ONE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP™ ADDS TO STABLE OF CHAMPIONS WITH SEVEN NEW SIGNINGS

ONE Fighting Championship™, Asia’s largest mixed martial arts organization with a 90% market share, has signed seven top prospects to a growing stable of world class athletes. Russian Featherweight Champion Marat Gafurov, Saipan Heavyweight Champion Kelvin Fitial, Australian champion Rob Lisita and BRACE Featherweight champion Martin Nguyen have all signed with ONE FC following successful stints with their regional promotions. They are joined by top free agents Kultar Gill and Kentoro Watanabe, who have also joined the promotion.

JOINING ONE FC’S TALENTED ROSTER ARE:

RUSSIAN FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION MARAT GAFUROV,
HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION KELVIN FITIAL FROM SAIPAN,
AUSTRALIAN FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION ROB LISITA,
BRACE FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION MARTIN NGUYEN,
SHOOTO FLYWEIGHT VETERAN KENTARO WATANABE,
AND CANADIAN-INDIAN WELTERWEIGHT KICKBOXER KULTAR GILL

Marat Gafurov is undefeated after eight fights, having emerged as the top Featherweight from Europe in recent years. He possesses deadly ground and pound that has led him to six finishes so far. Prior to signing with ONE FC, he was the reigning M-1 Global Featherweight Champion. He joins an exciting Featherweight division that is currently ruled by Koji Oishi and there is no doubt that Gafurov will be looking to earn himself a title opportunity in the near future.

Kelvin ‘The Big Hit’ Fitial is the top mixed martial artist to hail from the Northern Mariana Islands of Saipan and have proven himself by winning the Heavyweight Championship from a regional organization. He has not lost since 2009 and has earned nine of his 12 victories via knockout or TKO. Fitial’s bouts are guaranteed crowd pleasers as he never stops moving forward and loves getting into boxing duels with his opponent. ONE FC’s Heavyweight division has rapidly become one of the most exciting divisions with Chris Lokteff, Paul Cheng, Alain Ngalani and now Kevin Fitial in the mix.

Rob Lisita is the best Featherweight to emerge from Australia. He has fought in numerous smaller organizations and after an impressive 6-1 run, will now face a step up in competition as he joins Asia’s largest mixed martial arts organization. He is aptly nicknamed ‘Ruthless’ for his fighting style as he always goes for the finish whenever he sees weakness in his opponent.

The winner of ONE FC Network Partner BRACE’s Featherweight championship contest between Martin Nguyen and Luke Standing was promised a ONE FC contract, and Nguyen earned the contract by stopping Standing in the first round of their main event contest in December. Currently undefeated in his career, Australia’s Nguyen will look to do BRACE proud as he tests himself against the best in Asia.

Kultar ‘Black Mamba’ Gill is a Canadian-Indian Welterweight veteran who has been competing since 2001. His list of opponents includes Caol Uno, Rodrigo Damm and recent ONE FC signing Harris Sarmiento. He has also faced the legendary Buakaw Banchamek in kickboxing. Gill has ferocious kicks and is relentless when he has an opportunity to finish his opponent.  India has yet to notch a victory in the ONE FC cage and Gill is looking forward to change that when he enters the ONE FC cage.

Kentaro Watanabe is a Japanese Flyweight who will now ply his trade in ONE FC’s Flyweight division. Watanabe has come through the ranks of the Shooto organization with his signature lightning quick striking style that has made him a favorite amongst Japanese mixed martial arts fans. He now looks to showcase his exciting style of fighting to the millions of ONE FC fans watching across the world.

ONE FC’s next event, titled ONE FC: WAR OF NATIONS, will be held on 14 March at Stadium Negara in Malaysia. It will be headlined by a Welterweight World Championship contest between American wrestler Brock Larson and Nobutatsu Suzuki of Japan.

For more updates on ONE Fighting Championship™, please visit www.onefc.com and follow on Instagram and Twitter @ONEFCMMA and Facebook at www.facebook.com/ONEFCMMA.

ONE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP™ RETURNS TO KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, ON 14 MARCH FOR ONE FC: WAR OF NATIONS

ONE Fighting Championship™ (ONE FC), presented by Tune Talk, returns to Malaysia for another blockbuster event on 14 March 2014 at the iconic Stadium Negara. The main event will crown ONE FC’s first Welterweight World Champion when Nobutatsu Suzuki and Brock Larson clash inside the ONE FC cage. Two of the top Bantamweights in Asia, Kevin Belingon and Dae Hwan Kim, will meet in the co-main event while Adriano Moraes battles Yasuhiro Urushitani in Flyweight action.  ONE FC: WAR OF NATIONS will also see the heavily anticipated rematch of Asia’s top female mixed martial artists as Sherilyn Lim takes on Ann Osman. Malaysian MMA fans can also look forward to the return of Malaysian MMA star Peter Davis, who’s opponent will be announced at a later date.

INAUGURAL ONE FC WELTERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION TO BE CROWNED WHEN JAPANESE STRIKER NOBUTATSU SUZUKI MEETS AMERICAN WRESTLER BROCK LARSON

PLUS: CO-MAIN EVENT PITS BANTAMWEIGHT CONTENDERS KEVIN BELINGON AND DAE HWAN KIM AND ADRIANO MORAES FACES

YASUHIRO URUSHITANI IN FLYWEIGHT ACTION

ALSO: SINGAPORE’S SHERILYN LIM AND MALAYSIA’S ANN OSMAN TO CLASH AGAIN IN REMATCH

PRE-SALE TICKETS FOR ONE FC: WAR OF NATIONS ARE ON SALE NOW AT WWW.AIRASIAREDTIX.COM

Priority sales of tickets for ONE FC: WAR OF NATIONS, presented by Tune Talk, will begin from 13 January. Fans can enjoy 30% off tickets during priority sales which end on 1 February.  Pre-sale packages such as the “Ann Osman Fan Package”, which includes a limited edition T-shirt for only MYR78, are also available now. Log on to www.AirAsiaRedTix.com for further details. Tickets are priced at RM348 for the complete VIP experience that includes exclusive red carpet entrance, access to the VIP lounge and premium cage-side seating. The categories that follow are priced at RM248, RM148, RM98 and RM48 respectively. Booking fees and service charges apply.

CEO of ONE Fighting Championship™ Victor Cui stated, “Following the resounding success of ONE FC’s jam-packed events in Malaysia in 2013, we are returning to Kuala Lumpur with one of the best cards in the organization’s history. Fans around the world have been eagerly awaiting the next ONE FC World Championship title belt to be introduced, and now, the wait is over. The ONE FC Welterweight division is filled with the most talented mixed martial artists in the world and we will crown the best of the best when Nobutatsu Suzuki meets Brock Larson. Our passionate fans in Malaysia will be treated to a night of unforgettable mixed martial arts action!”

Fans in Asia can catch all the action live on STAR Sports. Check your local listings. Also, fans from around the world can witness the action online via live streaming at www.onefc.livesport.tv. The event will be available for purchase at just US$9.99.

Nobutatsu Suzuki is a fighter who has proven that he has knockout power. He has a record of nine knockouts out of ten wins, which gives him one of the highest percentages of stoppage wins via knockout in all of MMA. Suzuki is famous for being the first fighter in Asia to showcase the incredible striking power of Karate in an MMA context. The Kyokushin Karate black belt last fought at ONE FC: RISE TO POWER, defeating one of MMA’s most experienced combatants, Phil Baroni, by TKO. Suzuki will be looking to use that power to earn a ‘Knockout of the Night’ bonus and leave with the coveted ONE FC World Championship title belt.

Brock Larson is a highly experienced fighter who has more than 40 fights in several top organizations across the world. He made a successful ONE FC debut last year when he defeated feared Dutch kickboxer, Melvin Manhoef, via unanimous decision. He now gets an opportunity to cement his legacy when he faces another elite striker in Nobutatsu Suzuki. His 26 submission victories are testament to Larson’s grappling prowess, which he will likely utilize to propel him to victory and emerge as the first ever ONE FC Welterweight World Champion.

Kevin Belingon is the Philippines’ top Bantamweight and has already proven he can compete against the best in the world in his battles against Soo Chul Kim, Masakatsu Ueda, Yusup Saadulaev and David Aranda. He showcased his striking prowess by knocking out his opponent in devastating fashion in his last fight, and will look to do the same to his Korean opponent Dae Hwan Kim.

Dae Hwan Kim is undefeated in nine professional mixed martial arts bouts so far. He made a successful debut in Asia’s largest mixed martial arts organization last December, defeating Australian grappler Thanh Vu via submission. Kim is never afraid to brawl and consistently puts on Fight of the Night performances.  Belingon will be his toughest test to date and Kim will move one step closer to a title opportunity as well as maintain his undefeated record if he can overcome the Filipino.

The rematch between Sherilyn Lim and Ann Osman is one of the most heavily anticipated bouts of 2014. Lim won the first bout via split decision after three back-and-forth rounds which had the 12,000 fans in attendance at the Singapore Indoor Stadium jumping off their seats. Lim will once again be representing Singapore’s oldest mixed martial arts gym, Fight G. She has been part of Fight G since 2007, when she joined their Muay Thai program, and has been training under the tutelage of Singaporean MMA pioneer Darren De Silva. Sherilyn has quickly established herself as the best female mixed martial artist in Singapore and will showcase her talents again in March.

Ann Osman is Malaysia’s first female mixed martial artist and has captivated the nation with her infectious personality and indomitable fighting spirit. She trains out of Borneo Tribal Squad in the mountainous region of Kota Kinabalu in East Malaysia. Osman will enjoy the support of her countrymen this time after coming up short despite a valiant effort in Singapore. Her impressive takedowns and vicious ground-and-pound may prove to be the decisive factor in this Women’s Straweight bout.

For more updates on ONE Fighting Championship™, please visit www.onefc.com and follow on Twitter and Instagram @ONEFCMMA and Facebook at www.facebook.com/ONEFCMMA.

ONE FC: MOMENT OF TRUTH OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN RESULTS

ONE Fighting Championship™ (ONE FC) announced today that all the fighters have made weight and are ready for ONE FC: MOMENT OF TRUTH which takes place tomorrow evening at the state-of-the-art MOA Arena in Manila, The Philippines. The card will be headlined by a ONE FC Featherweight World Championship bout between Honorio Banario and Koji Oishi.

The entire card will also be available live on Pay-Per-View at www.onefc.livesport.tv.

Visit the official ONE FC: WARRIOR SPIRIT weigh-in photo gallery by clicking:https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7pof14b9qwz30a2/SFZmzHv8q8.

 

MAIN EVENT

ONE FC Featherweight World Championship bout: Honorio Banario (65.7 kg/ 145 lbs) VS Koji Oishi (65.7 kg/ 145 lbs)

MAIN CARD

Bantamweight bout: David Aranda (61.2 kg/ 135 lbs) VS Kevin Belingon (60.7 kg/ 134 lbs)

Lightweight bout: Vincent Latoel (69.7 kg/ 154 lbs) VS Eduard Folayang (69.7 kg/ 154 lbs)

Lightweight bout: Caros Fodor (70.1 kg/ 155 lbs) VS Vuyisile Colossa (70.3 kg/ 155 lbs)

Flyweight bout: Eugene Toquero (56.7 kg/ 125 lbs) VS Geje Eustaquio (56.7 kg/ 125 lbs)

Bantamweight bout: Bae Hwan Kim (61.1 kg/ 135 lbs) VS Thanh Vu (60.6 kg/ 134 lbs)

Heavyweight bout: Paul Cheng (116 kg/ 255.736 lbs) VS Alain Ngalani (106.2 kg/ 234 lbs)

UNDER CARD

Bantamweight bout: Joshua Alvarez (61.2 kg/ 135 lbs) VS Koetsu Okazaki (61.2 kg/ 135 lbs)

Flyweight bout: Khim Dima (56.7 kg/ 125 lbs) VS Ruel Catalan (56.3 kg/ 124 lbs)

Featherweight bout: Herbert Burns (65.8 kg/ 145 lbs) vs Edward Kelly (65.4 kg/ 144 lbs)

Tickets for ONE FC: MOMENT OF TRUTH are on sale now at SM Tickets (www.smtickets.com). Ticket categories begin with the full Red Carpet and cageside experience for VIPs at PHP 6,360 followed by Patron PHP 3,180, Lower Box PHP 1,280, Upper Box PHP 640 and General Admission PHP 220.

Fans in Asia can catch all the action live on STAR Sports. Check your local listings. Also, fans from around the world can witness the action online via live streaming atwww.onefc.livesport.tv.

For more updates on ONE Fighting Championship™, please visit www.onefc.com and follow on Twitter and Instagram @ONEFCMMA and Facebook at www.facebook.com/ONEFCMMA.

WM Cinemas launches six branches with Free Movie Day event

WM Cinemas in Walter Mart, the newest chain of digital cinema theatres operated by the largest cinema exhibitor in the country—SM Cinema, is launching six Manila and provincial branches on December 11, 2013: WM Cinemas Makati with four cinemas; WM Cinemas Tanauan, Batangas, WM Cinemas Plaridel, Bulacan, WM Cinemas Sta. Maria, Bulacan and WM Cinemas Calamba, Laguna with three cinemas and WM Cinemas Gapan, Nueva Ecija with two cinemas.

To celebrate its inauguration, WM Cinemas is holding a Free Movie Day event in its six initial branches. Free Movie Day, now on its second year with the maiden event held at SM Cinema theatres, aims to offer movies to movie patrons absolutely FREE. The movies—ranging from action to horror to romance and adventure—are four much-loved, pre-screened blockbusters: The Expendables 2 with Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham and Jet Li; The Host (2013) starring Diane Kruger and Saoirse Ronan, A Secret Affair (2012) starring Derek Ramsey, Anne Curtis and Andi Eigenmann and Japanese horror flick Apartment 1303 (2013).

To join WM Cinemas Free Movie Day, participants only need to pre-register from December 4 to 10, 2013 by liking the official WM Cinemas Facebook page (www.facebook.com/WMCinemas) and accessing the Free Movie Day app found in the said page. Using the Free Movie Day app on the WM Cinemas page, fill out a data, tag* a Facebook friend, (*tagged friend must accept the invite within 2 days. If not, the voucher will only be eligible for one person.) and get a ticket. Afterwards, a Free Movie Day voucher will download which the participant must print out.

Redemption period of Free Movie Day tickets will be from December 6 to 10, 2013 at selected WM Cinemas branch. Just present the printed Free Movie Day voucher at the designated areas within the mall where a WM Cinema representative issues an official Free Movie Day ticket to the customer. Each voucher entitles two tickets to a movie of choice and can be used by the persons whose names appear on the voucher. Only those whose name appears on the voucher is entitled to claim the ticket and any changes on movie title, movie schedule or branch will, unfortunately, not be accommodated.
To know more about WM Cinemas Free Movie Day, please visit WM Cinemas’ official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/WMCinemas. You may also visit the SM Cinema website at www.smcinema.com.

WM Cinemas Free Movie Day is co-presented by Coca Cola. Only food from Snack Time counters are allowed inside the cinema during the said event. Snack Time, the official food provider of WM Cinemas, has variety of delicious food and beverage products to choose from.

WM Cinemas officially opens to the public on December 12, 2013 for regular screenings.

ONE FC: Crunch Time

CRUNCH TIME --- It’s literally a moment of truth for Filipino Team Lakay fighters Honorio Banario, Kevin Belingon and Eduard Folayang as they face tough foreign opponents tomorrow (Friday) in ONE Fighting Championship: Moment of Truth at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena in Pasay City. Banario is out to prove that his defeat in the hands of Koji Oishi in the ONE FC event in May this year was a fluke as he attempts to regain the champion belt from the Japanese in the main event. So do Belingon and Folayang, who also tasted defeats in the hands of their respective opponents then. This time, Belingon will battle dangerous undefeated Spaniard David Aranda Santacana while Folayang will clash with Dutch-Indonesian shooto veteran Vincent Latoel.

Honorio Banario

Kevin Belingon

Eduard Folayang

ALL FOR ONE, ONE FOR ALL

ALL FOR ONE, ONE FOR ALL – Filipino mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters train together at Team Lakay gym in La Trinidad, Benguet, as they prepare for one of their toughest battles in ONE FC: Moment of Truth on Dec. 6 at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena in Pasay City.

The Team Lakay fighters will be facing dangerous opponents with excellent cage records headed by Japanese Koji Oishi, who will be defending his ONE FC Featherweight Champion belt against Filipino Honorio “The Rock” Banario in a much-awaited rematch. Showing off a fighting pose after a hard training are (from left) Geje Eustaquio, who will face Eugene Toquero; Eduard Folayang, who will battle Dutch-Indonesian striker Vincent Latoel; Banario; and Kevin Belingon, who will square off with undefeated Spaniard David Aranda Santacana.

WRESTLING COACH: TEAM LAKAY FIGHTERS WILL BEAT OPPONENTS

Iranian wrestling coach Ali Heydarabadi yesterday expressed confidence Team Lakay mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters have strong chances of beating their opponents as a result of their intensive wrestling training.

“They have trained for five months on grappling and other wrestling techniques,” Heydarabadi said in an interview during the well-attended open workout conducted by ONE Fighting Championship (ONE FC) at the Resorts World Manila for some of the MMA fighters.

Ten thrilling matches will be presented during ONE FC: Moment of Truth at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena on Dec. 6 starting at 7 p.m., with the Filipino MMA strikers figuring in five challenging bouts.

Heydarabadi, who was a European and military wrestling champion, was hired by Team Lakay after the Filipino fighters’ total shutout in last May’s ONE FC event at the MOA Arena, which many blamed for their lack of wrestling skills.

He said the Team Lakay fighters have improved a lot on their wrestling skills which would neatly complement their wushu background.

“Wushu wrestling is different. In our training, I taught them how to take down and defense takedown and other techniques,” he added.

Heydarabadi said it was a short training period but the fighters have developed a lot. “I believe they are better the last time.”

Among the Team Lakay fighters he trained were Honorio “The Rock” Banario, who will figure in the main event as he tries to regain the ONE FC Featherweight championship from tormentor Japanese Koji Oishi; Kevin Belingon, who will face undefeated Spaniard David Aranda Santacana; and Eduard Folayang, who will battle seasoned Dutch-Indonesian striker Vincent Latoel.

“I will get back my belt. I have trained double time. I have been waiting for this opportunity. Our wrestling coach has taught us new techniques,” Banario himself said in an interview after the open workout. He also stressed that Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao’s victory last Sunday against Mexican-American Brandon Rios has inspired him and the other Team Lakay fighters.

“We are motivated by Pacquiao’s victory. I know his triumph will pull us up and enable us to score wins against our opponents,” said.

Belingon said, “Our training and conditioning is good this time. We learn many wrestling techniques,” he said.

He said he is not in any way intimidated by the perfect record of his opponent. “I don’t care about his record. I will just focus on my game plan.”