Adventures of a Diva Princess: MMA

Singapore-based martial arts organization ONE Championship has broken into the Top 10 Most Engaging Sports Profiles on Facebook Worldwide, according to figures released by independent social media marketing company Socialbakers. The data was collected between 1 January and 30 June 2020.

ONE landed in the eighth spot overall, with 46,299,362 interactions, slightly edging out the National Basketball Association (NBA), which sits in the ninth spot at 45,049,463 interactions. ONE is surrounded by some of the most high-profile sports properties in the world, including Manchester United, International Cricket Council (ICC), and LaLiga, among others.

ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong shared a multimedia infographic and a message to fans of the promotion on his official Facebook.

“Thank you to the greatest fans in the world for inspiring me and my team to dream more, do more, and be more in life!” Sityodtong wrote.

https://www.facebook.com/yodchatri/posts/3314787365250068

ONE is the only Asian representative and martial arts property on the list. The Top 10 is mostly dominated by football organizations, with only ONE, the NBA, and ICC representing other sports.

Football is extremely popular in many Asian nations, and it is arguably the most popular sport in the world. Manchester United claimed the top spot on the list with 98,753,757 interactions, which certainly comes as no surprise being the most popular football team in the world.

ONE, meanwhile, features the world’s most exciting martial arts action and enjoys a massive fan base not only in Asia but also across Europe and South America. Its global footprint projects over 2.7 billion potential viewers worldwide, and it broadcasts events to 150 countries through free-to-air, linear, and digital channels. The promotion has a passionate following among key demographics on social media, particularly on Facebook and Youtube.

Apart from its flagship mixed martial arts product, ONE also offers a striking-only league – ONE Super Series – which hosts kickboxing and Muay Thai contests, as well as reality shows such as ONE Warrior Series and the upcoming The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition. It also recently launched a podcast called Franklin Speaking, which stars multiple-time World Champion and mixed martial arts legend Rich “Ace” Franklin.

Socialbakers is a social media data analytics company that provides businesses around the world with data and analytics across multiple platforms. It serves thousands of enterprise brands and SMBs, including over 100 companies on the list of Fortune Global 500.

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The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), recently held the ONE:MASTERS OF FATE Official Open Workoutlast Tuesday, 5 November at the Elorde Sports Center in Sucat.

In attendance, were ONE Championship athletes competing on Friday night’s big card. Check out photo and video coverage here, as well as what athletes had to say ahead of their big matchups.

Joshua Pacio, ONE Strawweight World Champion, stated: “Once again, it is an honor to perform in front of my hometown fans in Manila. Putting on a show for all the Filipino people, it’s always something I am excited for. Rene Catalan is a worthy challenger. He’s riding a six-bout winning streak and is full of confidence. I am expecting only the best from him. As always, I take this as an opportunity to test my skills. He’s a veteran who has been fighting his whole life. I have also been impressed by his recent performances, especially against Yoshitaka Naito. It’s rare that a Filipino will fight another Filipino for a World Title. But I’m glad to be part of history.”

Rene Catalan, ONE World Title Challenger, stated: “I am super confident heading into this matchup. Becoming a mixed martial arts world champion has been a goal of mine for a long time. Now, I have the opportunity to fulfill my dream. I know chances like this don’t come often, so I’m giving this everything I have. I don’t plan on leaving the Circle without that belt. Joshua Pacio is a young champion, he still has his entire career ahead of him. I respect his skills and his journey up to this point. But once that cage door shuts, it’s go time. No matter who wins, the honor and glory go to the

Philippines.”

Eduard Folayang, former ONE Lightweight World Champion, stated: “I am glad to be back competing again. I know my back is against the wall right now. This year hasn’t exactly gone to plan. But I’ve been working hard. I know victory is important this time. I’m facing a hungry opponent from Mongolia who will be looking to beat a big name. I’ve been in this situation before and I know what I need to do. I’m a veteran of this sport, and I’ve been doing this for a long time. Still, I feel confident in making another run at the ONE Lightweight World Title. My journey starts anew at home in Manila.”

Geje Eustaquio, former ONE Flyweight World Champion, stated: “I’m coming into this next bout with something to prove. Things haven’t gone my way this year, and I’ve had a lot of learning opportunities. I can honestly say that I am a better martial artist now than ever before. This rematch with Toni Tauru is very important for me, because it’s a win I would like to get back. I want to be known as ‘The King of Rematch’ and beating Tauru will prove that. Watch out Manila! Team Lakay is coming!”

Robin Catalan, ONE Athlete, stated: “First of all, I’m really excited to be a part of this card. The Philippines has the most amazing martial arts fans in the world, and I am proud to represent my country on the global stage. I’ve put a lot into this camp, and I amm fixated on getting the victory. All my hard work will pay off soon. I would like to thank ONE Championship for continuing to give me the opportunity to showcase my skills. I feel like I’ve improved a lot since my first fight. Now I’m ready to show the world that I’m a serious contender in this division. Thank you for all the support, Manila!”

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.

In Photos:

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Edward “The Ferocious” Kelly is highly-motivated to face “The Stalker” Xie Bin on August 2 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines.

Kelly, who will be the first Team Lakay representative to see action at ONE: DAWN OF HEROES, will be competing in the stacked card alongside Eduard Folayang, Honorio Banario, Geje Eustaquio, and Danny Kingad.

Also known as “The Ferocious,” Kelly has mixed emotions sharing the stage with four of his teammates.

“I feel a little pressure for me to do well in my next match,” Kelly said.

“When you are performing on the same night with Eduard, Honorio, Geje, and Danny, I feel the need to do well and win. I also feel inspired because I know that I am not alone and no matter what happens, we will be there for each other.”

The Filipino featherweight contender will return to action against Xie, who himself is riding a six-bout win streak with four victories coming by way of submission. The Baguio City native, who excels in striking, along with the rest of his team has formulated a game plan for his upcoming bout, particularly in dealing with Xie’s grappling.

“Xie Bin is really a great submission athlete,” Kelly said.

“I know that I have more experience fighting professionally than him but I am not underestimating his skills in any way. Making his opponents tap may be his strongest point but I believe that his striking is his weakness and that is where I will take the match. I just need to time my strikes accurately and prepare to defend myself from his takedowns.”

As Kelly prepares for his upcoming match, he feels confident knowing that he won’t be the only athlete representing the host country that night. In fact, Kelly says he draws strength from knowing his entire team will be there in his corner, as usual.

“I’m really happy and excited to share the stage with my brothers,” Kelly concluded.

“We have done a lot of things together for the longest time and to compete together in our country is just a huge boost to our morale.”

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Former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang will get a shot at redemption when he takes on his dream opponent, Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez at ONE: DAWN OF HEROES on 2 August at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines.

Folayang relinquished the ONE Lightweight World Championship to Japanese grappling legend Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki at ONE: NEW ERA in March. The Team Lakay athlete will enter the Alvarez bout at a critical time in his career, and a win would likely put him at the front of the line once more for another shot at the belt.

“My journey as a World Champion is like a roller coaster,” said Folayang.

“There are times when I am a World Champion and people look up to me. There are also times when I am defeated, so I will try again to climb the ladder to get the belt back.

“I got it, but lost it again this time. I think the most challenging part is how to get yourself back on the winning track. We are going to start again. That is not something new to us,” he added.

Despite his recent setbacks, Folayang wants to continue to improve his skills and bounce back strong.

“One of the things that I learned in my career so far is to never stop learning and improving as much as possible because you should realize that everyone is aiming to become a [World] Champion,” said Folayang.

“As an athlete, if you start to think that you are good, you will no longer grow. [That is why] as much as possible, I want to learn to be better, sharpen my strengths, and improve my weaknesses.”

Before he puts another digit in the win column though, Folayang will have to go through another former multiple-time World Champion in Alvarez who is in desperate need of a win after losing his ONE debut.

“I think Eddie is a good martial artist – you will not become a World Champion if you don’t have a good approach to being a martial artist,” Folayang said.

“I believe wrestling and boxing are his strengths, but if you’ll look at Eddie’s track record, you will see that almost all his defeats are from high-level strikers – that is his weakness. It’s hard, but I am pushing myself to prepare.”

The Filipino athlete remains optimistic of his chances against the American and is looking to beat him by way of knockout.

“A knockout and submission will always be there if you are in the proper position – that is a given,” he said. “I think it will end in a knockout.”

Fortunately for Folayang, he won’t be facing Alvarez alone as he will have the entire crowd behind him in Manila.

“Having this bout here in the Philippines gives me confidence,” he concluded. “Those are what give me the confidence to face him in this bout – my preparation and the crowd.”

Additionally, ONE Championship is launching special edition merchandise to commemorate the blockbuster Eduard Folayang vs Eddie Alvarez bout which takes place at ONE: DAWN OF HEROES. The commemorative t-shirt will be available for sale at the Mall of Asia Arena on 2 August.

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Former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang will share the stage with American mixed martial arts legend Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez when the two square off in the main event of ONE: DAWN OF HEROES on August 2 in Manila.

Folayang, who has dreamed of a bout with Alvarez ever since “The Underground King” signed with ONE Championship last year, says he is ready for an intense battle with his American counterpart.

“I was very excited when I heard the news that Eddie Alvarez was next for me,” Folayang said.

“He’s one of the most well-known martial artists in the world. In many ways, he’s a legend. Sharing the ring with him is my honor and privilege. At the same time, I don’t plan on backing down. He deserves the best challenge and I’m going to give it to him. I’m here to represent Asia in this battle between the East and the West.”

Folayang is a few months removed from losing his lightweight title to Japanese legend Shinya Aoki at ONE: A NEW ERA. Alvarez was knocked out by Timofey Nastyukhin in his ONE debut on the same card.

Both men are out for redemption and both are looking at making a run at the ONE Lightweight World Title currently held by Christian Lee.

Folayang and Alvarez are two of the most dynamic offensive forces in the sport, and the Filipino veteran expects nothing but fireworks when the two share the ONE Championship ring at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“I’m going to go toe-to-toe with him. It’s going to be a war and a fight for the fans,” Folayang said.

“Everyone’s going to love what we will do in the ring. I think it will be one of the most exciting fights of the year. Eddie always comes to fight and I never back down from a challenge. I’m ready to go.”

The Baguio City native is putting all his focus on his upcoming bout. A win against an exceptional athlete like Alvarez would be a huge boost for his ascent back to the top spot. This is without a doubt Folayang’s biggest test. As such, “Landslide” is ready to turn in his most spectacular performance to date.

“I’m both spiritually and mentally ready for this fight,” Folayang concluded.

“Right now, we’re just polishing our skills, making sure I’m as sharp as possible on the day of the fight. No doubt, this is going to be one of the biggest challenges of my career. I never imagined I would be able to face a really big name and one of the most popular fighters in the world. I have to be on point so I can give a good performance. I have to be accurate and precise with my techniques.”

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ONE Championship will once again make its return to Yangon, Myanmar on Friday, 8 March for ONE: REIGN OF VALOR at the iconic Thuwunna Indoor Stadium.

While all of the Filipino champions are scheduled in ONE: A NEW ERA, there are still plenty of reasons for local martial arts from the Philippines to tune-in and enjoy another loaded match card.

Here are just three main reasons why ONE: REIGN OF VALOR is a must-see.

Rene Catalan’s path to desired ONE World Title shot

Rene “The Challenger” Catalan’s amazing run in the talent-filled strawweight division is something that cannot be overlooked anymore.

After losing his first two matches in ONE Championship, Catalan finally found his rhythm and is now riding high on a five-match winning streak.

Standing in his way is former ONE Strawweight World Champion Yoshitaka “Nobita” Naito, who undoubtedly poses to be the ultimate test to Catalan’s World Title aspirations.

It will be a classic striker-versus-grappler affair, but Catalan has shown tremendous improvement when it comes to grappling in his previous matches.

At age 40, Catalan shows no signs of slowing down, and if he keeps his pace, then the next Filipino World Champion could very well come from the Catalan Fighting System.

Road to redemption of Jomary Torres

Jomary Torres is an exciting young Filipina who burst into the organization’s stacked women’s atomweight scene with three consecutive victories.

She may be on a slump as of late following consecutive decision losses to Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaul and Mei “V.V” Yamaguchi, but those define does not ultimately define her as a mixed martial arts competitor.

Admittedly struggling to ankle issues in her past bouts, Torres has completed her training camp in tip-top condition and is raring to go back to her winning ways.

Given that her back is against the wall, Torres vows to be aggressive as she cannot afford to lose her third-straight match.

While her opponent in Lin Heqin is known for her willingness to stand and trade, this match has the potential to steal the whole show.

Zebaztian Kadestam’s first ONE World Title defense

Headlining the blockbuster event is knockout artist Zebaztian Kadestam as he defends his ONE Welterweight World Title against surging submission wizard Georgiy Kichigin. With World Title gold on the line, the stakes could not be higher in this classic clash of styles.

Kadestam put everyone on notice when he knocked out erstwhile-unbeaten American Tyler McGuire last November to be crowned as the ONE Welterweight World Champion.

His win over McGuire was Kadestam’s ninth knockout victory, making him one of the most fearsome competitors in the whole organization.

Kichigin, on the other hand, is a grappling wizard who is coming into ONE Championship on 14-match winning streak, with his last victory coming against another submission artist in Rousimar Palhares.

With two world-class talents bannering the card, there is no reason for Filipino martial arts fans to miss this event

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It was just a buzz last November 2018, but finally, the fastest rising promotion in the world is coming to Manila! If you’re an MMA fan, you know what I’m talking about. Yes, Brave Combat Federation is holding it’s first-ever fight-card in Manila this March 15, 2019.

It has been over two years since Brave CF came into existence but already, fans around the world have observed how Brave Combat Federation is changing the landscape of mixed martial arts with its global vision of scouting the best fighters in all corners of the planet and placing them under the same roof.

Brave CF is under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa since it was founded in 2016. With his vision, the organization has taken big steps in the new sport. Compared to the likes of football and basketball, MMA has only been around since the '90s, and it has already evolved and changed in many ways since its inception, adapting its rules to gain a wider audience - which is one of the changes that has made MMA the fastest-growing sport in the world.

During the Brave CF 22 mini-presscon and media meet and greet with Mohammed Shahid, President of Brave Combat Federation held last January 19, 2019 in relation to the upcoming Brave event, he emphasized how the Bahrain-based promotion may have adapted the rules of the MMA but it did not adhere to other promotion of having marketable athletes and choosing only to invest in fighters with certain types of personalities. Brave CF takes pride in giving a truly global platform to athletes because of their in-cage abilities and fighting qualities, regardless of how they come across to the media.

As Brave CF goes to Manila in a fight-card dubbed as Brave 22: Storm of Warriors, MMA Filipino fans as well as worldwide fans should be excited for this first-ever fight card for these four main reasons:

Brave CF First Event in Manila

Brave CF has been setting an example in its two-year run as the fastest-growing promotion in the fastest-growing sport. No other organization has traveled so extensively as Brave has in their first two years of operations. Since September of 2016, the company has visited 14 countries: Bahrain, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, India, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Jordan, Indonesia, Northern Ireland, Morocco, Colombia, Pakistan, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia and now for its first event for 2019, it is coming to Manila.

Brave CF is known to give opportunities to fighters from more than 40 countries to showcase their abilities to more than 80 countries around the world with a reach close to 800 million homes.

Set for a groundbreaking event in the iconic Mall of Asia Arena, in Manila, Philippines, Brave Combat Federation will once again use its formula of bringing the biggest international stars on its roster to compete with Philippines' finest. In the main event of Brave 22, the organization's longest-reigning champion, Stephen Loman, will go against former Featherweight titleholder Elias Boudegzdame, from Algeria, by way of Montpellier, France.

Stephen “The Sniper” Loman: The Champion in his Home Turf

Stephen Loman is one of Brave CF biggest stars and the organization's longest-reigning champion and the champion is coming home to defend his title. Currently holding a record of 12 wins and 2 losses, he is popular not only in our country but also in other parts of Asia. And sooner than you think, MMA worldwide will hear of Loman as a Filipino sports legend next to the People’s Champ Manny Pacquiao.

The fight in Manila will see Loman go for an unprecedented third defense of his belt, this time against former Featherweight titleholder Elias Boudegzdame.

The Brave CF bantamweight champion Stephen Loman comes from the famous Team Lakay and has won his last six fights and is clean with 4-0 wins under the Brave CF banner. He has defended his belt twice last year via decision win over Frans Mlambo and Felipe Efrain.

Hopefully after a win over "Smile," he could very well cement his status and this after conquering the rest of the world, with appearances in Bahrain and Northern Ireland as well as wins over tough Brazilian and Irish fighters.

What I’m most excited about is that Loman could extend his legacy with this third title defense in front of his countrymen.

Meet Elias “Smile” Boudegzdame from Algeria, Brave CF First Ever Champion

Elias “Smile” Boudegzdame is the first world champion of Brave CF. His professional record in MMA is 15-5 and for Brave 22: Storm of Warriors, the former Featherweight titleholder will be fighting in the bantamweight division for the first time. He decided to drop to the 135-pound division to fight Loman for his belt.

What I’m most excited about in this fight-card is that Elias Boudegzdame could become the first fighter to hold two belts in two different weight classes and we could be witnessing this at Brave 22.

Four other local fighters could join Stephen Loman in Brave22

In a twitter post, it has been said that the Philippines have offered some of the greatest talents to ever perform inside the Brave cage! For Brave22, the fastest-growing MMA promotion is expected to bring in four other Team Lakay members to join “The Snipe” in the fight-card.

Brave CF is known to insist on blending in local talent with international fighters whenever it lands on a new country, making sure regional fighters have a chance to shine in the biggest of stages and leaving a lasting legacy to the sport in the new areas reached.

For Brave 22: Storm of Warriors, what I’m most excited about is that “The Sniper” is expected to be joined by co-Team Lakay namely Chris “The Slugger” Pipitunge, John Cris “Happy Feet” Corton, Jomar Pa-ac and Harold Banario.

Isn’t this exciting?

For more information about Brave22, follow their Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/bravemmafPH/

Fans could buy tickets at:
https://smtickets.com/

VIP ₱ 6,000.00

Patron ₱ 4,800.00

Lower Box ₱ 900.00

Upper Box ₱ 380.00

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ONE Championship returns with its first event of 2019 from Istora Senayan in Jakarta, Indonesia on 19 January. After more than a month since the promotion's last event, ONE: DESTINY OF CHAMPIONS, fans of the organization will be eager to see ONE return.

The ONE: ETERNAL GLORY card isn't packed with every household name on the roster, but there is still no shortage of stories fueling every match.

Aside from being hungry for martial arts action, here are five reasons to watch ONE: ETERNAL GLORY.

Joshua Pacio's Title Defense

Initially, Joshua "The Passion" Pacio was scheduled to defend his title against Hayato Suzuki in a rematch of their August 2017 clash at ONE: KINGS AND CONQUERORS. However, Suzuki suffered an injury. Japan's Yosuke Saruta stepped in to replace his injured countryman and is now the man receiving a title shot.

The 22-year-old Filipino already equaled the score with Yoshitaka Naito with a unanimous-decision win in September at ONE: CONQUEST OF HEROES. He was supposed to even the score against Suzuki in a rematch. Suzuki was the last man to defeat Pacio when the former made his ONE debut in August 2017.

Pacio cannot afford to look past Saruta however. The 31-year-old veteran has a wealth of experience and will likely be looking to catch the champion slipping. Saruta has had 26 professional matches, and he enjoyed a successful ONE Championship debut in December against Alex Silva. Saruta isn't a normal replacement opponent, and if the champion takes the challenger lightly, it could be a disaster for him.

Can Pacio maintain his focus and avoid the upset?

The Christian Lee-Edward Kelly Rematch

We're along for the ride as 20-year-old Christian "The Warrior" Lee continues his hardline education in the world of mixed martial arts. His next assignment takes place at ONE: ETERNAL GLORY when he takes on the "The Ferocious" Edward Kelly in a rematch of a bout that ended controversially in September at ONE: BEYOND THE HORIZON. Lee suplexed Kelly inadvertently causing a disqualification.

There are recurring themes for this match. Will Lee be able to control the match the way he did in the first meeting, and gain the finish to put a stamp on this short saga with Kelly, or will the Filipino rise to the occasion?

Both men face pressure to perform because of the success of those closely associated with them under the ONE banner.

Lee is the younger brother of ONE Women's Atomweight World Champion Angela Lee. Kelly belongs to Team Lakay where his training partners include Pacio, ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard "Landslide" Folayang, ONE Flyweight World Champion Geje Eustaquio and ONE Bantamweight World Champion Kevin "The Silencer" Belingon.

It's a lively time for Filipino martial arts, and Kelly wants to earn his piece of the success.

Battle of the Wushu Queens

Priscilla Hertati Lumban Goal was as active as anyone in ONE in 2018. She competed six times and put together a sterling 5-1 run during that stretch. Lumban Goal is back in the organization's first event to embark upon what she hopes is another fruitful year. The Indonesian National Wushu Champion faces another expert Wushu practitioner in Indian champion Puja Tomar.

The women's atomweight division could be headed for some transition if Lee moves up to strawweight permanently. That's a genuine possibility as she is set to challenge for the title in March at ONE: A NEW WRA. If that happens, a scramble to compete for the vacant title could well include the winner of this bout.

With integral positioning potentially at stake, Lumban Goal and Tomar may be set to put on a show.

Action-Packed Muay Thai Clash

Italy's Joseph "The Hurricane" Lasiri returns to compete against England's Jonathan Haggerty in a ONE Super Series Muay Thai match. Lasiri is one of the most accomplished Muay Thai competitors in the world. He's won world championships in multiple weight classes and he uses a style that is traditionally fan friendly.

He'll get a chance to test his exquisite striking against Haggerty in a bout that could feature a highlight-reel finish.

The Return of The Gracie Pupil

Stefer Rahardian, a student of the legendary Carlson Gracie, to match up against the Philippines' Robin "The Ilongo" Catalan. It's a strawweight battle that should have fans interested from the outset.

Rahardian has an elite-level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu base from his time with Gracie, but he has expanded his game beyond just grappling. He's already won the ONE Indonesia Flyweight Tournament which was a mixed martial arts contest.

While his striking has improved, Rahardian will likely need to lean heavily on his Jiu-Jitsu to beat Catalan. The latter is a former Wushu and Muay Thai world champion who would love nothing better than to keep his bout with Rahardian standing.

Which man will win the battle of styles?

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The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), recently held the official ONE: CONQUEST OF CHAMPIONS Kick-Off Press Conference last Tuesday, 20 November at the City of Dreams in Manila. In attendance were Chief Financial Officer of ONE Championship, Mr. Hua Fung Teh, ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera, world title challenger Mauro “The Hammer” Cerilli, former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang, and Singaporean star Amir Khan. Also in attendance were CMO of Zilingo, Marita Abraham, and Vice President, Gaming Operations of COD, Mr. Roger Lwin.

Announced at the Press Conference were news of ONE Championship’s new athleisure business and the launch of the official ONE Championship online store, offering global fans direct access to a wide range of urban lifestyle streetwear. Available at https://shop.onefc.com/, consumers will be able to purchase the newest merchandise and pre-order special limited edition products globally online, anytime and anywhere.

Hua Fung Teh, CFO of ONE Championship, stated:

“It is always great to be back in Manila because the Philippines is one of the countries that truly and deeply appreciate martial arts. This is the reason why ONE Championship continually upkeeps holding blockbuster shows for our passionate Filipino fans. Brandon Vera and Eduard Folayang, two of the biggest superstars in the Philippines are ready to see action against incredibly tough opponents. It’s going to be an amazing evening of action. On Friday, Manila, let us make history again. Thank you and see you at the Mall of Asia Arena!”

Brandon Vera, ONE Heavyweight World Champion, stated:

“I owe the Philippines a lot for inspiring me to work harder than I ever have before. Am I ready after spending two years away from the cage? Hell yes. I’ve prepared very hard for this bout. I’ve trained every day, in between traffic, shoots, and everything in the middle. I am confident of victory. I’m still hungry and I want it more now. Mauro [Cerilli] is a worthy opponent, he’s been knocking guys out while I was away, and I am in no way underestimating him.”

Mauro Cerilli, ONE World Title Challenger, stated:

“Thank you to ONE Championship. I am very happy to be here. The way ONE promotes martial arts is true to my character. I know Brandon [Vera] is the local hero, and I have all the respect for him. But I will do my best to win the title. If you would have told me years ago I would be facing a legend like Brandon, I would not have believed you. I’ve worked very hard to get to this point, so I am grateful for the opportunity.”

Eduard Folayang, ONE Athlete, stated:

“Thank you all for coming and for all the support. Last year, things didn’t go as I expected. I lost the title. But this year is a new chapter. I worked extremely hard to come back here for another opportunity at the belt. I’ve been inspired by my teammates, my coach, and all the fans. This is the biggest bout of my career, and I am excited to give the best performance of my life.”

Amir Khan, ONE Athlete, stated:

“I’m so happy to be fighting again in Manila. This is actually the second time. I fought here four years ago. I have all due respect for [Eduard] Folayang, he is a great martial artist. But I am coming for the title. I’ve worked extremely hard on my game since the beginning of my career, and I am one hundred percent confident of becoming world champion. Winning that title means everything to me. Me and my coach, we have a solid game plan for this fight. The odds may be stacked against me. I’m fighting the hometown hero, but I won’t let it affect my performance.”

Ticket information for ONE: CONQUEST OF CHAMPIONS is available at www.onefc.com.

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

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