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ONE FC promises biggest show ever as MMA extravaganza makes Middle East bow
One Fighting Championship (ONE FC), Asia's No1 MMA promotion, comes to the Middle East for the first time later this month, with organisers promising a show like no other.
Scheduled for August 29 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, ONE FC is primed for the biggest fight card in its history, with four world championship bouts and nine fights in total scheduled for Reign of the Champions.
“One FC: Reign of Champions is set to be the biggest night in the history of mixed martial arts," said the promotion's CEO Victor Cui.
"A historic three world championship titles will be on the line and will feature some of the greatest mixed martial artists from all over the world.”
[RELATED: Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao buys stake in ONE FC]
Among the stars on show, ONE FC World Champion Nobutatsu Suzuki will meet Ben 'Funky' Askren in a mouth-watering welterweight clash while Shinya 'Tobikan Judan' Aoki will contest his Lightweight World Championship title against MMA veteran Kamal Shalorus.
Dubai-based Filipino Vaughn Donayre will also be in action as he takes on Egyptian Mohamad Walid in a catchweight bout sure to excite the large Filipino crowd expected.
Arguably the biggest fight of the night, though, will see another Pinoy favourite - Ana "The Hurricane" Julaton - take on Malaysia's MMA poster girl Ann Osman in a female flyweight bout.
American-born Filipino Julaton, 34, belongs to the list of top pound-for-pound female boxers of this era and was the first woman to own the Super Bantamweight belts of WBO and International Boxing Association (IBA) in 2009.
Having made the successful transition to MMA with a late-round TKO against Egyptian opponent Aya Saeid Saber on her ONE FC debut in May, Julaton can't wait to make her bow in the UAE.
Julaton, who boasts an impressive boxing record (13-4-1), is counting on the support of the large Filipino community residing in the UAE to cheer her on to victory over Osman, who is Malaysia's first ever professional female fighter.
[RELATED: Filipino golden girl Ana Julaton makes vow to Filipino community at ONE FC Dubai]
“I'm excited to travel to UAE,” she said. "Some of my biggest supporters are from the UAE and I have some friends and relatives there. I've always wanted to visit Dubai and I heard about the strong presence of the Filipino community there.”
“Filipinos are everywhere and to represent the Philippines on the biggest MMA stage in Dubai is awesome."
Osman, meanwhile, will become the first Muslim female to fight professionally in an Islamic country after she stepped as a last-minute replacement for the injured Irina Mazepa to fight Julaton.
ONE FC's Middle East debut comes at an opportune time as interest in Mixed Martial Arts continues to grow exponentially in the region.
And Loren Mack, Director of Public Relations for ONE FC, doesn't believe it will be long before we see Emirati fighters competing regularly inside the Octagon.
Exciting times ahead, starting on August 29.
One Fighting Championship: Reign of Champions - FIGHT CARD
Kamal Shalorus (IRN) vs Shinya Aoki (JPN) - lightweight world championship
Ben Askren (USA) vs Nobutatsu Suzuki (JPN) - welterweight world championship
Narantungalag Jadambaa (MGL) vs Koji Oishi (JPN) - featherweight world championship
Christian Holley (GBR) vs Roger Huerta (USA) - lightweight
Cristiano Kaminishi (BRA) vs James McSweeney (GBR) - light heavyweight
Hiroshige Tanaka (JPN) vs Herbert Burns (BRA) - featherweight
Vaughn Donayre (PHI) vs Mohammad Walid (EGY) - catchweight
Ali Yaakub (MYS) vs Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke (THA) - flyweight
Ann Osman (MYS) vs Ana Julaton (PHI) - flyweight
ONE FC: REIGN OF CHAMPIONS will be held on August 29 at Dubai World Trade Centre. Tickets for the blockbuster event are on sale at www.platinumlist.net.
The categories begin with the full red carpet and cage side experience for Dh2,000. Tickets priced at Dh1,000, Dh500, Dh300 and Dh150 are also available.
