Gafurov his second professional loss via unanimous decision.

Belingon followed it up with an astounding knockout conquest of Finnish dynamo and former title contender Toni Tauru last April in front of a sold-out crowd at the 20,000-capacity SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines.

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In his most recent bout, Belingon showcased another epic performance by notching a first-round knockout win over fellow ex-title challenger Reece “Lightning” McLaren last August.

After picking up an emphatic victory over McLaren, it appeared that Belingon was on his way to a second encounter with Fernandes.

However, Belingon is having a slight detour towards his goal to meet Fernandes again as he has been booked to face Korean-American standout Kevin “Old Boy” Chung in a three-round affair on the undercard of ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD, which takes place at the 20,000-seater SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines on 10 November.

For Belingon, his cage showdown with Chung is an opportunity to make a truly impressive statement as his objective is to score a rematch with Fernandes for the organization’s bantamweight title.

“Make no mistake about it, my performances in the cage as of late are a message to the organization and to the reigning ONE Bantamweight World Champion. I am coming for that belt, and no one can stop me. Whoever they put in front of me, I will be looking to destroy. I am a man on a mission,” he stated.

According to Belingon, defeating Chung in decisive fashion may strengthen his bid to get a rematch with Fernandes.

“My mindset remains to showcase my skills and remain focused on executing the game plan. My team and I have devised a tremendous strategy in dealing with my next opponent. Even though I have scored some recent knockouts, I am not going in there recklessly,” he explained.

“If at any point I sense my opponent is ready to go, and the knockout presents itself, I am like a shark in a fish tank. There is no doubt I will go for the finish, and I will end matters quickly. I will strike my opponent until the referee pulls me off him,” Belingon added.

It seemed to take the 30-year-old Baguio City native a while to realize just how merciless his striking power is.

Despite running at breakneck speed to 9-0 at the start of his professional career, the Team Lakay bantamweight was not a renowned knockout artist.

But since signing with ONE Championship in 2012 and focusing on his training regime in the mountain region of the Philippines, five of his seven victories have come by way of knockout.

“I have bolstered my training, working on all areas of my game from striking to grappling,” Belingon shared.

With his Wushu background honed under Mark Sangiao, Belingon is as lethal as the nickname suggest as he is fast, destructive and goes for the clean shot.

Belingon is literally punching his way to a second title opportunity against division kingpin Fernandes, having recently knocked out two former world title challengers in the very first round.

“I want to show everybody that I am the real title challenger-in-waiting. I have realized my mistakes in my first encounter with Bibiano, and I have worked hard to erase those flaws. He is a great world champion, but I feel things will go differently if we ever meet again. The time will come when I will be able to showcase my improvements,” he stressed.

Although vying for the ONE Bantamweight World Championship title remains as his top priority, Belingon clarified that his current focus is fixed on his date with Chung at ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD.

“My opponent is not easy, and I am not taking him for granted, which is why I am completely focused on my upcoming bout this November 10. This is a dangerous game we play, and we cannot underestimate anybody. I need to be at my absolute best so I can turn in another great performance for the fans. Competing in front of my hometown crowd, the pressure is on to score another huge victory,” he declared.

The stakes are incredibly high for Belingon, unveiling that he is preparing himself to be in the best shape of his life.

Belingon knows that each win from here on out is another step closer to the ONE Bantamweight World Championship belt.

“I know I will meet Bibiano again in that cage, and when that day comes, I need to be prepared. There is not a day that has passed that I have not thought about that first bout. But for now, my objective is to win against Kevin Chung on November 10,” he ended.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit http://www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

One FC Hosts Open Workout for Athletes at One: Hero’s Dream in Yangon

31 October 2017 – Yangon, Myanmar: The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), recently held an open workout for athletes competing at ONE: HERO’S DREAM. Held at the Myanmar Plaza on 31 October, the ONE: HERO’S DREAM Open Workout featured main event competitors, reigning ONE Middleweight World Champion “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang and Muay Thai heavyweight champion Alain “The Panther” Ngalani. Also in attendance were local martial arts stars Phoe Thaw and Saw Ba Oo who will be competing on the supporting card.

ONE: HERO’S DREAM is set for 3 November at the Thuwunna Indoor Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar.

Official Photos for the ONE: HERO’S DREAM Open Workout can be found at this link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0BxHVlFU0lKiIbVh5cDFSak1VajA?usp=sharing

Aung La N Sang, ONE Middleweight World Champion, stated: “I understand the challenge that I’m taking on, so I am preparing the hardest I ever have for any match in my entire career. Taking on this massive warrior, Alain Ngalani, will be my toughest test, and I vow to bring honor and glory to Myanmar. I have spent an incredible amount of time in the gym, working on all areas of my game, so expect to see the best version of The Burmese Python in the ONE Championship cage.”

Alain Ngalani, ONE Athlete, stated: “Being able to help people is something that I love to do. I always want to do something positive for the community. This bout against Aung La will draw a lot of attention, and I hope to use this stage to highlight the beauty of martial arts and inspire everyone to practice it. I respect the champion and I think he is an honorable individual. This is about martial arts at the highest level of skill and I can’t wait to showcase our amazing talents.”

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Phoe Thaw, ONE Athlete, stated: “It is an honor for me to represent my country. I love my home and will do my best to make my people proud. Since I joined ONE Championship, I have learned so much that has helped me throughout my career. I feel that I am ready to take the next step. My opponent is not easy, and it is going to be tough to face my fellow countryman, but I am prepared to do what it takes to win.”

Saw Ba Oo, ONE Athlete, stated: “Martial arts in Myanmar has really taken off and I am proud to be a part of the explosion. I have progressed a lot so far in my young career. The possibilities are endless for me and I will continue to work hard to make my family and my fans proud. This is an awesome opportunity to showcase my skills, so I will not take my opponent lightly.”

32-year-old Aung La N Sang is Myanmar’s most successful athlete in history, whose constricting style has earned him the moniker of ”The Burmese Python”. Born in Myitkyina in the mountainous Kachin State, he belongs to an ethnic minority known as the Kachin. In his most recent outing, Aung La N Sang stunned former champion Vitaly Bigdash of Russia in a highly-anticipated rematch to be crowned the new ONE Middleweight World Champion. Aung La N Sang is set to square off in his toughest challenge yet, against heavyweight behemoth Alain Ngalani.

Heavyweight knockout artist Alain “The Panther” Ngalani, who trains out of Impakt MMA in Hong Kong but is originally from Cameroon, is a terrifying combination of power and speed, and is always looking to end matches early. Owning a 25-7-1, 2 NC kickboxing record which includes 23 knockouts, Ngalani is a heavyweight world champion in Muay Thai and kickboxing. Fresh off his record-setting 11-second KO of former ONE Heavyweight World Title Challenger Hideki Sekine, “The Panther” is set to figure in ONE Championship’s first-ever ‘David vs Goliath’ super bout, as he takes on ONE Middleweight World Champion Aung La N Sang in an open weight contest.

An unbeaten 32-year-old martial artist from Yangon, Phoe Thaw (4-0) is set to return to action following a tremendous accomplishment at ONE: STATE OF WARRIORS where he won the ONE Myanmar Featherweight Tournament Championship. Prior to transitioning to the cage, Thaw was a successful Lethwei practitioner with a record of 3-0-2. So far in his career, Thaw has showcased a penchant for scoring highlight-reel stoppages, winning all four of his bouts by knockout. One of the fastest rising stars in Myanmar, Thaw is now set to face countryman Saw Ba Oo.

Saw Ba Oo is a martial artist hailing from Yangon, Myanmar, and is a promising young talent in ONE Championship’s featherweight division. He made a successful ONE debut in 2015, and has since gone 2-1 in his career. Prior to transitioning to the cage, Saw was a Lethwei star with a 16-4-18 record. In his most recent bout, Saw scored a second-round technical knockout victory over Kyal Sin Phyo. Next up, Saw will take on rising star Phoe Thaw.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit http://www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Ticket information for ONE: HERO’S DREAM is available at http://www.onefc.com.

4 Pinoy Heroes Battle for Glory at ONE: Hero’s Dream

Pinoy MMA warriors Burn Soriano, Eugene Toquero, Jeremy Miado and Jomary Torres look to make a statement in the cage as they head to Yangon, Myanmar for their journey to ONE: Hero’s Dream, Friday, November 3, 2017 at Thuwunna Indoor Stadium.

ONE Championship 63: Hero’s Dream pits Aung La N Sang vs Alain Ngalani battle in an open weight super bout. His middleweight strap will not be defended, the Burmese champion has agreed to take on Muay Thai heavyweight world champion Alain Ngalani. The main card will also feature Pinoy favorite Burn Soriano. In his last fight, Soriano suffered a tough loss against Malaysia’s Saiful Merican. Soriano completely dominated Merican in the early first round only to find himself outworked before the round ends. “Hitman” looks to get back to his winning ways.

Thanks Ms. Apple. February 10 was a day to learn. It has become my biggest motivator as well. No excuses.

Soriano told Powcast nine months ago. His Alliance training camp with coach George Castro all completed now. Soriano is ready to fight.

Eugene Toquero is another Pinoy fan-favorite. “Boy Hawi” will try to stop his three-fight losing streak as he takes on chinese Ma Hao Bin. Toquero fell three-straight to quality opponents such as ONE flyweight champion Adriano Moraes, compatriot and no. 1 flyweight Danny Kingad and Indonesian standout Stefer Rahardian. Toquero has a lot of hair rising work to do to get back in the win column.

I have made other adjustments. I train longer and harder now. I don’t want to be complacent because I am not getting any younger. This is a huge organization with a lot of very good martial artists from all over the world.

This time, l will make sure that my hand is raised as the winner. I am not going home with a loss on 3rd of November, he said.

The debut in April 2016 at ONE: Kings of Destiny didn’t go exactly as planned. Jeremy Miado loses split decision to Robin Catalan. These two are decent on the ground. Only the one with better strategy can defeat another. That was just the beginning! Eager to return to action, “The Jaguar” will be competing against Thailand’s Pongsiri Misatit with an undefeated record of 8-0. If he lose the first battle doesn’t mean he will lose the second time. Miado was a former strawweight champion at Blaze FC. The hunger is still there from Miado and if he can produce a great performance then he will have his first ONE victory.

On the contrary, Jomary Torres shocked the world on her debut about the upset victory over Thailand standout Rika Ishige at ONE: Kings and Conquerors. The Zamboanginian fighter forced Tiny Doll to tap out to end her undefeated run! That’s Jomary Torres’ rise to prominence in the atomweight division. Making a name for herself in her ONE Championship debut we can expect to see more of Jomary. We see Torres building on that success in her return to the cage against Nita Dea.

Can they turn expectations into reality? We will see. ONE Championship 63: Hero’s Dream is right around the corner. The four pinoy heroes will go to war November 3, 2017. This is a little bit of warm up for fight fans before the November 10 Manila Fight card. Let us support our local fighters.

Here’s the official Hero’s Dream fight card:

Main Card

ONE Middleweight World Champion Aung La N Sang vs. Alain Ngalani (Open Weight Super Bout)
Phoe “Bushido” Thaw vs. Saw Ba Oo (Featherweight)
“The Southern Eagle” Ma Hao Bin vs. Eugene Toquero (Flyweight)
Pongsiri “The Smiling Assassin” Mitsatit vs. Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado (Strawweight)
Saw Min Min vs. Ye Thway Ne (Flyweight)
“Rock Man” Chen Lei vs. Burn “Hitman” Soriano (Bantamweight))

Prelim Card

“Supermom” Miao Jie vs. Amira “The Wandera” Hafizovic (Strawweight)
“The Ghost” Zhang Ze Hao vs. Bala “The Tulunad Warrior” Shetty (Lightweight)
Nita Dea vs. Jomary “The Zamboanginian Fighter” Torres (Atomweight)

Kevin Chung looks to seize opportunity of a lifetime at ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD

Kevin “Old Boy” Chung may be a fresh face to ONE Championship, but the promotional newcomer showed his immense talent and had an impressive debut this past June.

The 24-year-old Korean-American standout kicked off the main card of ONE: LIGHT OF A NATION with an exciting performance, defeating Chinese grappling ace Zhong Qing Ya via second-round technical knockout in their catchweight contest.

Chung got the job done in the second round, where he landed crisp punches and kicks from side control, and when Zhong turtled up, “Old Boy” took advantage of the position and delivered a pair of knees to the head.

It was all over from there as veteran referee Yuji Shimada stepped in and called a halt to the bout to award the stoppage victory to Chung.

Chung is taking the greatest risk of his budding young career in his next trip to the ONE Championship cage as he has an opportunity to establish himself as one of the premier bantamweights under the promotion’s banner.

In his upcoming bout, Chung is set to test his mettle with former world title contender Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon on the undercard of ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD, which takes place at the 20,000-seater SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines on 10 November.

“I am super excited to visit the Philippines and put on a show. I know I am in his backyard, but I have no pressure on me like I did when I competed locally. It is going to be a wild night,” Chung said.

With a professional record of 16-5, Belingon is known as a fierce competitor with the ability to finish opponents in a variety of methods.

Moreover, the 29-year-old Baguio City native owns seven huge knockouts on his resume and is one of the most feared strikers in ONE Championship’s deep bantamweight division.

Although a mere glance at their records shows a sizeable gap in experience between the two bantamweights, Chung is confident in his own talent.

“To the common eye, it may be a mismatch on paper due to records and experience. But I am confident in my skills and feel like this is my time. Anything can happen, and I have the skills to finish him,” he stated.

Chung believes that great risks result to great rewards as a decisive win over Belingon could instantly catapult him into a championship clash with division kingpin Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes.

“I am not looking past Belingon and am just focused on the task at hand. However, when my hand is raised, I would like to challenge Bibiano Fernandes in Korea,” he expressed.

Like Chung, Belingon is looking to get a crack at Fernandes’ ONE Bantamweight World Championship once again, separating himself from the rest of the weight class’ pack with his three-bout winning streak.

Belingon aced his last three outings, dominating Tajikistan’s Muin Gafurov via unanimous decision in October of last year before stopping fellow title challengers Toni “Dynamite” Tauru and Reece “Lightning” McLaren in the first round earlier this year.

Even though Belingon has the upper hand in the striking department, Chung has no qualms when it comes to trading kicks and punches with the ferocious Filipino striker.

“A lot of people will look at us and say he has the striking advantage. But I have a slight height and reach advantage,” he explained.

“I feel like I can stand with him. A lot of guys do not believe they can and look to wrestle, but I think I can hurt him on the feet. It is a great feeling knowing that. If there is any point in the bout when I am in trouble, I know that I have other weapons to go to,” Chung added.

Chung asserted that he has a fair share of knowledge in terms of delivering blows from a toe-to-toe stance, but if the marquee match-up hits the canvas, he is prepared to exploit the Filipino foe’s perceived vulnerability.

“I know what his weaknesses are. I am sure he is working hard to correct that. Learning the proper mechanics of BJJ takes longer than a few months. Once we get in there and start throwing hands and it hits the ground, he is going to see that,” he mentioned.

With a gritty opposition in front of him, Chung stressed that he is motivated to shock the world at ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD.

“It will be a barnburner, and I promise it will be the bout of the night. I will knock Belingon out within the time allowed,” he ended.

Danny Kingad: Pursuing Dream in MMA While Working on Homewok to get a College Diploma

Danny Kingad Balances Life as College Student and World Title Contender

In a typical Filipino household, parents encourage their children to exert effort in their studies to have good grades on their report cards in order to eventually have a bright future.

When parents talk of a “bright future,” they refer to white-collared professions like donning a white medical gown with a stethoscope in hand, wearing a business suit in a corporate setting, or holding a blueprint on a high-rise site with a hard hat.

However, the story mood takes a dismally sharp turn when a child opts to instead wear four-ounce gloves to compete in three to five-round bouts for cold cash.

Prizefighting does not require an educational background, which is why most people connote a social stigma to it by assuming that all it takes is hard guts to endure the punishing blows inside a ring or cage.

On the contrary, homegrown Filipino talent Danny “The King” Kingad is bent on breaking the stereotype to prove that not all professional competitors fit into this erroneous category.

Team Lakay’s Kingad, who takes up a bachelor’s degree in education at the University of the Cordilleras, has pursued his dream to be a mixed martial arts athlete while diligently working on his homework to get a college diploma.

Similar to a comic-book superhero with two different lives, Kingad wears his school uniform in the morning with his books. Meanwhile, he puts on his training clothes to hit some punch mitts and kick pads in the afternoon.

Kingad admitted that it is not easy balancing his time between mixed martial arts and his studies, but he is prepared to do what it takes for his passion.

“I am still studying, but I learned how to manage my time with the help of my coaches and senior teammates,” he stated. “I love this sport. I love to compete because this is my passion.”

Kingad is still a second-year Physical Education major as he had to minimize his units per semester to properly manage his professional career and his studies.

At the tender age of 22, Kingad has reaped dividends from his sacrifice as his name is starting to get recognized in the world of mixed martial arts.

A true warrior from the mountains of the Philippines and one of the top prospects to come out of Baguio City with an immaculate record of 5-0, Kingad is a tremendous striker who possesses well-rounded grappling skills.

Due to his outstanding run in local promotions, ONE Championship noticed Kingad and gave him a spot on the undercard of ONE: GLOBAL RIVALS in Manila in April 2016.

Kingad came out on top of his maiden ONE Championship assignment by scoring a first-round technical knockout of Malaysia’s Muhamad Haidar.

The young Baguio City native had an impressive follow-up to his ONE Championship debut by submitting compatriot Eugene Toquero with a first-round armbar in December 2016.

In his most recent trip to the ONE Championship cage, Kingad turned in a complete performance, putting his wide range of techniques on full display in a unanimous decision conquest of Malaysia’s Muhammad Aiman this past April.

With Kingad becoming a highly-touted standout in the Asian region due to his remarkable winning streak, Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao believes that he could be the next big thing in the sport, following the footsteps of his senior colleague Eduard Folayang, who is widely regarded as the face of the Philippine mixed martial arts scene and currently reigns as the ONE Lightweight World Champion.

“There’s no pressure on my part. To me, it’s a privilege to hear that from Coach Mark. I believe in what he said because I train with the best,” said Kingad as a response to Sangiao’s remark.

Although the sport offers fame and fortune, Kingad insisted that education remains as his foremost priority, knowing that he will need to engage in another source of income as being a professional athlete is not a lifetime livelihood.

“Education is very important because my career as a fighter will not last for a long time. By the time I reach 38 or 40 years old, I need to retire and have another day job to support my family,” he conveyed.

“Even though I love fighting, there will be a time in my life as a fighter that I will have to call it a day in competing. Meanwhile, education is something that I can use as I grow older,” Kingad added.

Extra-curricular activity: World title bout

As Kingad continues to juggle his attention between schoolwork and mixed martial arts, he is in what is perhaps the biggest bout in his three-year prizefighting stint so far as the Team Lakay representative vies for the ONE Flyweight World Championship.

Kingad is set to challenge division kingpin Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes in the co-headliner of ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD, which takes place at the 20,000-seater SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines on 10 November.

Much like a final examination before the end of every college semester, Kingad seeks to ace his tough test against Moraes, who is a more experienced cage competitor than him.

The 28-year-old Brazilian champion has a stellar win-loss standing of 16-2, owning eights triumphs by way of submission and three by knockout.

Rarely opposed inside the ONE Championship cage, Moraes thoroughly defeated archrival Kairat Akhmetov via unanimous decision in a rematch last August, snapping the Kazakhstani’s perfect 23-bout winning streak and unifying the coveted ONE Flyweight World Championship title.

“Adriano Moraes is the biggest challenge in my young career. I know he is a tough and experienced fighter in the cage. But I believe in what I am capable of. I think I can compete with him on the ground and especially in striking,” Kingad said of his Brazilian foe.

Kingad shrugged off skeptics’ opinion that he is ill-equipped for a world title shot, citing that athletes like him go through rigorous preparations with the objective of having their hands raised at the end.

“There are many who keep on saying that it’s too early for me to have this championship opportunity. We are trained for this. All fighters dream to fight for the title. It might be a little bit early for me, but I consider it as a blessing,” he explained.

If he will walk out of the SM Mall of Asia Arena with the gold-plated strap around his waist, Kingad plans to use it as a platform to remove the derogatory labels attached to prizefighters in general.

“I am giving everything I have in training for this fight. Bringing home the belt will be a testament that pursuing your passion is not a hindrance in securing your future through education. It is also one way of breaking the stigma that fighters have in our society,” he stressed.

Mixed martial arts appears to be a sport for the barbaric and uncivilized, but essentially it is not as it is a competitive field that relies on both brain and brawn.

Kingad desires to see himself among the growing number of world-class athletes that became titleholders in mixed martial arts with college degrees, proving that the word “unintellectual” has no relevance to the sport.

But for now, Kingad will sit on his armchair listening to his professor while waiting for the school bell to ring so he can trek to the gym and train.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit http://www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Eugene Toquero Vows to Give it his all at ONE: HERO’S DREAM

Filipino fan-favorite Eugene Toquero will be making his fourteenth trip to the cage as a professional mixed martial arts competitor on 3 November, and he will be doing so in front of a passionate crowd in Yangon, Myanmar.

The fans at the iconic Thuwunna Indoor Stadium will be entertained by the flamboyant flyweight Toquero once more on the undercard of ONE: HERO’S DREAM when he takes on highly-touted Chinese prospect Ma Hao Bin.

Toquero dropped his last three outings and is in dire need of a win as he returns to action on 3 November.

The 36-year-old Filipino veteran lost two of his scheduled bouts in 2016, yielding to reigning ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano Moraes via first-round submission in March before tasting the same fate at the hands of Team Lakay’s Danny Kingad in December.

Having his hand raised in triumph remained elusive to Toquero in April of this year when he bowed down to Indonesian standout Stefer Rahardian by way of unanimous decision.

As he desires to place himself on the winning track again, Toquero stressed that he has made some crucial adjustments to his preparation.

“I have made other adjustments. I train longer and harder now. I don’t want to be complacent because I am not getting any younger. This is a huge organization with a lot of very good martial artists from all over the world,” he said.

“I will give my best in this bout. I will leave everything on the line,” Toquero declared.

Toquero is confident that if his Chinese foe takes him lightly, it would be a catastrophic mistake.

“If my opponent did not train well, then I will eat him alive inside the cage. I am hungry for that win,” he stated.

The man standing in his re-entry to the winner’s column is Ma, who has strung together an impressive 7-1 professional record that includes three wins by submission and one by knockout.

In Ma’s recent trip to the ONE Championship cage, he submitted “The Wolf Of The Grasslands” Hexigetu in their flyweight affair at ONE CHAMPIONSHIP: SHANGHAI this past September, courtesy of a guillotine choke, with ten seconds remaining in round number two.

Toquero hopes that his experience will pay dividends when they meet across the cage, but he won’t be paying too much attention to his adversary’s game plan.

According to Toquero, the key to victory is in focusing on himself and making his A-game the priority.

“I never study my opponents. I do not care who they are because in Muay Thai and my amateur fights we never knew who our opponents were. We train in the gym and enhance our strengths,” he shared.

With a fresh outlook and his back against the wall, Toquero is driven to break his losing spell and redeem his status as one of the most exciting flyweights in the Asian region.

“This time, l will make sure that my hand is raised as the winner. I am not going home with a loss on 3rd of November,” he ended.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit http://www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Full Bout Card Announced for One: Immortal Pursuit in Singapore

23 October 2017 – Singapore: The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced the full card for ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT, set for 24 November at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Fans will be treated to another exciting evening of authentic martial arts action, as the best martial artists in the world take to the ONE Championship cage. In the main event, reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee will defend her title against Japanese martial arts veteran Mei “V.V” Yamaguchi in a highly-anticipated rematch. In the evening’s co-main event, reigning ONE Welterweight World Champion Ben “Funky” Askren will defend his title against former ONE Lightweight World Champion Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki. It is Askren’s final bout as a professional before he retires from the cage, and takes an executive position with ONE Championship.

ANGELA LEE TO DEFEND ONE WOMEN’S ATOMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST MEI YAMAGUCHI IN HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED REMATCH

21-year-old “Unstoppable” Angela Lee of Singapore is considered one of ONE Championship’s most outstanding athletes. She captured the inaugural ONE Women’s Atomweight World Championship with an awe-inspiring victory over Mei Yamaguchi in 2016, and has since then defended the title successfully on two occasions. Lee’s beautiful combination of elite striking and grappling has proven to be a potent formula for success, as she has remained unbeaten in her career. In the most recent bout of an impressive run, Lee dominated top contender Istela Nunes, showcasing her wide array of skills. She now returns to Singapore to defend her title against Mei Yamaguchi in a much-anticipated rematch.

34-year old Japanese martial arts veteran Mei “V.V” Yamaguchi is a female atomweight standout and a former ONE world title challenger from Tokyo. She is the DEEP Jewels Featherweight Champion, and owns seven submissions and two knockouts in her 27-bout professional career. In 2016, Yamaguchi challenged Angela Lee for the inaugural ONE Women’s Atomweight World Championship in an epic showdown that would later win multiple ‘Bout of the Year’ honors from international media publications. In her last bout, Yamaguchi submitted top contender Jenny Huang impressively within two rounds. With the victory, Yamaguchi earned the right to challenge for the world title once more opposite the champion Angela Lee.

BEN ASKREN TO DEFEND ONE WELTERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST SHINYA AOKI IN FINAL PROFESSIONAL BOUT

A former NCAA Division I All-American and US Olympian, Ben “Funky” Askren is a collegiate wrestling legend and one of the finest martial artists in the world today. Askren joined ONE Championship in 2014, taking the promotion by storm and capturing the ONE Welterweight World Championship with a resounding technical knockout victory over Nobutatsu Suzuki. Since then, Askren has successfully defended the title twice, and has stopped six of his last seven opponents to maintain a perfect 17-0 professional record. In what is being billed as the last bout of Askren’s illustrious professional career, the American is set to defend his title against the legendary Shinya Aoki of Japan.

Global martial arts veteran Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki of Shizuoka, Japan, is one of the world’s most decorated athletes. He is the DREAM Lightweight Champion, former Shooto Welterweight Champion, and the former ONE Lightweight World Champion. The 34-year-old Aoki is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under the famed Yuki Nakai and has won multiple grappling tournaments all over the world. Aoki also holds a black belt in judo and is widely considered one of the best pure grapplers in professional martial arts competition today. In his next bout, Aoki makes his ONE Championship welterweight debut, taking on reigning ONE Welterweight World Champion Ben Askren of the United States for the title.

Andrew Leone of Cortland, New York, is a 28-year-old martial artist who trains alongside some of the most talented combat sports athletes in Asia at the renowned Bali MMA gym in Indonesia. With a standout record of eight wins and only three losses, Leone is victorious in three of his last four outings, including tough decisions over top flyweight contenders. In his most recent contest, Leone earned the right to challenge reigning ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes, falling via first-round submission. Now, Leone is looking to get back into title contention but will next have to face talented veteran Leandro Issa.

Ahmed “The Wolverine” Mujtaba is a Pakistani martial artist competing in ONE Championship’s stacked featherweight division. He owns an impressive professional record of six wins with only one defeat, with 83% of his wins coming by spectacular finish. Mujtaba is known for his tremendous grappling technique which has led to four submissions out of six total victories. Mujtaba makes his highly-anticipated return to the ONE Championship cage against Li Kai Wen.

Vy Srey Khouch is a highly-regarded Cambodian martial artist and former female boxer who competed in numerous international competitions. She made her professional debut in 2015, winning by decision at ONE: KINGDOM OF KHMER. In her most recent bout, Srey Khouch fell just short of victory against Malaysian icon Ann Osman at ONE: THRONE OF TIGERS. In her next bout, she will take on Singaporean women’s martial arts standout, May Ooi.

37-year-old Arnaud “The Game” LePont is a lightweight veteran from France who sports a professional record of 11 wins and five losses. A fixture in the Asian martial arts scene, LePont is well-known in local martial arts circles and lives and trains in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. He made his promotional debut in 2012, and has since notched two hard-earned victories in the ONE Championship cage. He now returns to action after a short break to take on Richard Corminal.

27-year-old Waqar Umar of Pakistan is a ONE Championship featherweight with a 4-4 professional record. All four of his victories have come by submission, made possible by his well-established grappling skills. Inside the ONE Championship cage, he’s faced the likes of Peter Davis, Amir Khan, and Benedict Ang. In his most recent contest, Umar took on rising star Keanu Subba in Malaysia. Umar now returns to take on Chinese competitor Yang Fei.

Flyweight competitor Pooja Tomar is a martial artist from India with a professional record of three wins and one loss. With a penchant for showcasing her solid striking skills, Tomar has recorded all three of her victories by knockout. Competing largely in her home country of India, Tomar now makes her way to the biggest stage in Asian martial arts as she is set to make her ONE Championship debut against top Singaporean talent Tiffany Teo.

Ticket information for ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT is available at http://www.onefc.com.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit http://www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Jeremy Miado is Not Giving Up on his Title Dreams as he Gears up for Cage Return

Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado is part of a deep talent pool of Filipino mixed martial artists with huge potential, and his objective in the constantly-growing sport is to etch his name among the all-time greats.

Miado will take a big step towards fulfilling his dream to become the sport’s household name as he locks horns with undefeated Thai prospect Pongsiri “The Smiling Assassin” Mitsatit on the undercard of ONE: HERO’S DREAM, which takes place at the Thuwunna Indoor Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar on 3 November.

The three-round meeting with Mitsatit is a critical match for Miado as he is looking to get his career back on track after suffering a razor-thin split decision setback to compatriot Robin Catalan in his promotional debut this past April.

“I am happy that ONE Championship has given me the opportunity to showcase my talent on a global scale. My goal is to be a world champion. This is the first step in my road back to the winner’s circle. Soon, people will know who I am,” Miado stated.

“This is my big opportunity to show people my capabilities as a martial artist. I am very proud and blessed that they are giving me this chance again. For now, I will do my best and train hard,” he added.

Although he is still a relative newcomer to the game, Miado is armed with a strong boxing background as he made a name for himself as a boxer in the Bicol Region and garnered an incredible 32-2 amateur record.

Relocating to Manila two years ago, it was no surprise that success has followed him as Miado amassed an impressive mixed martial arts record of 6-0 since making his professional debut in January 2016.

Miado’s success rate has already seen him claim regional titles such as the Blaze FC strawweight championship belt in December 2016.

The 24-year-old Filipino standout currently hones his craft at Underground Battle MMA Gym in Marikina City, where he is mostly training in anticipation of his second promotional bout under the ONE Championship banner.

As Miado seeks to earn his first win in ONE Championship, a tough task is in front of him as Mitsatit will look to build the momentum to produce on what promises to be a sensational mixed martial arts career against the Filipino.

Mitsatit took the world by storm in 2016 after winning his highly-anticipated first ONE Championship appearance when he defeated Myanmar’s Ye Thway Ne in dominating fashion.

The 21-year-old native of Chiang Mai, Thailand followed up his impressive first ONE Championship appearance with a first-round stoppage victory over Filipino Wushu champion Rabin “The Rock” Catalan at ONE: WARRIOR KINGDOM last March.

“My opponent is an outstanding striker, but I am focusing on my ground [skills]. I am a striker, but I know what his skills are,” Miado said of his opponent. “I think his game plan will be to use his striking to overwhelm me. I am practicing my defense in the stand-up. But he needs to watch out for my takedown attempts.”

Miado has a burning desire to become a world champion someday and knows that he must pass his test against Mitsatit as another loss could set him back considerably.

“My goal is to become a world champion. I want to be at the top here. Eduard Folayang was my idol when I started in this sport, and now he is the ONE Lightweight World Champion, so it shows I can do it. I will be going for the belt,” he declared.

Miado is confident that he will be able to translate his winning roll in the local Philippine mixed martial arts scene into the ONE Championship cage.

“I want to compete because this is my passion. Manny Pacquiao is a superstar in boxing. Everybody knows him. My plan is to do my best to have a name like his in ONE Championship,” he ended.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit http://www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

New Exciting Bouts Announced for One: Legends of the World in Manila

17 October 2017 – Manila, Philippines: The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced additional bouts for ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD, set for 10 November at the state-of-the-art Mall of Asia Arena in Manila. Fans will be treated to another exciting evening of authentic martial arts action as the best martial arts talent in the world take the ONE Championship cage. In the main event, reigning ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard Folayang will defend his title against ONE Featherweight World Champion Martin Nguyen. In the co-main event, ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano Moraes will take on rising star Danny Kingad of Team Lakay.

Ticket information for ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD is available at http://www.onefc.com.

EDUARD FOLAYANG TO DEFEND ONE LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST MARTIN NGUYEN

Eduard “Landslide” Folayang, of the legendary Team Lakay in Baguio City, is one of the Philippines’ most experienced martial artists. After nearly a decade of competing in various promotions, the multiple-time SEA Games Wushu gold medallist has amassed an impressive 18-5 professional record. The 33-year-old veteran is currently riding a four-bout winning streak against high-profile opponents, including an emphatic technical knockout victory over Japanese legend Shinya Aoki to capture the ONE Lightweight World Championship in 2016. Showcasing a highly-improved wrestling and grappling arsenal, Folayang then defeated top challenger Ev Ting in his first title defense last April. Now set to return to the ONE Championship cage in Manila, Folayang will face ONE Featherweight World Champion Martin Nguyen in a cross-divisional showdown.

28-year-old Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen of Sydney, Australia, is a highly-skilled finisher and one of the most talented featherweights in martial arts. In his most recent bout, Nguyen stepped into the ONE Championship cage last August, scoring the biggest victory of his career when he stopped former undefeated featherweight champion Marat “Cobra” Gafurov in Kuala Lumpur to capture the ONE Featherweight World Championship. Sporting a 9-1 professional record, Nguyen’s all-around skill set allows him to compete at the highest level of competition. In a much-anticipated battle between division champions, Nguyen is set to challenge the Philippines’ Eduard Folayang for the ONE Lightweight World Championship, and attempt to become the first double-division World Champion in ONE history.

ADRIANO MORAES TO DEFEND ONE FLYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST DANNY KINGAD

34-year-old Alex “Little Rock” Silva of Sao Paulo, Brazil, is a second-degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and world champion with a professional record of 5-1. Silva is riding high on a four-bout winning streak, rapidly climbing ONE Championship’s stacked flyweight ranks. He is a technical grappling specialist with a penchant for securing highlight-reel submission finishes. With steadily increasing confidence, Silva’s last four victories have ended in spectacular fashion. In his next outing, Silva takes on Japanese warrior Hayato Suzuki.

31-year-old Hayato Suzuki of Saitama, Japan, is a veteran martial artist with an unblemished professional record of 17-0 with two draws. Spending the majority of his career competing in his native Japan, Suzuki is known as a highly-skilled competitor with the ability to finish his foes with heavy knockout power and technical grappling skills. Out of 17 wins, Suzuki has finished 12 of his opponents, including seven by submission and five by knockout. In his most recent bout, Suzuki submitted former world title challenger Joshua Pacio in the first round. He is now set to face fellow grappler, Alex Silva.

Female martial artist Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol of Jakarta, Indonesia, is an Indonesian national wushu champion who has trained in various striking disciplines such as kickboxing and wushu. The 29-year-old made her ONE Championship debut against Singapore’s Tiffany Teo at ONE: THRONE OF TIGERS last February, joining a growing list of elite female martial artists in Asia. Gaol will look to emerge triumphant in her next appearance inside the ONE Championship cage, when she takes on the Philippines’ Gina Iniong.

31-year-old Anatpong Bunrad of Thailand is one of the most talented strikers in the promotion’s deep flyweight division. He utilizes lightning quick and powerful strikes to subdue his opponents with sheer aggression, but also possesses the ability to finish on the ground with solid submission skills. In his most recent bout, Bunrad dropped a close split decision to Filipino rival Geje Eustaquio. Bunrad is looking for redemption inside the ONE Championship cage, as he takes on the highly-regarded Reece McLaren.

26-year-old Reece “Lightning” McLaren is a Filipino-Australian martial artist from Toowoomba, Australia, who sports a professional record of 9-5. He made his ONE Championship debut in 2015 with a spectacular submission victory over top bantamweight contender Mark Striegl, and then followed up that win with a unanimous decision victory over highly-regarded talent Muin Gafurov. In December of 2016, McLaren challenged Bibiano Fernandes for the ONE Bantamweight World Championship, falling just short of victory by way of split decision. Next for McLaren is a move to the flyweight division, as he faces top divisional talent Anatpong Bunrad.

21-year-old Joshua Pacio of Baguio City is a top martial arts talent with a professional record of 9-2. He is one of the Philippines’ most talented strawweights and a member of the famed Team Lakay. A rising star in Asian martial arts, Pacio is a wushu practitioner with a solid grappling repertoire. All but one of his career victories have come by spectacular finish, which includes five wins by submission and three by devastating knockout. A former ONE Strawweight World Championship Title Challenger, Pacio is looking to bring himself back to title contention with a victory. A tough task is ahead of Pacio, however, as he is slated to lock horns with countryman Roy Doliguez.

35-year-old Roy “The Dominator” Doliguez is considered one of the top strawweights in ONE Championship. Doliguez, a former professional boxing champion with more than 40 pro bouts, made his ONE Championship debut in 2015, vying for the inaugural ONE Strawweight World Championship against former champion Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke. In his most recent bout, Doliguez scored the biggest win of his career, stopping Brazilian stalwart Yago Bryan via third-round knockout. His next bout will be against fellow Filipino warrior Joshua Pacio.

Kicking off an exciting card at ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD, Chinese featherweight Xie Chao will take on Malaysia’s Kelvin Ong. Xie was victorious in his most recent contest, submitting Marc Marcellinus with a first-round kimura in his promotional debut at ONE CHAMPIONSHIP: SHANGHAI. Ong, who trains alongside Ann “Athena” Osman and AJ “Pyro” Lias Mansor at Borneo Tribal Squad, will try his best to derail Xie’s winning ways in one of the evening’s preliminary bouts.

Also featured in the prelims is a classic clash of grappler versus striker, as China’s national wrestling champion Peng Xue Wen takes on three-time national Kun Khmer champion Phat Soda of Cambodia in a three-round strawweight bout.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit http://www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Jomary Torres Determined to Keep Winning Momentum Going at ONE: HERO’S DREAM

Jomary “The Zamboanginian Fighter” Torres shocked the world this past August when the little-known atomweight from the Philippines made her promotional debut against rising Thai martial arts superstar Rika “Tinydoll” Ishige at ONE: KINGS & CONQUERORS in Macao, China.

While the Thai standout has emerged as one of the most popular talents in Asia’s mixed martial arts scene, Torres stole the spotlight on that fateful night when she submitted Ishige in the second round of their exhilarating contest.

Torres stepped on Macanese soil with little fanfare, but by the time the Filipina warrior left the glamorous Cotai Arena, everyone knew who she was.

Everything that Ishige threw at Torres, she withstood as the proud product of the Catalan Fighting Systems countered the Thai’s strikes and even successfully defended several submissions.

However, the most telling moment was when Torres caught Ishige’s body kick in round two, where her confidence skyrocketed as the Filipina held onto the leg and landed blow after blow.

Seeing a golden opportunity to get the finish, Torres swarmed with ferocious ground-and-pound blows as Ishige tried to cover up before finally using the position to lock in a match-ending rear-naked choke.

“After the match, I was happy, but I did not know what to do. Do I celebrate or do I cry? I was really surprised because I did not expect the outcome. It was the first stoppage win of my career,” Torres recalled.

The submission victory over Ishige shocked everyone in attendance, including Torres and her teammates.

“They asked me where that choke move came from because it surprised them,” she revealed. “I told them I surprised myself, too!”

After her remarkable conquest of Ishige last August, Torres moves onto her next assignment as she faces Indonesian kickboxer Nita Dea on the undercard of ONE: HERO’S DREAM in Yangon, Myanmar on 3 November.

The 21-year-old Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines sees her three-round encounter against Dea as an opportunity to extend her success inside the ONE Championship cage.

“This is my chance to establish my first winning streak in ONE Championship. It’s not impossible. That’s why I am exerting a tremendous amount of effort in training. I want to keep on winning,” she said.

While the 26-year-old Indonesian may not have much experience inside the cage, Dea is actually a very accomplished martial artist.

Dea is a national wrestling champion and a two-time national Wushu Sanda champion, who also a well-versed kickboxer with a 12-4 record in the discipline.

“From what I saw, I think she (Nita Dea) is a striker. She does not seem to hit the ground all that much. I am prepared to go toe-to-toe or take the match to the ground, wherever I think I have the advantage,” Torres stated.

Although she is riding a huge wave of momentum coming into her second bout as a ONE Championship competitor, Torres is confident that she will have her hand raised in triumph once again.

“I felt really nervous in my first bout. But when I saw my opponent was right in front of me and remembered all the people who supported me, I relaxed and slowly put my focus on winning the match,” she shared.

“I want to win again because I want to give back to my gym and the people who love and support me. I am competing for my country. Everything I do is for all of them and as long as I can do this, I will keep doing this,” Torres ended.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit http://www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

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One FC Hosts Open Workout for Athletes at One: Hero’s Dream in Yangon

4 Pinoy Heroes Battle for Glory at ONE: Hero’s Dream

Pinoy MMA warriors Burn Soriano, Eugene Toquero, Jeremy Miado and Jomary Torres look to make a statement in the cage as they head to Yangon, Myanmar for their journey to ONE: Hero’s Dream, Friday, November 3, 2017 at Thuwunna Indoor Stadium.

Kevin Chung looks to seize opportunity of a lifetime at ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD

Danny Kingad: Pursuing Dream in MMA While Working on Homewok to get a College Diploma

Danny Kingad Balances Life as College Student and World Title Contender

Eugene Toquero Vows to Give it his all at ONE: HERO’S DREAM

Full Bout Card Announced for One: Immortal Pursuit in Singapore

ANGELA LEE TO DEFEND ONE WOMEN’S ATOMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST MEI YAMAGUCHI IN HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED REMATCH

BEN ASKREN TO DEFEND ONE WELTERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST SHINYA AOKI IN FINAL PROFESSIONAL BOUT

Jeremy Miado is Not Giving Up on his Title Dreams as he Gears up for Cage Return

New Exciting Bouts Announced for One: Legends of the World in Manila

EDUARD FOLAYANG TO DEFEND ONE LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST MARTIN NGUYEN

ADRIANO MORAES TO DEFEND ONE FLYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST DANNY KINGAD

Jomary Torres Determined to Keep Winning Momentum Going at ONE: HERO’S DREAM