Asia’s biggest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion is to return to Singapore for a star-studded event on Oct. 18 entitled ONE FC: “Total Domination,” which is to be headlined by a bantamweight unification bout between regular champion Kim Soo-chul and interim champion Bibiano Fernandes.
The card also features a lightweight bout between two of the most exciting fighters in Asia when Malaysian Peter Davis takes on Hong Kong’s Eddie Ng, but all eyes will be on the main event as two 61kg fighters at opposite ends of their careers go head to head.
Fernandes is kilogram for kilogram the best fighter competing in Asia today, and has won Dream titles and grand prix at both bantamweight and featherweight, as well as being a four-time Brazilian jiujitsu black belt world champion.
Photo: Courtesy of ONE Fighting Championship
At the age of 33 Fernandes (13-3) has shown no signs of slowing down and is riding a six-fight winning streak, but Kim (7-4) is just 21 years old and is determined to send shockwaves through the Asian MMA world by beating Fernandes.
Meanwhile, the fight between Davis (6-2) and Ng (6-1) has ignited plenty of local interest because the latter is a long-term resident of Singapore, while the former is a Malaysian who lives and trains in Kuala Lumpur. Both have big fan bases, which should make for an intense atmosphere at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Also on the card will be a middleweight matchup between Japanese veteran Tatsuya Mizuno (11-9) and Portuguese submission specialist Silva (39-13), as well as a female flyweight fight featuring debutants Sherilyn Lim from Singapore and Ann Osman from Malaysia.
Showcasing local stars from countries which have not traditionally been associated with MMA has been ONE FC’s mandate and has seen sold-out venues in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Jakarta, with the next event scheduled for Indonesia on Sept. 13.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship recently confirmed its first event in Singapore and plans to put on cards next year in Macau, Manila and Tokyo, as the Las Vegas-headquartered promotion looks to break ONE FC’s 90 percent share of the Asian market.
ONE FC owner and chief executive Victor Cui has ambitious expansion plans of his own, and recently confirmed that Taipei was one of a number of cities across Asia which would be hosting an event next year.
“Next year we will be in Taipei, Hong Kong and Beijing, as well as India, Indonesia, South Korea, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Myanmar and Japan. ONE FC is going to put on 24 shows all across Asia,” Cui said.
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