ONE FC: War of Dragons - Fight Card Updates

[keithlewis]

ONE FC: War of Dragons Set for July 11


ONE FC will visit the city of Taipei for the first time on 11 July. The blockbuster event, titled ONE FC: WAR OF DRAGONS, will take place at the National Taiwan University Sports Center in Taipei City, Taiwan. The event will be in partnership with local partner, AMC Live Group Asia Pte Ltd. The organization is renowned for bringing in world-class entertainment from all over the world to hold sold-out events in Taiwan.

The first four bouts have been added to the card as Taiwanese heavyweight Paul Cheng competes in Taiwan for the first time when he takes on Egypt's Mahmoud Hassan. A lightweight bout between top contenders Koji Ando and Rafael Nunes has also been added to the ONE FC: WAR OF DRAGONS card. Light heavyweights Jake Butler and Mohamed Ali are also set to do battle while exciting bantamweights Koetsu Okazaki and Yusup Saadulaev look to put on a show in their bout.

CEO of ONE Fighting Championship Victor Cui stated, "After wowing sold out audiences across Asia, Asia's largest mixed martial arts organization will be broadcast live from Taiwan for the first time on 11 July. Fans in Taiwan have been clamoring for a live MMA event in their country and ONE FC will now bring world-class mixed martial arts action to Taipei City for the first time! Fans in Taiwan will pack the National Taiwan University Sports Center for one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year!"

Paul Cheng is a former Canadian Football League star who already has four wins on his professional mixed martial arts record. He was impressive in his ONE FC debut last December, forcing his opponent to tap out in the first round. Based in Canada but of Taiwanese heritage, Cheng cannot wait to showcase his skills for the first time in front of his home crowd in Taipei.

Mahmoud Hassan is a heavyweight boxer training out of Naser City, Egypt. Weighing in at 105kg, Hassan possesses deadly power in both hands ready to knock anybody out in an instant. He made history as the first Egyptian to compete for ONE FC when he made his debut last September and will be looking to do his country proud in Asia's largest mixed martial arts organization.

Koji Ando is a Japanese fighter who has competed for some of the top regional promotions in Asia. The 29-year-old lightweight has won his last three outings and holds a victory over recent ONE FC signee Jadambaa Narantungalag. As a judoka, Ando finished in the top eight of the All-Japan Judo Tournament when he was still a high school student. His love of judo led him to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and he later transitioned into mixed martial arts. Ando trains at Tokyo's Wajutsu Keishukai. He has tasted defeat just once since 2010.

Rafael Nunes is one of the top lightweights to emerge from Brazil in recent history. He has steamrolled through the competition in Brazil, with all but one of his 10 wins coming by stoppage. Nunes is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt and is equally adept in finishing his opponents by strikes or by submission. He comes to Asia looking to showcase his multi-faceted skillset and will face a tough challenge when he takes on Japanese stalwart Koji Ando.

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 training with Muay Thai world champions at Evolve MMA.

Mohamed Ali is a mixed martial arts veteran who hails from Egypt. The well-travelled striker has competed in six different countries in his mixed martial arts career. Initially a Muay Thai practitioner, he has finished most of his opponents by KO or TKO, a clear indication of his striking capabilities. He now faces one of the most decorated wrestlers currently competing in ONE FC in Jake Butler. This clash is the classic striker against grappler matchup and both parties will be looking to prove their style as the superior discipline.

Russian wrestler Yusup Saadulaev is a Combat Sambo Champion who has won numerous grappling competitions. He is known for his submission skills and his record of 8 submission victories indicates that. He was given the main event spotlight in his last bout and emerged victorious over Adriano Moraes in one of the most entertaining bouts of 2013. Saadulaev is hungry to continue his 3-fight winning streak and will get an opportunity to extend the streak when he takes on Okazaki.

Koetsu Okazaki has worked his way up the ranks of Shooto by dominating the opposition and earning the Shooto title belt. He has never been knocked out or stopped with strikes and has an excellent chin and the ability to take and give a punch. He defeated Guam's Josh Alvarez in his last bout, and gets a step up in competition when he takes on one of the division's best In Saadulaev.

[keithlewis]

Rob Lisita vs. Eric Kelly Set for ONE FC 18 on July 11


ONE FC, Asia's largest mixed martial arts organization with a 90% market share, has added four exciting bouts to the ONE FC: WAR OF DRAGONS card set to take place on 11 July in Taipei, Taiwan. The blockbuster event is in partnership with AMC Live and will take place at the National Taiwan University Sports Center. A bout between top featherweight contenders Rob Lisita and Eric Kelly has been added to the card. Two top Taiwanese mixed martial artists will also be making their ONE FC debuts. Bantamweight Sung Ming Yen and lightweight Zhang Zheng Jie will meet Malaysian opponents Muhamad Haidar and Rayner Kinsiong respectively. Hong Kong's Nathan Ng will also make his promotional debut against Taiwan-based French fighter Florian Garel.

CEO of ONE Fighting Championship Victor Cui stated, "ONE FC is bringing world-class mixed martial arts action to Taiwan for the first time on 11 July. Fans in Taipei will now get the opportunity to experience a night of adrenaline-pumping mixed martial arts action live! Rob Lisita and Eric Kelly are two of the best featherweights in the world and both of them consistently deliver crowd-pleasing bouts. The winner of this bout will set himself up to challenge Koji Oishi, the reigning ONE FC Featherweight World Champion, for the title in the near future. This is one of the most anticipated sporting events in Taiwan in recent years and fans in Taiwan will finally get to enjoy explosive MMA action!"

Rob Lisita is an Australian featherweight who has been on a tear in recent bouts. He has won seven of his last eight bouts, and in his ONE FC debut last May, avenged the only loss in that streak by knocking out Yusuke Kawanago. Lisita is ruthless in going for the finish and has seen the final bell only three times in his 14 victories.

Eric Kelly is one of the top featherweights in the world with an impressive 10 wins in his young career. He is adept at finishing his opponents and has only been to a decision once. A fan favorite in the Philippines, a victory could propel him to a title opportunity and the chance to become the country's next great sports superstar.

Sung Ming Yen is a Taiwanese mixed martial arts pioneer who has proven himself as one of the top mixed martial artists in the country. Sung is equally adept in both grappling and striking, and prides himself on his aggressive style. He will have the support of the passionate Taiwanese fans behind him as he makes his promotional debut.

Muhamad Haidar is a Malaysian mixed martial arts veteran and one of the top bantamweights in the country. He has honed his skills training with the best fighters in Malaysia and will get to showcase them when he takes on Sung.

Zhang Zheng Jie is one of the best mixed martial artists in Taiwan. A submission expert, Zhang has finished most of his opponents via submission. He has cemented his position as the best lightweight in the country and has been itching to test his skills against opponents of a higher calibre. He gets that opportunity when he takes on decorated striker Kinsiong.

Rayner Kinsiong is a Malaysian mixed martial artist from Borneo, Malaysia. He is a 3rd Dan black belt in karate, and has won gold in the SEA Games while representing his country. Kinsiong is extremely confident he can knock out anybody on his feet and has added grappling skills to his arsenal. He has experience competing on the global stage and will use that to his advantage against his less-experienced opponent.

Nathan Ng is a Hong Kong model and mixed martial artist currently residing in Los Angeles. He is also a pageant winner, actor and a strength and conditioning coach. His first passion continues to be mixed martial arts, and he has a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a background in Kung Fu. Ng is eager to make a mark in ONE FC's featherweight division and will want to earn a statement victory when he competes in Taipei on 11 July.

Originally from France, Florian Garel has made Taiwan his second home. He studied the Chinese language while in university and moved to Taiwan to marry his Taiwanese wife. A 4th Dan black belt in Karate, Garel eventually settled in Taichung where he now teaches martial arts.

[keithlewis]

ONE FC: War of Dragons Card Complete with 10 Fights


ONE FC, Asia's largest mixed martial arts organization with a 90% market share, has confirmed all fights for ONE FC: WAR OF DRAGONS, set to take place on 11 July in Taipei, Taiwan at the National Taiwan University Sports Center. The card is now set with 10 bouts. Top featherweights Rob Lisita and Eric Kelly will square off in the main event. Taiwanese star Jeff Huang will make his ONE FC debut in front of fans in his home country as he meets top Indian kickboxer Bala Shetty. Heavyweights Alain Ngalani and Chi Lewis Parry will meet again to complete their contest that previously ended in a No Contest. Singapore's Nicholas Lee has also been added to the card as a replacement for Muhamad Haidar, and will take on Taiwanese mixed martial arts pioneer Sung Ming Yen.

CEO of ONE Fighting Championship Victor Cui stated, "ONE FC is bringing world-class mixed martial arts action to Taiwan for the first time on 11 July. Fans in Taipei will now get the opportunity to experience a night of adrenaline-pumping mixed martial arts action live! This is a historic event as Taiwanese fighters now have the opportunity to compete against international opponents in front of a potential 1 billion viewers worldwide. MMA fans there will be thrilled to hear that two more homegrown fighters have been added to the fight card, bringing the total number to four. This is one of the most anticipated sporting events in Taiwan in recent years and fans in Taiwan will finally get to enjoy explosive MMA action!"

Jeff Huang has cemented his status as Taiwan's top welterweight, and has won every time he competed in Taiwan. Despite having a comfortable career as a financial consultant, Huang elected to give it up to dedicate himself to mixed martial arts, and spent his savings to travel the world and pick up new techniques.

Bala Shetty is a multiple-time muay thai champion from India, and has represented the country in global and continental competition. He will now make the transition to mixed martial arts having spent the past few years incorporating the other elements of mixed martial arts to his set of striking skills.

Alain Ngalani is a one man wrecking machine who has single handedly smashed his way through the top heavyweight fighters in both Muay Thai and kickboxing winning numerous world titles and scoring countless highlight reel knock outs along the way. This indomitable African was forced to quit after being on the wrong end of a low blow by Chi Lewis Parry early in the opening round of their first encounter. He now returns desperate to become the first man to ever beat the Englishman.

A former professional basketball player, Chi Lewis Parry's goal is to become the first ever ONE FC Heavyweight World Champion and he is still unhappy about the way his first fight with Ngalani finished. No opponent has ever made it past the second round against Parry and he is determined to give the Taiwanese fans a glimpse of the power which has seen him establish himself as England's best heavyweight.

Nicholas Lee will become the youngest mixed martial artist to compete in Asia's largest mixed martial arts organization when he makes his debut at just 19 years of age. He has finished his opponents in both his previous victories and will look to do the same come Fight Night. He faces a tough task against his much more experienced opponent, who is sure of the support by the Taiwanese fans in attendance behind him.

Sung Ming Yen is a Taiwanese mixed martial arts pioneer who has proven himself as one of the top mixed martial artists in the country. Sung is equally adept in both grappling and striking, and prides himself on his aggressive style. He is out to prove that mixed martial artists from Taiwan can go toe to toe against the best that Asia has to offer and he will get his chance to do so in front of thousands of Taiwanese fans on 11 July.