ONE FC 16: Honor & Glory - Fight Card Updates

[Keithlewis]

Askren vs. Abbasov Tops ONE FC 16: Honor & Glory


ONE FC, Asia's largest mixed martial arts organization with a 90% market share, has confirmed it will return to Singapore on 30 May with a blockbuster event titled ONE FC: HONOR & GLORY. Undefeated welterweight and collegiate wrestling legend, Ben Askren, makes his highly anticipated ONE FC debut against Bakhtiyar Abbasov, who is currently riding a nine-fight winning streak. Veteran Caros Fodor takes on top prospect Willy Ni while Jake Butler returns to action against New Zealand's Pane Haraki.

CEO of ONE Fighting Championship Victor Cui stated, "After months of anticipation, ONE FC will return to Singapore with another explosive night of world-class mixed martial arts action. Fans around the world have been eagerly awaiting the ONE FC debut of top welterweight, Ben Askren. He faces the toughest test of his career when he goes up against another top welterweight, Bakhtiyar Abbasov. ONE FC is redefining the mixed martial arts landscape and close to 12,000 fans will pack out the arena to witness history at ONE FC: HONOR & GLORY!"

Ben Askren is a legend in collegiate wrestling with four All-American awards. He finished his wrestling career at the University of Missouri with a record of 153-8. He has won 91 of those bouts with pins, third most in NCAA Division I history. He also wrestled in the US Olympics team in 2008 before transitioning to mixed martial arts. Since his mixed martial arts debut in 2009, he has won 12 bouts in a row in dominating fashion, winning multiple championships and earning recognition as one of the best welterweights in the world.

Bakhtiyar Abbasov is the best mixed martial artist to ever emerge from the eastern European country of Azerbaijan. He has defeated the best in Europe and has decided to come to Asia in search of new challenges. He will get all he can handle in wrestling legend Askren. The balanced knockouts and submission victories on his record is a testament to his versatility and predatory instincts, which will come in handy as he tries to become the first man in history to defeat Askren in a mixed martial arts bout. He has traditionally competed as a middleweight but has set his sights on the ONE FC Welterweight division.

Caros Fodor was one of the top Lightweights in Strikeforce where he ran up an impressive record and was on course for a title shot. A Muay Thai champion and submission grappling champion, he has gone to battle with some of the best in the business and wants to introduce himself to fight fans in Singapore with a spectacular performance.

Willy Ni is a Shooto veteran from the Netherlands. He has faced some of the best Lightweights in Europe, including British slugger, Dan Hardy. He is especially proficient with his grappling skills, having finished nine of his opponents by submission. He gets an opportunity to add another big name to his resume when he takes on the versatile and exciting Fodor.

Jake Butler has firmly established himself as one of the top light heavyweights in the division. He has earned all of his victories by finishes, and possesses some of the best wrestling acumen in the sport having honed his skills as the captain of the Princeton wrestling team. Butler has been unstoppable when he utilizes his signature wrestling techniques, but he has also improved his striking skills while training with Muay Thai world champions at Evolve MMA.

Pane Haraki is the best light heavyweight in New Zealand. A Muay Thai champion who has an arsenal of devastating kicks and elbows, he now gets an opportunity to shine on Asia's largest stage and has a stiff test in front of him. This is a classic matchup of striker against grappler and Haraki will be determined to ensure that the striker reigns supreme.

[Keithlewis]

[Keithlewis]

Banario vs. Narantungalag Among Three ONE FC 16 Additions


ONE FC has added the final three fights to the 10-bout fight card of ONE FC: HONOR & GLORY, which is slated to take place on 30 May at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Hong Kong's Eddie Ng will put his undefeated streak on the line when he meets top Dutch kickboxer Vincent Latoel. Former ONE FC Featherweight World Champion, Honorio Banario, is also set to return to action as he takes on the challenge of top Mongolian kickboxer and mixed martial artist, Narantungalag Jadamba. In addition, no-gi grappling champion Bruno Pucci returns to action against exciting MMA prospect, Major Overall. Berocca has also joined forces with ONE Fighting Championship as an Official Partner and signs on Eddie Ng as its first ever ONE FC Berocca ambassador.

ONE FC CEO Victor Cui stated, "After months of anticipation, ONE FC will return to Singapore with another explosive night of world-class mixed martial arts action. Fans around the world have been eagerly awaiting the ONE FC debut of top welterweight, Ben Askren. He faces the toughest test of his career when he goes up against another top welterweight, Bakhtiyar Abbasov. ONE FC is redefining the mixed martial arts landscape and close to 12,000 fans will pack out the arena to witness history at ONE FC: HONOR & GLORY! The partnership with Berocca is a gamechanger that will bring together two of the most recognizable brands in Asia. ONE FC has 90% of the market share in Asia and we are beyond ecstatic to have Berocca as a partner and are excited about the synergies that this partnership will bring."

"Berocca is about providing lasting energy performance to busy individuals; supporting both mental and physical performance as they take on challenges everyday. We are proud to be represented by Eddie Ng, one of the most exciting combat athletes in this region with his discipline and gift in this physically and mentally demanding martial arts sport. Synergistically, One FC is the right sponsorship platform to support MMA fighters as the sport is all about staying sharp and alert. It is also a battle between body, mind and soul to see who emerges as the winner in the cage," said Ms Eileen Kuan, Marketing Category Manager, Consumer Care, Bayer Healthcare. Ms Kuan added that exciting plans to leverage on Asia's most premier MMA events are in the pipeline.

Hong Kong's Eddie Ng is a lightweight contender who is on one of the best winning streaks in ONE FC, having racked up four consecutive wins over the division's best lightweights. The prodigious mixed martial artist began his career by learning techniques through watching video tapes. He eventually travelled to Singapore, where he has now settled into his role as a member of the Evolve Fight Team. A win over Latoel will reinforce Ng's position as one of the best Lightweights in the world.

Vincent Latoel is a globe-trotting kickboxer who has faced some of the best in the sport. Latoel has made a career of putting on exciting bouts and enters every bout with the intention of trading blows with his opponent. A win over Ng would propel Latoel up the rankings and establish him as a potential contender for the ONE FC Lightweight World Championship.

Honorio Banario is a Wushu practitioner who has found success in the ONE FC cage. The greatest moment in his fledging career was when he became the inaugural ONE FC Featherweight World Champion last February. He is eager to prove his worth once again on Asia's biggest stage and gets the perfect opportunity to do so against Narantungalag Jadambaa.

Entering the ONE FC cage for his first time, Mongolian MMA star Narantungalag Jadambaa is hell-bent on further establishing himself on a larger stage. Considered the best mixed martial artist to emerge from Mongolia, Narantungalag channels the iconic Mongolian warrior spirit when he competes, and will now get a step up in competition and bring that energy to ONE FC.

Bruno Pucci has won over MMA fans around the world with his impressive ONE FC debut, where he locked in a rear naked choke and submitted Pakistan's MMA pioneer, Bashir Ahmad, in the first round. Pucci is a decorated no-gi grappling champion who has remained undefeated since transitioning to mixed martial arts and will look to keep that streak going as he closes in on a title shot.

Major Overall is a fighter not lacking in confidence, as he carries himself with an enthusiastic demeanour both in and outside of the cage. A Brazilian Jiu-jitsu purple belt, he is very comfortable fighting from his back and has significantly improved his striking since moving to Asia. He came to the continent with the intention of learning new martial arts, and will be eager to showcase his new-found skills against Pucci.

[Keithlewis]