On December 21st, Singapore’s newest MMA promotion, Rebel Fighting Championship, will stage its inaugural event at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

The fight card will feature five professional MMA bouts, and five amateur ones.

Rebel FC 1 Sneak Peak: Syafiq Samad vs Gyo Pyung Hwang

While the event is set to be headlined by a 145-lbs tilt pitting Phuket Top Team’s “Ruthless” Rob Lisita (12-5) against Japanese icon “Lion” Takeshi (21-8), all eyes will be fixed on the home town kid Syafiq Samad (2-0), as he fights for the first time in his native country against PXC vet Gyo Pyung Hwang (3-3).

Hwang, 24, is a striker and wrestler out of Seoul, South Korea, who has had six professional Mixed Martial Arts contests to date. Despite a record of 3-3, though, the South Korean has faced stiff opposition in the form of Bellator MMA’s JJ Ambrose and Tristan Arenal in his career thus far.

Hwang also trains out of Korean Top Team, alongside the likes of the UFC’s Hyun Gyu Lim and PXC Featherweight champ, Jang Yong Kim. With support firmly in the corner of his opponent, the 24-year-old will be hoping that his experience will reign supreme on fight night.

When you think of Mixed Martial Arts in Singapore, the nickname “Slasher” might help ring a bell or two. Syafiq Samad, still only 21, has risen prominently from the ranks of the amateurs and has established himself as Singapore’s top MMA fighter.

The young starlet started off his career in DARE, where he submitted Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purple belt Donald Tong. Shortly after, he took on Wesley Machado in his promotional PXC debut and submitted the Brazilian via Armbar. For a fighter who’s known for his devastating striking skills, “The Slasher” has proved he’s no slouch on the ground either with two submission victories to date in both his pro MMA outings.

As the Juggernaut Fight Club native gears up to fight for passion in front of his home audience, the spotlight will be on the Singaporean as he looks to garner a victory and remain in the ranks of the unbeaten.

Here’s the current fight card for Rebel FC 1: