Denice Zamboanga Relinquishes ONE Atomweight MMA World Title, Welcomes Motherhood

c/o ONE Championship

Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga has relinquished the ONE Women's Atomweight MMA World Championship.

In a social media post on Tuesday, the first Filipina MMA World Champion announced her decision to vacate the throne after welcoming her first child with husband Fritz "Kid Tornado" Biagtan.

Out of respect for the division, she gave up the belt to allow contenders to pursue the title while she steps back to embrace motherhood.

“God has always had a beautiful plan for my life, and I trust His timing in everything. After much prayer and reflection, I have made the difficult decision to vacate my ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Championship,” Zamboanga wrote.

“This was not an easy choice, but I believe it is the right one for this season of my life and for the athletes in my division who continue to chase their dreams,” she added.

The 29-year-old Quezon City native has a 12-2 professional record, and is 7-2 in ONE Championship.

Zamboanga arrived at ONE in 2019 and quickly proved she belonged on the global stage. She rattled off three straight wins to open her promotional run, defeating Jihin “Shadow Cat” Radzuan, Mei “V.V” Yamaguchi, and Watsapinya “Dream Girl” Kaewkhong.

The path forward then took a detour. Zamboanga suffered back-to-back defeats to South Korea's Ham Seo Hee at ONE: Empower in 2021 and ONE X in 2022, respectively. Refusing to let the setbacks define her, she rebuilt herself from the ground up, returning a sharper and more dangerous version of herself.

The bounce-back was immediate and convincing. Zamboanga strung together three consecutive victories over “MMA Sister” Lin Heqin, Julie Mezabarba, and Noelle “Lil' Monkey” Grandjean, earning her way back to the top of the atomweight division and into contention for gold.

With a long-awaited showdown against then-ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Champion and former teammate Stamp Fairtex derailed by the Thai’s knee injury, Zamboanga was given an opportunity to challenge for the ONE Interim Women’s Atomweight MMA World Title.

At ONE Fight Night 27 in January 2025, Zamboanga met Ukraine's Alyona Rassohyna with a lifelong dream within reach. She ultimately stopped Rassohyna in the second round via TKO, earning the interim belt and a US$50,000 performance bonus in the process.

The monumental victory etched her name permanently in the Philippine MMA history books, a triumph earned through years of delays and heartbreak.

Four months later, Zamboanga was elevated to undisputed ONE Women's Atomweight MMA World Champion when Stamp suffered a setback in her knee rehabilitation in May 2025 and relinquished the lineal belt.

Zamboanga was slated to make her first World Title defense against Japan's Ayaka “Zombie” Miura at ONE 173 last November at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. Medical concerns, which have since come to light as her pregnancy, forced her withdrawal.

The Filipina, however, made it clear she is not retiring. Zamboanga is turning her full attention to the most meaningful journey of her life, vowing to return when the time is right.

"While I am stepping away from the title, I am not stepping away from the sport I love. Fighting has shaped who I am, and the warrior in me will always remain,” Zamboanga said.

"Right now, my heart and focus are devoted to the greatest blessing God has entrusted to me. This season is teaching me that there are victories beyond championship belts, and I am embracing every moment of it with gratitude. This is not the end of my story. It’s simply a new chapter," she concluded.

Denice Zamboanga Unfazed By hometown disadvantage at upcoming ONE Championship event

Denice Zamboanga

Fighting away from home is nothing new for Undisputed ONE Atomweight MMA World Champion Denice Zamboanga. 

The first Filipina MMA World Champion will enter hostile territory when she puts 26 pounds of gold on the line for the first time at ONE 173: Superbon Vs. Noiri against top contender Ayaka “Zombie” Miura on November 16 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. 

While this epic five-round atomweight MMA battle will take place in the challenger’s backyard, Zamboanga remains undeterred about her chances of returning to the Philippines with her belt in tow. 

The TREX MMA standout has remained unfettered even when the odds were stacked against her for most of her incredible MMA career. 

Time and time again, Zamboanga has proven her doubters wrong, displaying unbreakable grit and unyielding determination to realize her lifelong dream of becoming a ONE World Champion. 

While the 28-year-old expects Miura to fight inspired and feed off the energy of the passionate Japanese crowd, the champ won’t let some hometown pressure get in the way of the legacy she wants to leave behind.   

Plus, Zamboanga knows her own loyal fanbase back at home in the Philippines will be cheering their lungs out and praying for her victory. 

The lady called “The Menace” shares:

“I know that fighting in Japan, Ayaka’s home, might bring added pressure — but as a proud Filipina, I carry the strength, dedication, and heart of every Filipino with me. We may be stepping into her territory, but our spirit and determination are built for any battleground.”

Lions Nation MMA celebrates anniversary

Lions Nation MMA

Last June 22, Lions Nation MMA celebrated its first anniversary with a simple salu-salo at its base of operations, the Landslide Martial Arts Training Center in La Trinidad, Benguet.

In marking their anniversary, its Co-Founder and Chairman Eduard Folayang says, "We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved in just one year. Our success is a testament to the hard work and dedication of every member of our team. As we enter our second year, we are excited about the future and the opportunities that lie ahead."

Put together by Filipino mixed martial artist staples Folayang, Kevin Belingon, Honorio Banario, and Joshua Pacio, the outfit did not take long to become a powerhouse in the local and regional scene. Snapping up some of the best names out there like Danny Kingad, Jeremy Pacatiw, Edward Kelly, and Stephen Loman, they also managed to secure their first champion, as Pacio reclaimed the ONE Strawweight MMA World Title last March against Jarred Brooks during ONE 166: Qatar.

Other successes from Lions Nation MMA included victories by both Folayang and Pacatiw in ONE Championship, as well as taking home eleven medals at the 2023 ASJJF Manila Open Jiu-Jitsu Championships.

Its younger members, split between Young Lions and Cubs sub-categories, have also impressed in their participation at national and regional competitions.

Lions Nation MMA seeks to sustain its success with its upcoming schedule moving forward, and in line with such, they are set to reveal an upcoming team brand partnership that would help with their training and development efforts.

June 24, 2024 – La Trinidad, Benguet: Lions Nation MMA, the premier Filipino mixed martial arts stable, celebrated its first anniversary last Saturday, June 22, at the Landslide Martial Arts Training Center, its base of operations in La Trinidad, Benguet.

Founded by Eduard “Landslide” Folayang, Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon, Honorio “The Rock” Banario, and Joshua “The Passion” Pacio, Lions Nation MMA has quickly established itself as a powerhouse. The star-studded camp includes some of the biggest names in the industry, such as Danny “The King” Kingad, Jeremy “The Juggernaut” Pacatiw, Edward “The Ferocious” Kelly, and Stephen “The Sniper” Loman.

Looking ahead to its second year, Lions Nation MMA is poised for continued success with an eventful schedule on the horizon. In anticipation of this, the group is set to announce a “team brand partner,” who will play a crucial role in their training and development efforts, in the coming weeks.

Lito Adiwang joins Iron Bunny Philippines family

Lito Adiwang

The Iron Bunny Philippines secured another partnership, as Lito Adiwang becomes the latest Filipino mixed martial artist set to sport their gear.

Adiwang will be sporting their outfit in his upcoming rematch against Jeremy Miado at ONE Fight Night 16 this coming November 4 at the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok.

In establishing this partnership, the Thunder Kid shares, "I'm absolutely thrilled to have Iron Bunny Philippines as my official outfitter for my next fight in ONE Championship. Their unwavering support means the world to me, and I couldn't be more grateful for this partnership. Together, we're going to conquer new heights."

Known for his explosive fighting style, Lito hopes that having Iron Bunny as his outfitter will help him in his ascent up the strawweight division. The 30-year-old from Baguio is fresh from a 23-second stoppage of Adrian Mattheis last month to secure his fourteenth victory, with twelve of those coming via stoppage.

Iron Bunny Philippines owner Ricky Enriquez states, "We are thrilled to welcome Lito Adiwang to the Iron Bunny Philippines family. He embodies the core values of a true Filipino warrior—determination, passion, and an unwavering commitment to success. We look forward to supporting him on his journey to greatness."

Enriquez founded the company back in 2015 alongside digital marketer Vir Moore Moranta. Recognized for its dedication towards an active lifestyle and competitive sports, it also gained traction within the local mixed martial arts community through its quality and innovation.

Previous collaborators with the brand includes the likes of former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt and a couple of former Filipino champions in ONE Championship in Eduard Folayang and Joshua Pacio.

Lito Adiwang and Jeremy Miado set for upcoming ONE Championship rematch

A rematch twenty months in the making is now set, as Lito Adiwang and Jeremy Miado will face off at ONE Fight Night 16: Haggerty vs Andrade on November 4 at the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok.

The battle between two Filipinos highlights either side's desire to be in the picture at the strawweight division.

From the Thunder Kid's perspective, this one became personal.

He shares, "I really wanted this rematch. When we first met, honestly, I wasn’t that excited because I knew I was facing a fellow Filipino and he wasn’t in the top five, so there really wasn’t any fire at all. But I’m now truly excited."

The first meeting at ONE X back in March last year saw Adiwang suffer an ACL tear during the bout. Rubbing it in was that Lito saw Miado's corner celebrating at the end, something that left a bad taste in the mouth and illustrating his desire to show that he is the superior fighter.

He states, "I’m on fire for this rematch and it’s because of him and his cornermen. Honestly, I was hurt with the way they celebrated when I got injured. He wasn’t even winning that fight and they were celebrating like that."

Moving on to HIIT Studio, Adiwang showed minimal ring rust in his return, needing just 23 seconds to knock out Adrian Mattheis at ONE Friday Fights 34.

With the upcoming rematch against The Jaguar, Lito notes, "In this rematch, I’m coming with my A game. I’m not going to hold back. Let’s finish this, and may the best man win."

Miado will be coming off a submission loss to Mansur Malachiev during ONE Fight Night 11: Eersel vs Menshikov back in June. He did secure a third-round TKO win over Danial Williams at ONE Fight Night 3: Lineker vs Andrade last year.

Jeremy is seeking to bounce back from that defeat, and a second victory against Adiwang could put him back on the rise.

Lions Nation MMA secures Iron Bunny Philippines partnership

Lions Nation MMA and Iron Bunny.

Just in time for their upcoming debut in ONE Championship, Lions Nation MMA has secured a partnership with Iron Bunny Philippines as the stable's official outfitter.

Established in 2015 and based in Liloan, Cebu, Iron Bunny is an independent apparel brand with an emphasis towards those with an active lifestyle and competitive sports. Founded by Ricky Enriquez and Vir Moore Moranta, the brand has been getting more recognition specifically with the local mixed martial arts community in the Philippines. With the latter, Iron Bunny has been able to expand into the US market, securing a collaboration with former UFC bantamweight world champion Cody Garbrandt and Team Alpha Male.

In announcing this partnership, Enriquez shares, "It is truly a dream come true to collaborate with the biggest names in Philippine MMA, and we are immensely grateful to Lions Nation MMA for entrusting our brand with this opportunity. We promise to continue our unwavering support for Philippine MMA and its dedicated stakeholders, both at the local level and on the global stage."

Formed this past June, Lions Nation MMA is comprised of fighters who previously were connected with Team Lakay, led by Eduard Folayang, Kevin Belingon, Honorio Banario, Joshua Pacio, Edward Kelly, and Jeremy Pacatiw.

Folayang shares about their partnership, "I am deeply grateful to Iron Bunny Philippines for coming on board as the official apparel for Lions Nation MMA's opening campaign in ONE Championship. I'm truly excited about this partnership and the opportunities it will bring. Their commitment to Philippine MMA is commendable, and I believe that this collaboration marks the beginning of a promising journey together."

It won't be long before we will see Lions Nation MMA sport the Iron Bunny outfits, as three fighters will be scheduled to have matches in ONE Championship events in the next couple of weeks.

Jenelyn Olsim will be the first one out, facing Jihin Radzuan on September 29 at ONE Friday Fights 35 at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok.

The much-anticipated rematch between Folayang and Amir Khan is part of the ONE Fight Night 14 card the next day at Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Pacio takes his turn against Mansur Malachiev on October 7 for ONE Fight Night 15 back at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium

Jhanlo Sangiao suffers first ONE Championship setback

Back to the drawing board for Jhanlo Sangiao, as he suffered his first defeat in ONE Championship on Saturday at ONE Fight Night 13: Allazov vs Grigorian at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok.

The Machine was forced to tap to Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu at the 2:53 mark of the second round, after being tagged with a right elbow to start it. The Mongol bantanweight then started to work with his right arm, setting the table for the eventual win.

The 21-year old was building on a strong start to the fight, using his array of strikes to do damage, managing to bloody Baatarkhuu's right eye. However, the veteran kept his bearings and remained focused on securing a submission victory.

Afterwards, he gave Sangiao credit. "I wish him the best. He’s a promising young athlete."

The defeat drops him to 6-1 in his developing MMA career, becoming the second Filipino that Baatarkhuu has dispatched, joining Adonis Sevilleno who suffered a unanimous decision defeat back in April.

Carlo Bumina-ang sizzles in ONE Friday Fights debut

Carlo Von Bumina-ang

 

Another Team Lakay standout impresses at a ONE Championship event, as Carlo Von Bumina-ang impressively secured his debut victory.

Bumina-ang did that with a first round stoppage against Reza Saedi during ONE Friday Fights 27 inside Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok.

Best known for his efforts at the Southeast Asian Games by snagging a silver medal in the men's 65kg division of vovinam, Carlo only needed 52 seconds to get the job done, tagging the Iranian with a left straight. He then followed that up with more straights, uppercuts, and knee strikes, which forced referee Herb Dean to call the fight.

Post-match, he shares to Gianni Subba, "This feels so good. It’s my first time here, and the people here are so nice, I’m so grateful I pulled it off and got the KO win, I’m so happy." Carlo also adds, "It took me five years to get here and it truly feels great."

Bumina-ang is the latest among the new set of Team Lakay fighters that have garnered recent success, which includes Carlos Alvarez, who was present in his corner for this mixed martial arts matchup.

Alvarez remains undefeated in ONE Friday Fights, having defeated Reza Abasi and Sadegh Ghasemi in previous editions of this weekly event at the fabled fight venue.

Jhanlo Sangiao potentially the new face of Team Lakay

 

new face of Team Lakay?

With all the changes that has happened involving Team Lakay, led by the departure of its veteran charges, it is no surprise that Jhanlo Sangiao is being looked now as the outfit's new face.

However, "The Machine" acknowledges that he still has a long way to go, sharing that "Kung sabihin nila na ako yung bagong face ng Team Lakay, pasalamat lang ako pero pinagtatrabahuan ko naman lahat ng ito."

He adds, "Nagte-training lang ako at ine-enjoy ko lang ito. Ipapakita ko kung ano yung kaya ko sa loob ng Circle. Yun lang naman yung goal ko eh."

The bantamweight will get to prove his point when he goes up against Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu in the undercard of ONE Fight Night 13: Allazov vs Grigorian, which takes place on August 5 at the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, one that he expressed confidence in securing the victory.

Jhanlo is on a three-match winning streak, including a 58-second submission against Matias Farinelli at ONE Fight Night 9: Nong-O vs Haggerty this past April.

With stablemate Carlos Alvarez coming off a second round submission victory over Sadegh Ghasemi at ONE Friday Fights 25 recently, he hopes that this is the start of the turnaround for the Baguio-based group.

Sangiao says, "Medyo nae-excite ako kasi nanalo yung isang teammate namin, si Carlos. Naha-hype na rin ako na lumaban ulit. Nakakatulong din na puro bago ang sparring partners ko kaya energized lahat. Mas focused kami ngayon sa gameplan."

Mark Sangiao, Team Lakay founder and father of Jhanlo, is just glad that the new generation of fighters under his stable remain steadfast and committed.

The elder Sangiao shares, "Our next generation of Team Lakay fighters are doing okay for the most part. I can see them working hard and they’re doing their training every day. That’s just how I see it. They train hard and the attendance has been solid."

From their perspective, Mark reflects, "Sa amin naman, tulungan lang talaga ang bawat isa. Kung sino ang may kailangan ng advice, shine-share namin yung alam namin. Nandyan pa rin naman si papa na matagal na sa sport na ito at best coach para sa akin, so ako ipapakita ko lang yung kung ano ang kaya ko sa Circle."

Knee injury forces Lito Adiwang to drop out of ONE Championship fight

Lito Adiwang

We will have to wait for the Thunder Kid's return a little bit longer.

ONE Championship announced on Wednesday that Lito Adiwang is withdrawing from his upcoming matchup against Masnur Malachiev.

The match had been slated to be a part of the card for ONE Fight Night 6, set to take place at the Impact Arena in Bangkok on January 14.

The Filipino shared that the knee pain has been getting worse during his preparations for the fight, and was advised by doctors to check for medical attention and rest for sixty days. He shares, "It’s heartbreaking that I have to break a promise to my father to fight this January. Also [sorry] to our fans and supporters who are eager and excited to watch me back in action."

Lito adds, "My mind is 1000 percent ready to go to war but suddenly, my knee is not cooperating and it’s getting worse when I try to push it hard for training. As per the advice of my doctor, I’ll give it some time to recover and continue my therapy to strengthen it."

Adiwang tore his ACL against Jeremy Miado last March during ONE X, then undergoing surgery a couple of months later.

What followed is a long rehabilitation process, with the objective of getting the injured knee strengthened. It had been all systems go, until the pain started to bother Adiwang, thus the need to have it checked with physicians, which led to the decision to drop out of the fight.

Although disappointed, Lito chooses to view things half-full. "It’s heartbreaking to withdraw but I need to think for the best and look at the big picture. I may not fulfill my promise this time, but this made me focus to the bigger promise that I gave to both of my parents that one day I will become a World Champion," he says.

Lito also has this message to convey, "To ONE Championship, my opponent, fans and supporters, I’m sorry that I will not be able to compete this January in Bangkok but I will do my best to heal and recover as fast as I can and continue this fight. I’ll enter the Circle healthy and prepared to give the best show that I can give."

Striegl set for UFC return with documentary

Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

Mark Striegl is set to make his return to the Octagon next month, as the Filipino-American mixed martial artist goes up against Chas Skelly in a featherweight matchup in UFC Fight Night 202 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Striegl is looking to bounce back after a disappointing debut back in October, having been knocked out  in the first round by Said Nurmagomedov in UFC Fight Night 180.

He shares, "I am super excited about this fight. I have signed a contract for the fight. Oddly enough, Chas and I have the same professional fight record of 18-3-0 (wins-loss-draws). I am definitely excited and gunning for my first win."

Mark has been training at George Castro's MMA Lab in Peoria, Arizona since the start of the year. He shares about his preparations, "There is a huge advantage coming in early to the United States where I get to train in one place as opposed to moving around in Manila because of the pandemic protocols," he explains.

He also notes, "It’s all camp training and working out then rest. It allows me to really focus and prepare. Some fighters have the benefit of several months of training, but we take what is given to us and make the most out of the opportunity."

Striegl also notes, "Plus, I get to train under a former MMA fighter in George himself."

Helping him prepare for the fight is four-time All-American Bryce Meredith, who recently made his Legacy Fighting Alliance debut with a TKO win over Steven Merrill.

On how the Wyoming alum can help his preparations, Mark expounds, "When you work with high level training partners, it really increases your learning and confidence."

The run-up to the February 20 fight also includes a three-part mini-documentary being produced by TAP Digital Media Ventures, who also has the broadcast rights for the UFC in the Philippines. The documentary, called "Mark Streigl: The Road Back to the UFC," is slated for broadcast on February 2, 9, and 16, and it recounts his journey from Japan into the different fight outfits he was involved in until now with the UFC.

TAP DMV marketing manager Rely San Agustin says, "TAP DMV is excited to be working with Mark Striegl and to bring not only his fights, but also the UFC to the Filipino audience which is considered as one of the most rabid MMA fan bases in the world."

UFC Fight Night 202 is set to be broadcast on Premier Sports via cable television, as well as their streaming app Tap Go.

ONE: HEAVY HITTERS devoid of Pinoy fighters

Jeremy Miado

Much to the chagrin of Filipino mixed martial arts fans, COVID-19 health and safety protocols have taken out the two Filipinos set to take part in the upcoming mixed martial arts event of ONE Championship.

Strawweight fighters Jeremy Miado and Robin Catalan have been ruled out from their respective matchups at the ONE: HEAVY HITTERS slated to take place on Friday, January 14, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Miado was scheduled to face Senzo Ikeda, while Catalan had been slated to go up against Elipitua Siregar.

Jeremy was seeking his third straight victory and eleventh overall, fresh from a second round technical knockout victory over Miao Li Tao last October at ONE: NEXTGEN. The result is the benefits of his training with Marrok Force MMA in Bangkok, and ensured his entry into ONE's strawweight rankings.

He shared his thoughts about the decision. "I believe this happened for a reason. Yes, it's unfortunate that as an athlete, all of our efforts in training camp went to waste. But I believe God has His own plans."

Robin Catalan

Robin would have been coming off a year-long layoff after forcing to tap out against Ryuto Sawada at ONE: UNBREAKABLE III. He had been hoping to bounce back with a victory not only for himself but also for the Catalan Fighting System.

Catalan shares, "This is a sad news because I was really ready for this match and I was excited to head back to the ONE Circle and get the win. Unfortunately, we have to take this news and go back home, but we promise that once everything is ok, I'll go back to train to be able to fight again."

As a result of these events, Ikeda will face off against Siregar in a strawweight matchup in the main card.

The protocols have also forced the cancellation of the co-main event; the ONE Light Heavyweight Kickboxing World title fight between Roman Kryklia and Murat Aygun.

In spite of these, ONE: HEAVY Hitters still packs a punch, with the main event being Xiong Jing Nan defending her ONE Women's Strawweight title against Ayaka Miura.

Other main matches include a Muay Thai duel between Saemapetch and Tawanchai, as well as James Nakashima taking on Saygid Izagakhmaev in a lightweight scrap.

Filipino-American Jordan Williams set for UFC 268

Bomaye set to take part at UFC 268

Expected to make headlines at the much-anticipated UFC 268 this weekend is the rematch between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington for the welterweight title. Also deserving some attention is another rematch, this time between Rose Namajunas and Zhang Weili for the women's strawweight title, the co-main to the Usman-Covington main event.

However, someone that potentially could warrant some attention to Filipino fight fanatics in particular is tucked away in the Prelims.

In fact, opening the prelims portion of UFC 268 is a matchup between Jordan Williams and Ian Garry. Whilst the latter is making his UFC debut after winning his first seven fights, the former still seeks his first official win inside the Octagon.

Williams earned his way into the UFC through the Dana White's Contender Series. After a no-contest against Tim Caron back in 2018 and a loss against Ramazan Kuramagomedov in 2019, he broke through with knockout victory over Gregory Rodrigues in September 2020.

He shares, "I fought my way into the UFC. I am going to do my best to stay there. It is electrifying to be here in the UFC. I was a mix of emotions to be in the UFC after putting in a decade of work. I was dancing, crying, smiling..."

That paved the way for a couple of fights inside the Octagon, a unanimous decision loss against Nassourdine Imavov in Fight Night: Holm vs Aldana last October 2020 and a submission defeat against Mickey Gall at Fight Night: Sandhagen vs Dillashaw this past July.

Facing Garry, who earned his ticket into the UFC with his experience at Cage Warriors, Jordan says, "It’s going to be a technical match-up. He’s (Ian) a very good striker and his IQ is far from where his career is supposed to be. He mixes it up a lot. I like the match-up. It’s going to be a big match. At this point, I need to prove I belong."

He adds, "I need to derail his hype train and put myself on those tracks."

The man called "Bomaye" has a multi-faceted ancestry, having American, German, Nigerian, and Filipino ancestry. His Filipino heritage can be traced to his grandfather, who came over to the United States via the US Navy. Jordan is very much proud of his roots, showcasing all of them with tattoos on his right shoulder, or also known as his "heritage shoulder."

Jordan concludes, "I got into MMA because while wrestling in school, my friends and I saw Anderson Silva fight. He was such an inspiration. I would also like to draw inspiration and support from my Filipino roots this Sunday at UFC 268."

UFC 268, which is taking place inside the world-famous Madison Square Garden, will be available locally through the Premier Sports Channel, which is on Channel 272 HD on Cignal and HD 176 or SD 140 (Mega Manila) or HD 761 or SD 307 on Sky. Make sure to check your cable provider for further details.

It is also available through the TapGo Premium Plus plan on the TapGo app, which one can avail at PhP 599/monthly.

UFC lands on TAP

Mixed martial arts fans need not worry in the aftermath of Disney's decision to shut down its channels in Asia.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship has found a new home. This was made possible with a new partnership with TAP DMV, allowing its content to be shown on its OTT platform TAP Go, as well as its linear channel Premier Sports. Terms for the deal were not disclosed, but it is for multiple years.

The partnership will effectively commence starting October 3 with UFC Fight Night: Santos vs Walker. All in all, 42 live UFC events, including twelve in pay-per-view and thirty UFC Fight Nights will be shown both on TAP Go and Premier Sports. Other UFC-related content will also be made available, like the upcoming Dana White's Contender Series Asia, as well as UFC Countdown, UFC Connected, and archival footage.

Kevin Chang, UFC Senior Vice President - Asia, shares "The Philippines has such a long history and love for combat sports, and UFC has had a tremendous following for many years. Now, more than ever before, our partnership with TAP GO and PREMIER SPORTS will give these fans variety and accessibility to the UFC."

TAP DMV Chief Technology Officer Gonzalo de Guia adds, "We are excited to bring the Filipino UFC fan all the terrific action of the most exciting MMA organization in the world, UFC to TAP GO and PREMIER SPORTS. UFC fans are some of the most passionate and loyal fans and we plan to bring them an incredible menu of UFC content through our platforms. We can’t wait to get started."

Fight fans will be able to subscribe for the UFC with the TAP Go Premium Plus package, which is worth PhP 599 monthly. However, a special promotional deal for the month of October allows subscribers to avail of an introductory promo of PhP 1490 for three months. TAP DMV also expressed interest in crafting a UFC-specific package in the future. One can either download the app on Google Play or the Apple Store or go online at www.tapgo.tv and register.

Do check with your cable provider if the channels under the auspices of TAP DMV are available

Opportunity arises for Roel Rosauro in ONE: Revolution

Roel Rosauro

With the stacked featherweight division at ONE Championship, one has to take advantage of every opportunity to be able to move up the ranks.

One such standout will try to seize that chance and run with it.

Roel Rosauro is looking forward for that exact opportunity when he faces James Yang in the lead card of ONE: Revolution, which will take place on September 24 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

The Muay Thai specialist from Cebu says, "I expect it to be a bloody fight and may the best man win."

The man called "Akiyama" lost his first two fights in ONE Championship, suffering a first round submission defeat to Li Kai Wen in February 2018 and a unanimous decision to Sunoto three months later.

In spite of the back-to-back defeats, Roel continued to hone his craft, earning a gold medal at the 2018 Philippine International Jiujitsu Open, followed by a silver medal at the Philippine National Games. Those efforts eventually bore fruit with his first win in ONE Championship in January 2020, earning a unanimous decision victory over Yohan Mulia Legowo.

It was a match that fight fans were able to witness what Rosauro is capable of, using strikes, body shots, and low kicks to impress the judges.

Unfortunately for him, the COVID-19 pandemic halted the momentum the victory would have provided. The introduction of quarantine protocols limited movement and restricted activities, including training, since gyms were forced to be closed. It was something that Roel readily acknowledged. "My training has been on and off because of the pandemic. Some days, the gym would be open, but most of the time, it's closed. Sometimes, I'm forced to train at my home, which is also a difficult task on its own."

Amidst those struggles, Rosauro has done all what he can do to prepare against Yang, who is making his professional debut after going unbeaten in five amateur fights. Among the things the Cebuano fine-tuned is his striking, which came in handy in his last fight, as well as his grappling.

When asked about his upcoming opponent, who trains with Demetrious Johnson at AMC Pankration, he shares, "I know he's a good fighter, so I have to really be at my best. But I'm not worried at all because I know all I need is to give it my best."

Rosauro knows that a victory would allow him to move closer to the top contenders in the division, which includes the likes of former two-division champion Martin Nguyen, Christian Lee, and Garry Tonon, and led by its current champion Thanh Le.

Olsim rooting for Zamboanga in ONE: Empower

A tweak in the card forced Team Lakay fighter Jenelyn Olsim out of the historic all-female ONE Championship mixed martial arts event: ONE: Empower this week.

"The Graceful" had been slated to face off against Grace Cleveland as one of two alternate bouts planned for the event on Friday night, but the American fighter had to bow out due to injury.

Even if it was arranged as an alternate bout, Olsim saw that matchup against the "Thai Kitten" as a golden opportunity for the world to witness what she can do at the atomweight division, especially with the centerpiece of ONE: Empower being the Women's Atomweight World Grand Prix.

The 24-year old was understandably devastated upon learning the news of the cancellation of her fight. She says, "It's just so sad. I, together with my team, were really preparing hard for this match."

Olsim was fresh from securing an impressive victory over Bi Nguyen at ONE: Battleground III, which had been shown on August 27, a performance that earned her a spot on the card as an alternate. Unfortunately, her American opponent had to bow out due to a potential case of vertigo. Cleveland went on social media platform to share her perspective.

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A post shared by Grace Cleveland (@thai_kitten)

Amidst that disappointment, Olsim and her camp shared their concerns about their opponent's condition and wished for her speedy recovery.

Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao shares, "The whole team is praying for the fast and complete recovery of Grace Cleveland. Nobody wants to see these things happening, especially if it's a medical issue. So we can only pray that she can recover and that's really the most important thing for us at this time." He adds, "Yes, it's unfortunate because we were all looking forward to this fight and Jenelyn has really been training hard for this. But we fully understand the situation and all we're after is everyone's health and well being."

Even if her fight remains cancelled, Olsim remains fully prepared in case she gets the call to take someone's place in the Grand Prix. She says, "I'm staying positive despite what happened. I know that I am still an eligible alternate for the Grand Prix, and I know that there's still a lot of opportunities awaiting me, so I just have to be prepared every time."

Both Olsim and Sangiao also showed their support and wished the best of luck towards Denice Zamboanga, who is participating in the Grand Prix as one of the eight hopefuls. The so-called "Lycan Queen" will face the fifth-ranked atomweight contender Seo Hee Ham.

When asked about that particular matchup, Sangiao says, "Denice and Seo Hee Ham are both driven to win the Grand Prix, but I have to side with Denice. I believe that Denice has really prepared so much for this match and I can see that she will do everything just to win this match and the Grand Prix. So as fellow Filipinos, we're here to support her and looking forward to her next matches."

ONE: Empower is ONE Championship’s historic, all-female fight card featuring only women -- the first for a major global martial arts organization. In the main event, reigning ONE Women’s Strawweight World Champion “The Panda” Xiong Jing Nan defends her World Title against #2-ranked strawweight contender, Michelle Nicolini. The card will be shown locally through One Sports starting at 730pm.

Historic ONE: Empower event set for September 3

ONE: Empower

After being postponed due to the pandemic, ONE Championship has released a new date for its historic mixed martial event, ONE: Empower.

Originally booked for a late May date, the first all-women's fight card hosted by a major mixed martial arts outfit is scheduled to take place on September 3 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

The main event features Xiong Jing Nan defending her ONE Women's Strawweight title against 2nd-ranked Michelle Nicolini, but the highlight lies with the four quarterfinal matchups that comprise the ONE Women's Atomweight World Grand Prix.

Top-ranked atomweight contender Denice Zamboanga faces fifth-ranked Seo Hee Ham, with the latter making her ONE Championship debut.

Second-ranked Meng Bo takes on Ritu Phogat, with the Indian contender fresh from a victory against Lin Heqin.

Alyona Rassohyna and Stamp Fairtex face each other in a rematch from February.

Itsuki Hirata going up against ONE Championship newcomer Alyse Anderson.

Completing the main card for ONE: Empower is a kickboxing duel between Anissa Meksen and Cristina Morales.

For the lead card, Filipino-American striking sensation Jackie Buntan will go up against Daniela Lopez in the main feature as a ONE Super Series Muay Thai matchup.

Serving as a World Grand Prix alternate bout is a fight featuring Mei Yamaguchi and Julie Mezabarba, with another fight to be finalized by the end of ONE: Battleground III, as the winner of Bi Nguyen and Jenelyn Olsim gets to clash with Grace Cleveland.

The complete ONE: Empower card is as follows:

ONE Women’s Strawweight World Championship
(C) Xiong Jing Nan vs. (2) Michelle Nicolini
Strawweight: 52.3 KG–56.7 KG

Mixed Martial Arts – Atomweight World Grand Prix
(1) Denice Zamboanga vs. Seo Hee Ham
Atomweight: 47.7 KG–52.2 KG

Mxed Martial Arts – Atomweight World Grand Prix
(4) Stamp Fairtex vs. (3) Alyona Rassohyna
Atomweight: 47.7 KG–52.2 KG

Mixed Martial Arts – Atomweight World Grand Prix
(2) Meng Bo vs. Ritu Phogat
Atomweight: 47.7 KG–52.2 KG

Mixed Martial Arts – Atomweight World Grand Prix
Itsuki Hirata vs. Alyse Anderson
Atomweight: 47.7 KG–52.2 KG

Kickboxing
Anissa Meksen vs. Cristina Morales
Atomweight: 47.7 KG–52.2 KG

LEAD CARD

Muay Thai
Jackie Buntan vs. Daniela Lopez
Strawweight: 52.3 KG–56.7 KG

Mixed Martial Arts – Atomweight World Grand Prix Alternate
Mei Yamaguchi vs. Julie Mezabarba
Atomweight: 47.7 KG–52.2 KG

Mixed Martial Arts – Atomweight World Grand Prix Alternate
Bi Nguyen/Jenelyn Olsim vs. Grace Cleveland
Atomweight: 47.7 KG–52.2 KG

Lipeng extends Folayang's ONE Championship woes

 

Zhang Lipeng

ONE Championship became witness to an impressive debut, as Chinese veteran Zhang Lipeng made a successful debut with the outfit on Friday night.

Lipeng secured a unanimous decision victory over Eduard Folayang at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, capping off five exciting mixed martial arts matchups.

Zhang applied pressure early, taking Folayang to the ground successfully and controlling him on the mat. After securing the Filipino icon’s back, Zhang pounded away while threatening with a rear-naked choke.

Folayang tried to swing the momentum in the second round, using low kicks to chop his opponent’s legs. But Zhang made crucial adjustments and took the action back to the ground with a blast double.

In the third and final frame, Folayang had more success defending the takedowns as he continued to work Zhang’s legs. But a huge slam toward the end of the round sealed the deal for the Chinese stalwart. All three judges scored the bout for Zhang to win by unanimous decision.

Also lasting the distance is the matchup between Alex Silva and Miao Li Tao. Silva, the former ONE Strawweight World Champion utilized his expert grappling to stifle his Chinese opponent on the mat and earn a clear-cut unanimous decision. Silva threatened with submissions early in the first round, catching Miao in a deep armbar attempt. The grappling dominance continued in the second and third frames, allowing the Brazilian to pull ahead on the scorecards.

The heavyweight clash between Thomas Narmo and Alain Ngalani ended in a no-contest, after the latter committed an unintentional foul that left the Norwegian fighter unable to continue in the second round.

Eko Roni Saputra needed just ten seconds to finish his matchup against Liu Peng Shuai, as the Indonesian rising star landed a dynamite right hand to force a historic quick conclusion. The victory was Saputra's fifth consecutive first round stoppage, and is the fastest in the history of the flyweight division for ONE Championship.

Opening the card was Rahul Raju securing a second round submission victory over Otgonbaatar Nergui. After withstanding a strong and aggressive approach from his Mongolian opponent in the first round, Raju rode on his grappling in the next one, eventually setting up a rear-naked choke to secure the win.

The official results for ONE: Battleground II are as follows:

Mixed Martial Arts - Lightweight: Zhang Lipeng def. Eduard Folayang via Unanimous Decision
Mixed Martial Arts - Strawweight: Alex Silva def. Miao Li Tao via Unanimous Decision
Mixed Martial Arts - Heavyweight: Thomas Narmo vs. Alain Ngalani - No Contest (NC)
Mixed Martial Arts - Flyweight: Eko Roni Saputra def. Liu Peng Shuai via Knockout (KO) at 0:10 of Round 1
Mixed Martial Arts - Lightweight: Rahul Raju def. Otgonbaatar Nergui via Submission (Rear-naked Choke) at 3:54 of Round 2