ONE FC: WUSHU WORLD CHAMPION RENE CATALAN ENLISTS THE HELP OF MALAYSIAN FIGHTER WHO DONATED HIS EARNINGS DURING TYPHOON YOLANDA

Rene Catalan has arguably one of the most impressive track records among all Filipino mixed martial artists.  He was a Wushu world champion who also won gold at the Asian Games.  

However, his mixed martial arts career has not gotten off to as smooth a start.  He put up a spirited performance but ultimately fell to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Alex Silva and then had a controversial loss that was eventually reversed into a no contest against Khim Dima.  

He now gets a chance to right the ship in Manila though, as he finally gets to compete in his home country for the first time when he takes on Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke at ONE FC: WARRIOR’S WAY.

Rene Catalan sought the assistance of ONE FC Malaysian Featherweight Champion AJ Pyro who was highly publicized last year as one of the first foreigners who went to Tacloban to help the victims.  Coach AJ, fresh from winning a ONE FC tilt in Kuala Lumpur pledged his earnings to Yolanda’s victims and thru ONE FC, arranged a visit there along with a team of 25 doctors. 

According to Coach AJ, "The will to win is important but the will to prepare is vital.   Rene is very serious about his December 5 fight.  He did contact me a long time ago about his intention to do a serious full training camp here in Kota Kinabalu, Borneo.  Once his December 5 fight was confirmed, he flew to KK right away for his training camp.”  While in Borneo, Catalan also trained alongside Anne Osman and the rest of the Borneo Tribal Squad team.

“He really wants to win this fight not only for himself, but he really wants to dedicate this win for the Filipino people,” he adds.

Rene Catalan triumphed in the Wushu World Championships on multiple occasions and also won gold at the 2006 Asian Games.  Having proven to be one of the best in the sport of Wushu, Catalan is now determined to do the same in mixed martial arts.

Catalan is now back in the Philippines poised to make a run in ONE FC.  He first has to face Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke, who looked impressive in his three ONE FC outings thus far.  Muay Thai World Champion Amanuaysirichoke has finished all of his opponents with relative ease and put on exciting performances to boot.  This is a battle of two of the most renowned striking styles in the martial arts realm and fans will be in for a pugilistic treat.

Coach AJ concludes the interview by saying, “Rene is ready to battle his opponent and stand up even on the ground…Rene will win!”

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Tickets for ONE FC: WARRIOR’S WAY on 5 December in Manila are on sale now at SM Tickets (http://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.  Prices include ticketing fee. Pre-sale packages are currently available.

FILIPINO WARRIORS TO HOLD OPEN WORKOUT ON TUESDAY

Three of the biggest sports stars in the Philippines are set to hold a workout to showcase their skills this coming Tuesday. Kevin Belingon, Eduard Folayang and Honorio Banario are set to return to action at ONE FC: WARRIOR’S WAY, and prior to the biggest bouts of their lives, will showcase to a select group of media the new skills that they have acquired since we last seen them in the ONE FC cage.

We last saw the representatives from Team Lakay in action in various events earlier this year, and they now return to the year-end event in Manila to cap off 2014. Eduard Folayang and Kevin Belingon can be considered title contenders, and they will be poised for a potential opportunity in the future should they overcome their respective opponents on 5 December.

Folayang is riding a two-fight winning streak while Belingon came close in a #1 contender’s bout earlier this year. Teammate and former ONE FC Featherweight World Champion Honorio Banario will also compete in Manila for the first time this year in a potential epic. Standing opposite Banario in the cage will be Herbert Burns, a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu world champion who is on a hot streak since debuting in ONE FC.

The Wushu exponents turned mixed martial artists are the Philippines’ best hopes to a world championship in ONE FC. Once criticised for their lack of grappling skills, they have rounded out their skills with the incorporation of a wrestling regime. ComeTuesday next week, a privileged few will get to see the new and improved versions of these warriors before they fly the flag for the country against foreign mixed martial artists. This is the final rallying call for Filipino fans to join them as they start their conquest towards ONE FC gold!

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Tickets for ONE FC: WARRIOR’S WAY on 5 December in Manila are on sale now at SM Tickets (http://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.  Prices include ticketing fee. Pre-sale packages are currently available.

BUTLER-POTARD REMATCH SET FOR ONE FC: WARRIOR'S WAY

At ONE FC: TOTAL DOMINATION last year, light heavyweights Sylvain Potard and Jake Butler faced off in a highly anticipated contest. Jake Butler, the former NCAA wrestler and captain of his wrestling team at Princeton University was riding a three-fight winning streak with all finishes, and was hoping to add another win to his record. Meanwhile, the unheralded Potard was making his ONE FC debut.

Potard though, had other plans. After a close first round, the Frenchman started the second round with a left hook that landed on Butler’s chin. He then followed it up with a series of relentless strikes that called an end to the contest. The win was a huge upset that silenced the 12,000-strong crowd at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Butler, the Ivy League alum who gave up Wall Street for an MMA career is hungry for revenge. He believes that he is the better mixed martial artist and simply got caught. He bounced back from the defeat by trouncing Egypt’s Mohamed Ali, and immediately asked for the rematch. Butler was granted his request.  Now more than a year removed from that contest, Butler and Potard are once again set to lock horns at ONE FC: WARRIOR’S WAY.

Butler stated, “He’s the only loss on my record. I would love to get in there and do it again. I’m pretty confident I can beat him. I think the last bout was not a reflection of the type of fighter that I am and what I can do.”

To achieve victory, Butler would probably be well suited to return to his wrestling roots. His takedowns have proved unstoppable thus far in his career. In their first meeting, Butler managed to take Potard down in the final seconds of the first round. Butler will be the strong favorite to emerge victorious should he be able to bring the bout to the canvas.

Manila fans will also be treated to another light heavyweight clash as James McSweeney faces Roger Gracie. ONE FC: WARRIOR’S WAY could determine the future of the ONE FC light heavyweight division.

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Tickets for ONE FC: WARRIOR’S WAY on 5 December in Manila are on sale now at SM Tickets (http://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.  Prices include ticketing fee. Pre-sale packages are currently available.

FILIPINA BOXERS TURNED ONE FC MMA FIGHTERS READY FOR ONE FC: WARRIOR’S WAY

Filipina boxers turned MMA fighters Ana Julaton and Jujeath Nagaowa are both set to show their wares on December at SM Arena.

ONE FC’s May event in Manila earlier this year was a successful endeavour, as both former professional boxers Jujeath Nagaowa and Ana Julaton earned victories and solidified their standing as leading belles of women’s MMA in the Philippines.

At ONE FC: WARRIOR’S WAY on December 5, they aim to put on a repeat performance. Both women will once again be in action on the same night. Nagaowa is set to face Cambodia’s Tharoth Sam while Julaton has a stern test in front of her against Egypt’s Walaa Abbas.

The ONE FC female mixed martial arts scene continues to thrive, especially with the addition of the two former boxers. Julaton previously won both the WBO and IBA Super Bantamweight titles in boxing.

Julaton then decided to try her hand in mixed martial arts and immediately fell in love with the sport. She has now enlisted the help of prominent wrestling coach Ricky Lundell to improve her grappling and is eager to showcase her newfound skills in her next fight.

Julaton is now set to fight in Manila for the second time, and will look to have her hand raised in victory once again in front of her fans in the Philippines.

“Ana is so proud to be Filipina and has been working so hard to make all her supporters and Kababayans proud of her. With Coach Ricky Lundell teaching her ground game you can expect a new and improved Ana Julaton,” her boxing coach, Angelo Reyes, says.

Nagaowa, on the other hand, is a true rags-to-riches story.

She came through the ranks in the Philippine boxing scene before winning the WBO Asia title, competing in several bouts in Korea and Japan. The native of Baguio City has ferocious punching power and is rounding out her game, training with some of the top gyms in the country.

It may be a matter of time before a ONE FC World Championship belt is introduced for the women’s division, but both Julaton and Nagaowa can stake a claim for a title opportunity with victories at ONE FC: WARRIOR’S WAY.

Tickets for ONE FC: WARRIOR’S WAY on 5 December in Manila are on sale now at SM Tickets (http://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.  Prices include ticketing fee. Pre-sale packages are currently available.

Please see link for photos of Ana Julaton and Jujeath Nagaowa: http://bit.ly/11n1hpb

FILIPINO FAN FAVORITE EDUARD FOLAYANG RETURNS TO ACTION TO TAKE ON RUSSIA’S TIMOFEY NASTYUKHI

BOXING CHAMPION ANA JULATON FACES EGYPT’S WALAA ABBAS

RENE CATALAN MEETS DEJDAMRONG SOR AMNUAYSIRICHOKE

JUJEATH NAGAOWA BATTLES THAROTH SAM

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW AT SM TICKETS (WWW.SMTICKETS.COM)

13 November 2014 – Manila: Asia’s largest mixed martial arts organization with a 90% market share, ONE Fighting Championship™ (ONE FC), has added three bouts to the latest blockbuster event, ONE FC: WARRIOR’S WAY. Eduard Folayang returns to action to take on the streaking Timofey Nastyukhin, who is riding a nine-fight winning streak. Former WBO and IBA boxing champion Ana Julaton will also see action on the card as she faces Egypt’s Walaa Abas.  The event will also see a clash of striking styles as Wushu world champion Rene Catalan goes up against Muay Thai world champion Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke. ONE FC: WARRIOR’S WAY is set to take place at the state-of-the-art MOA Arena in Manila on 5 December.

CEO of ONE Fighting Championship™, Victor Cui, stated, “ONE Fighting Championship has taken over Asia this year with blockbuster shows all over the continent! ONE FC will return to Manila with one of our most stacked cards to date and the night will feature three martial arts champions from the Philippines. The MOA Arena will be packed to the rafters as fans from all over the world will tune in to catch world-class mixed martial arts action. This will be a night of non-stop adrenaline-pumping action that you do not want to miss!”

Eduard Folayang is one of the most popular sports figures in the Philippines. A Wushu practitioner, the former school teacher transitioned to mixed martial arts and has an impressive record of 14 wins and four losses so far in his career. He has proven his caliber in two recent wins, defeating highly touted star Vincent Latoel and the former ONE FC Lightweight World Champion, Kotetsu Boku.

Timofey Nastyukhin is a Russian lightweight with a professional mixed martial arts record of seven wins and one loss. Nastyukhin is an aggressive mixed martial artist who has won all seven of his bouts by first-round finishes. Nastyukhin has developed a reputation as a deadly finisher and will look to continue his string of finishes as he makes his ONE FC debut against Eduard Folayang.

Ana Julaton is a former WBO and IBA Super Bantamweight champion who is now pursuing success in the world of mixed martial arts. Julaton made her professional mixed martial arts debut in Manila in May and will once again look to emerge victorious in front of thousands of Filipino fans cheering her on.
                                                               
Walaa Abbas is a national Egyptian kickboxing champion who has notched up two wins in a row in her recent bouts. She has proven to have the striking prowess to end fights early, finishing both victories on her record with punches. Julaton defeated Abas’ teammate Aya Saied Saber in Manila earlier this year and Abas will be out for revenge in this bout.
Rene Catalan is a former SEA Games and Asian Games gold medalist in Wushu. He has been out of action for more than a year after his bout last year was overturned to a No-Contest. Catalan is raring to go and will be eager to impress in the Philippines as he prepares to compete in mixed martial arts action in his home country for the first time.

Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke is a Muay Thai World Champion who has excited mixed martial arts fans all over the world with his non-stop style of striking excellence. He also showed his improved grappling skills by finishing his last two wins by submission. Sor Amnuaysirichoke will now face his toughest test to date as he takes on a world champion in a clash of two Asian martial arts.

Jujeath Nagaowa is a former WBC Asia Atomweight Champion will be making the transition from boxing with an impressive resume that features 12 professional victories. Nagaowa has nifty footwork that she uses to get out of her opponents’ punches and knockout power in both hands. She made her ONE FC debut with a stoppage victory over India’s Jeet Toshi in Manila earlier this year and will look to replicate the same result in her upcoming contest.

Tharoth Sam is a Kun Khmer fighter with an undefeated professional mixed martial arts record. She is a pioneer for the sport in her home country in Cambodia and a win on foreign soil will enhance the reputation in the kingdom. In her ONE FC debut, she defeated fellow Cambodian debutant Vy Srey Chai with an armbar.

Tickets for ONE FC: WARRIOR’S WAY on 5 December in Manila are on sale now at SM Tickets (http://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.  Prices include ticketing fee. Pre-sale packages are currently available.

Fans around Asia can catch all the action live on FOX Sports 1. Check your local listings. Also, fans from around the world can witness the action online via live streaming at http://www.onefc.com/livestream. The event will be available for purchase at just US$9.99.

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

About One Fighting Championship
With a 90%+ market share in Asia, ONE Fighting Championship is Asia's largest Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organization. Headquartered in Singapore, the world’s most exciting mixed martial arts organization hosts the best Asian mixed martial artists and world champions, all signed to exclusive contracts, on the largest media broadcast in Asia. ONE Fighting Championship™ has partnered with FOX and STAR Sports for an unprecedented 10-year cable television deal with a coverage that spans 70+ countries across the world.

ONE FC: Warrior's Way Adds Four New Exciting Bouts

Asia’s largest mixed martial arts organization with a 90% market share, ONE Fighting Championship™ (ONE FC) has added four exciting bouts to ONE FC: WARRIOR’S WAY, which is set to take place onDecember 5 at the state-of-the-art Mall of Asia Arena (MOA) in Manila, Philippines. Top bantamweights Koetsu Okazaki and Kevin Belingon will clash while former ONE FC Featherweight Champion, Honorio Banario returns to the ONE FC cage to face Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist, Herbert Burns. Light heavyweight contenders, Roger Gracie and James McSweeney will also battle it out in Manila while light heavyweight standout Jake Butler seeks redemption against Sylvain Potard in a highly anticipated rematch. CEO of ONE Fighting Championship™, Victor Cui, stated, “ONE Fighting Championship is set to end the year with a blast by making ONE FC: WARRIOR’S WAY the biggest and most exciting MMA event of 2014! We have added some truly massive fights on the already astounding fight card. Team Lakay warriors Kevin Belingon and Honorio Baario seek redemption inside the ONE FC cage while Filipino-American Brandon Vera makes his debut. Fans can definitely expect an unforgettable night of world class and adrenaline-pumping mixed martial arts action! ” Tickets for ONE FC: WARRIOR’S WAY on 5 December in Manila are on sale now at SM Tickets (http://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.  Prices include ticketing fee. Pre-sale packages are currently available. Koetsu Okazaki worked his way up the ranks of Shooto by dominating all opposition and earned the Shooto World Championship belt as a featherweight. He has never been knocked out or stopped with strikes due to his excellent chin and ability to take a punch. Okazaki is looking to continue his win streak by defeating Kevin Belingon to move up the ranks and work his way to another shot at the Bantamweight title. Kevin Belingon is arguably one of the best bantamweights to hail from the Philippines, renowned for his striking ability while possessing incredible speed and power. He can get in and out of range without being taken down or countered and can inflict serious damage with just a single strike. To top it off, Belingon has some of the most dangerous kicks in the entire division, rounding things out with explosive takedowns and devastating ground-and-pound. Belingon is set to come back stronger this time against Okazaki in front of his home crowd.

Honorio Banario has a record of 8-4 and is hungry for a win, with the ultimate goal of landing another shot at ONE FC gold down the road. Known for his aggressive yet calculated approach to striking, Banario will need to overcome the toughest challenge of his career against Brazilian featherweight standout Herbert Burns before he can consider himself back in the running for the ONE FC Featherweight world title. Herbert Burns is one of the top Featherweight prospects in ONE FC with a penchant for locking in fight-ending submissions. With his strong background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Burns is widely considered the top contender in his division and is on the fast track to getting a shot at the ONE FC Featherweight title. He is extremely driven to win the belt to prove to fans all over the world that no one can get in his way. Newly signed Roger Gracie will make his debut at ONE FC: WARRIOR’S WAY against contender, James McSweeney. Roger is one of the greatest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners of all time and is part of the world famous Gracie fighting family, the originators of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. He is undeniably one of the most skilled grapplers to transition into mixed martial arts and is looking to showcase his world-class technical acumen when he competes in Asia for the very first time. Challenging Roger Gracie in this exciting light heavyweight bout is British fighter, James McSweeney, who is coming off a series of wins since his debut in ONE FC. Nicknamed ‘The Hammer’, McSweeney is menacing in the cage and will look to completely destroy his opponent to prove that he is the top fighter in the ONE FC light heavyweight division. Since transitioning into mixed martial arts, former collegiate wrestling standout Jake Butler has amassed four victories with only one defeat and has exhibited some of the finest wrestling skills seen in professional mixed martial arts competition. Butler uses his elite wrestling pedigree to control opponents on the ground and in the clinch, where he does most of his damage by assuming dominant position and unleashing powerful strikes. Butler has been waiting for a rematch against Sylvain Potard to avenge the only loss on his otherwise unblemished record. ONE FC: WARRIOR’S WAY is the perfect opportunity for Butler to even the score. French fighter, Sylvain Potard has a record of 7-4, with one of those victories being a memorable one-punch knockout of Jake Butler at ONE FC: TOTAL DOMINATION. In a highly-anticipated rematch, Potard will enter the ONE FC cage with Butler, this time, to prove his first victory was no fluke. A victory here will reinstate that he is the better fighter of the two. Both Potard and Butler have a lot riding on this matchup and fans will not want to miss the action.

Fans around Asia can catch all the action live on FOX Sports 3. Check your local listings. Also, fans from around the world can witness the action online via live streaming at http://www.onefc.com/livestream. The event will be available for purchase at just US$9.99.

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

ONEFC's Main Event: Warrior's Way Bibiano Fernandez Defends his ONEFC Bantamweight World Championship Against Undefeated Dae Hwan Kim and Brandon Vera's Debut Against Igor Subora

Asia’s largest mixed martial arts organization with a 90% market share, ONE Fighting Championship™ (ONE FC), will return to Manila with its largest fight card to date on 5 December. ONE FC: WARRIOR’S WAY is set to take place at the state-of-the-art MOA Arena in Manila. The main event will feature ONE FC Bantamweight World Champion, Bibiano Fernandes, who will defend his title against the undefeated Korean superstar, Dae Hwan Kim.  ONE FC: WARRIOR’s WAY will also feature the highly anticipated ONE FC debut of Brandon “The Truth” Vera as he takes on Igor Subora of Ukraine.

CEO of ONE Fighting Championship™, Victor Cui, stated, “ONE Fighting Championship will hold nothing back as it returns for another night to remember at the state-of-the-art Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines. Brandon Vera is a global Filipino mixed martial arts superstar, and ONE FC will finally give fans in the Philippines the opportunity to see him in action live for the first time! He’ll be tested against heavyweight standout Igor Subora. Also, bantamweight champ Bibiano Fernandes will have his hands full against the unbeaten and dangerous Dae Hwan Kim. We have some awesome fights lined up for fans in Manila as Warrior’s Way promises to be the biggest fight card of 2014!”

Tickets for ONE FC: WARRIOR’S WAY on 5 December in Manila are on sale now at SM Tickets (http://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.  Prices include ticketing fee. Pre-sale packages are currently available.

Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes is arguably the most decorated mixed martial artist in the world today. He is the reigning ONE FC Bantamweight World Champion and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with multiple world Jiu-Jitsu tournament wins. He is currently on an eight fight winning streak and is unbeaten inside the ONE FC cage. Fernandes will take his dominance to the next level when he faces top Korean mixed martial artist, the undefeated Dae Hwan Kim.
Dae Hwan Kim is one of the best bantamweights to come out of South Korea and currently holds an unblemished record of 10 wins with no losses, with five of his wins coming by submission. The agile and crafty Kim defeated highly-touted Filipino contender Kevin Belingon in his last appearance inside the ONE FC cage to earn the opportunity to face the ONE FC Bantamweight World Champion, Bibiano Fernandes.

New ONE FC acquisition Brandon “The Truth” Vera will make his promotional debut and promises to wow fans in Manila as he competes in the Philippines for the first time in his career. Vera is an American mixed martial arts superstar with Filipino ancestry. He has an impressive mixed martial arts record of 12 wins and 7 losses. Vera has faced some of the top light heavyweights and heavyweights in the world. He is also a multiple-time grappling champion, a wrestler in the Air Force and high school. He also possesses excellent Muay Thai skills and some of the most powerful kicks in the business.

Former URCC heavyweight champion Igor Subora is currently riding a five fight win streak, with all of his wins coming by either submission or TKO/KO. He has never heard the final bell and looks to finish off his opponents within the distance. The Ukrainian is trained in Sambo and aims to demonstrate his elite grappling skills when he steps into the cage against Brandon Vera.

Fans around Asia can catch all the action live on FOX Sports 3. Check your local listings. Also, fans from around the world can witness the action online via live streaming at http://www.onefc.com/livestream. The event will be available for purchase at just US$9.99.

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

About One Fighting Championship
With a 90%+ market share in Asia, ONE Fighting Championship is Asia's largest Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organization. Headquartered in Singapore, the world’s most exciting mixed martial arts organization hosts the best Asian mixed martial artists and world champions, all signed to exclusive contracts, on the largest media broadcast in Asia. ONE Fighting Championship™ has partnered with FOX and STAR Sports for an unprecedented 10-year cable television deal with a coverage that spans 70+ countries across the world.