Friday’s ONE FC 23 card is complete with ten fights as the promotion lays down its next pit-stop in the Philippines.
The main event will see reigning 135-lbs champ Bibiano Fernandes (16-3) put his title on the line against South Korean starlet, Dae Hwan Kim (10-0-1), while the co-featured bout of the evening pits former UFC staple Brandon Vera (12-7, 1 NC) against URCC Heavyweight champ, Igor Subora (5-1).
ONE FC 23: Warrior’s Way takes place October 5 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila. At a price of USD$9.99, fans from around the world can witness the action online via LIVE streaming at www.onefc.com/livestream. Fans in Asia, meanwhile, can catch the main card LIVE on FOX Sports 3.
Fernandes’ run under the ONE FC banner has been nothing short of spectacular, garnering a perfect 4-0 record since forging ties with the promotion two years ago. In fact, the 34-year-old is yet to taste defeat in his last eight outings, with the last blemish on his resume arriving in the form of Hiroyuki Takaya in 2010. Once known primarily as a BJJ practitioner, Fernandes’ striking skills has improved in leaps and bounds in recent times and he will confidently put them to test when he locks horns with Kim.
Kim booked his title shot after two impressive submission victories over Thanh Vu and Kevin Belingon. The South Korean is on a tear with ten straight victories and is still among the ranks of the unbeaten. With that said, however, it’s no secret that Kim has never faced a fighter of Fernandes’ caliber thus far. This will be a huge step-up in competition for the 27-year-old and it’ll be interesting to see how he fares in this one.
Vera, 37, is synonymous with MMA fans worldwide having made a huge name for himself fighting elite competition in the UFC. Consecutive losses and a bad run of results, though, eventually saw the ‘The Truth’ axed from the organization. Now, with ONE FC, Vera looks poised to make one final run in Asia and it might very well start at the expense of Subora, a Ukrainian whose career has taken shape entirely in the URCC.
Also on the running order is Filipino MMA icon, Eduard Folayang (14-4). The flamboyant striker battles Timofey Nastyukhin (7-1), a 25-year-old Russian talent set for his promotional debut. James McSweeney (14-11), best known for his time on Season 10 of The Ultimate Fighter, looks to grab his third ONE FC victory of the calendar year when he takes on BJJ ace, Roger Gracie (6-2).
Elsewhere, Evolve MMA’s Herbert Burns (4-0) will be hoping to stay undefeated against Honorio Banario (8-4), a stablemate of the aforementioned Folayang at the esteemed Team Lakay gym. With four straight victories, Burns has made it known he wants a title shot. And with Banario, a former ONE FC Featherweight champ, struggling for consistency in past appearances, this could be the perfect opportunity for Burns to capitalize on.
Two women’s match-ups will also take the spotlight come fight night as the Philippines’ very own Jujeath Nagowa (1-0) contests Cambodia’s Tharoth Sam to kick off the night’s proceedings, while former WBO champ Ana Julaton (1-1) will be in action against Egypt’s Walaa Abbas (2-1).
Check out the full fight card below and be sure to keep it locked to the site for all the latest updates:
- Bibiano Fernandes vs. Dae Hwan Kim (For ONE FC Bantamweight Championship title)
- Igor Subora vs. Brandon Vera
- Timofey Nastyukhin vs. Eduard Folayang
- Koetsu Okazaki vs. Kevin Belingon
- Jake Butler vs. Sylvain Potard
- Walaa Abbas vs. Ana Julaton
- Roger Gracie vs. James McSweeney
- Herbert Burns vs. Honorio Banario
- Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke vs. Rene Catalan
- Tharoth Sam vs. Jujeath Nagaowa
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