With Leandro Issa (11-3) reportedly penciled in for January’s UFC Fight Night 34 event, ONE FC officials have sought a replacement for the 30-year-old.
In steps PXC staple Josh Alvarez (12-5) for next week’s ONE FC fight card, according to a report on MMA-In-Asia.com. He’s set to take on Koetsu Okazaki (8-3-1) on a week’s notice.
ONE FC 13: Moment of Truth takes place December 6 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines. The night’s main card airs on Star Sports. Global fans can catch the action online for a price of USD$9.99 at www.onefc.livesport.tv. Unlike previous events, though, prelims are not expected to be streamed online this time around.
Alvarez (pictured), a native of Guam, makes his promotional ONE FC debut. Although he takes this bout on short notice, he is riding on a five-fight winning run which includes four first round stoppages. Having experienced a Jekyll and Hyde stint with the Pacific X-Treme Combat where he went 7-5, Alvarez now looks to make the most of this new opportunity by turning the tides in ONE FC.
Welcoming Alvarez to the promotion is Koetsu Okazaki, a talented 135-lbs Japanese fighter and a former Shooto Featherweight champ. His bout with Bibiano Fernandes at ONE FC 9: Rise to Power marked his first appearance on foreign soil, where he was dominated for twenty-five minutes en route to a Unanimous Decision defeat. The 34-year-old hopes to snap his two-fight losing skid along with getting his first victory under the ONE FC banner.
Here’s the updated fight card for ONE FC 13: Moment of Truth, and be sure to keep it locked to MMASucka.com for more updates:
MAIN CARD (Star Sports, Livesport.tv)
- Koji Oishi vs. Honorio Banario II – (For ONE FC Featherweight Championship title)
- Kevin Belingon vs. David Aranda Santacana
- Eduard Folayang vs. Vincent Latoel
- Vuyisile Colossa vs. Caros Fodor
- *Josh Alvarez vs. Koetsu Okazaki
- Dae Hwan Kim vs. Thanh Vu
- Geje Eustaquio vs. Eugene Toquero
PRELIMS
- Paul Cheng vs. Alain Ngalani
- Ruel Catalan vs. Khim Dima
- Edward Kelly vs. Major Overall
* – Not officially announced
Image credit: Guam Sports Network
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