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.
Taiwan’s Lee Hao-yu on Friday went 0-for-3 in his MLB debut for the Detroit Tigers against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, becoming the 19th Taiwan-born player to reach the big leagues. The Tigers ultimately lost 1-0 in 10 innings, ending their six-game winning streak. The 23-year-old started at third base and batted eighth for Detroit. He was promoted from Triple-A Toledo ahead of the four-game series against the Red Sox at the latter’s home stadium, replacing injured utility player Zach McKinstry. “Being right-handed, and given our schedule, I think six of the next 12 games are going to
Matheus Cunha on Saturday fired Manchester United toward the UEFA Champions League with a 1-0 win at Chelsea, while Tottenham Hotspur remain in the relegation zone after twice blowing the lead to draw with Brighton & Hove Albion. Chelsea failed to take advantage of a United defense ravaged by injury and suspension as a fourth straight league defeat for the Blues left their Champions League hopes in ruins. United have missed out on the riches of Europe’s elite competition for the past two seasons, but are closing in on a return thanks to an upturn in fortunes under interim manager
Italian soccer is at its lowest ebb in nearly 40 years after a wholesale European exodus at club level followed the nation’s failure for the third successive time to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, and compounded a leadership and structural crisis. The exits suffered by Bologna and ACF Fiorentina on Thursday in the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League respectively meant no Italian teams are left in European competition this season. Italy’s last remaining UEFA Champions League contenders, Atalanta BC, went out in the round of 16 last month. It is the first time since the 1986-1987 campaign that Italian clubs
The Detroit Tigers’ Lee Hao-yu on Monday collected his first and second MLB hits in their 8-6 loss to the Boston Red Sox. The Tigers’ No. 6 prospect, who batted eighth, had an RBI single and a double in four at-bats at Fenway Park, raising his batting average to .182. “He was super thrilled to get his first hit,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said after the game. “There’s only one first, you know, and for him, it’s been a couple of games where he’s really been wanting to do it. I’m glad he did it here.” “Young guys settle in when they start
RSS