Kevin Belingon is Not Letting Go of Position as Top Bantamweight Contender

For the past four outings of Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon inside the ONE Championship cage, the Filipino knockout artist has proven himself as the next worthy contender for the coveted ONE Bantamweight World Championship.

However, Belingon is having a slight detour towards his goal to meet division kingpin Bibiano Fernandes in a rematch as he has been booked to duke it out with American veteran Andrew Leone.

Both men are slated to face each other in a three-round bantamweight affair in the main event of ONE: HEROES OF HONOR, which takes place at the 20,000-seater SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines on 20 April.

“I will be back in action again this April. I am excited because the bout will be held in Manila. It favors me because it is always a delightful experience to perform in front of my countrymen at the Mall of Asia Arena,” Belingon said.

Many cageside pundits believe that Belingon did enough to earn a date with Fernandes, who successfully defended his gold-plated strap against two-division world champ Martin Nguyen by way of split decision last 24 March.

Ever since yielding to Fernandes in January 2016, Belingon has run through his recent opposition by piling up four-straight stellar victories.

“Like any other martial artist in this promotion, my goal is to become world champion. I was given a shot at the title a few years ago, but I fell short against Bibiano Fernandes. I want another shot at the title. I have been working very hard to make sure I keep winning,” Belingon stated.

Belingon hails from the acclaimed Team Lakay in Baguio City, which has produced its fair share of world champions such as Eduard Folayang, Honorio Banario and Geje Eustaquio.

With his feared Wushu striking, Belingon plans on booking a second crack at the ONE Bantamweight World Championship with a victory over Leone.

“I am coming for that belt, and no one can stop me. Whoever they put in front of me, I will be looking to destroy. I am a man on a mission. I want to show everybody that I am the real title challenger-in-waiting,” he declared.

However, it will not be an easy task for Belingon as Leone is poised to take the Filipino’s stature as the rightful contender to vie for the coveted world title.

The 28-year-old native of Cortland, New York is no stranger to Fernandes as he once shared the ONE Championship cage with the Brazilian champion in August 2017.

Leone is similarly looking to secure another world championship opportunity after bowing down to Fernandes via first-round submission.

Belingon revealed that his main objective at ONE: HEROES OF HONOR is to keep his status as the No. 1-ranked bantamweight contender in the organization.

“I know what’s at stake here, and I know I have to beat Andrew Leone to get another shot at the title. I have to continue to give fans what they want and to leave nothing to chance. The title is within reach. I will beat Andrew Leone, and continue my march towards the belt,” he stressed.

Despite winning his three assignments in 2017, Belingon seeks to be more impressive this time around as he takes on Leone, who is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a highly-decorated wrestler.

Although he expects Leone to fully utilize his upper hand in the grappling department, Belingon is not worried as he made it a priority to concentrate on improving his wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu.

“After working on my wrestling and grappling over the past couple of years, I have really improved. Because of this improved grappling, my striking can be showcased even more,” he explained.

Belingon bared that he has watched Leone’s encounter with Fernandes and is confident that he possesses the power to finish the American standout.

“Andrew is a tough fighter, and I think his strength is on the ground. I will not hesitate to grapple with him. However, if he wants to stand and bang with me, I won’t hesitate to strike with him. I have the better chance of finishing the bout in the stand-up,” he warned.

Even though competing for the ONE Bantamweight World Championship title remains as his top priority, Belingon clarified that his current focus is fixed on his cage clash with Leone at ONE: HEROES OF HONOR.

“My opponent is not easy, and I am not taking him for granted, which is why I am completely focused on my upcoming bout this April 20. I need to be at my absolute best, so I can turn in another great performance for the fans,” he conveyed.

The stakes are incredibly high for Belingon, unveiling that he is preparing himself to be in the best shape of his life.

Belingon knows that each win from here on out is another step closer to the ONE Bantamweight World Championship belt.

“I know I will meet Bibiano again in that cage. There is not a day that has passed that I have not thought about that first bout against him. I am ready to face the champion. I am ready, more than ever. But for now, my goal to win and defeat Andrew Leone. I want to keep my dream alive,” he concluded.

​For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.​ ​ ​

Rich Franklin's ONE Warrior Series to Host Inagural Event in Singapore on March 31

Singapore: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced the inaugural event of Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series, which will be held in Singapore on 31 March. The live spectacle features prospects signed on during the show who will compete in professional bouts to earn a contract with ONE Championship exceeding US $100,000+ based on performance.

Rich Franklin, Vice President of ONE Championship and CEO of ONE Warrior Series, stated: “It is my honor to announce the first ONE Warrior Series event to be held in Singapore. We’ve visited many great Asian nations over the past few months and now have a solid group of competitors ready to earn their time in the spotlight. Asia is the hotbed of the industry’s top martial arts prospects. I have enjoyed taking in all that Asia has to offer, while discovering some of the most promising young talent on this side of the world. ONE Championship and ONE Warrior Series will continue to search for the region’s best martial artists and give them a platform to showcase their skills to the world.”

Rich Franklin's ONE Warrior Series is a new travel series talent search which runs in 30-minute episodes. The show aims to discover new martial arts talent across Asia, providing promising young athletes with the platform to unleash their martial arts greatness. Franklin, who serves as the show’s host, travels across the Asian continent with co-host Jonathan Fong, searching for talent, experiencing local cultures and testing their boundaries.

The screening and tryouts process consists of pad sessions, grappling demonstrations, conditioning exams, and an interview process, among others. Once selected, athletes will compete in professional bouts with a chance at earning a contract with ONE Championship exceeding US $100,000+ based on performance. The episodes of Rich Franklin's ONE Warrior Series are available on ONE Championship’s YouTube channel athttps://www.youtube.com/user/OneFCMMA

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

About ONE Championship™

ONE Championship is the largest global sports media property in Asian history. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE Championship is the home of martial arts and is the world's largest martial arts organization, hosting bouts across all styles of martial arts such as Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Karate, Kung Fu, Silat, Sanda, Lethwei, Mixed Martial Arts, Tae Kwon Do, Submission Grappling, and more. The world’s most exciting martial arts organization hosts the largest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world's best martial artists and world champions, all signed to exclusive contracts, on the largest media broadcast in Asia. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 1.7-billion potential viewers across 136 countries around the world with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Bandsports, Startimes, Premier Sports, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, OSN, and more.

*This is Press Release

ColorManila Brings the Exciting CM Paradise Run Franchise to Clark, Pampanga

ColorManila, the country’s number one fun-run organizer, brought its newest franchise - CM Paradise Run to Clark, Pampanga, last March 18, 2018.

The event was co-presented by Honda, with Clark Development Corporation (CDC), as the official venue partner; which served as host to the first CM Paradise Run concept held outside of Manila, to the delight of over 3,000 runners who joined the event.

ColorManila’s VP Justine Cordero says, “It’s the first time that we brought the CM Paradise Run franchise outside of Manila, and it is only fitting to bring it here to Clark, Pampanga.  Clark happens to be currently our biggest market outside of Manila, and for the past 18 months alone, we’ve had around 20,000 runners in our various events held here.”

The CM Paradise Run - Clark leg, co-presented by Honda, gave the runners an early feel of a summer escape to the beach or to paradise, with the various color stations adorned with palm trees, hammocks and garlands, which only served as a perfect backdrop to their selfies with friends and family.

After the race, thousands of runners got to experience the freshest and newest mixes of the DJ’s at ColorManila’s trade mark CM Color Festival, where color powder was thrown in the air as the participants danced and grooved to the music of DJ’s on stage.

After CM Paradise Run Clark, ColorManila will head off to Laoag on March 24 for CM Paradise Run - Laoag leg, and Laguna for the CM Paradise Run - Laguna leg on April 8, 2018, which will be held at Greenfield, its official venue partner.

CM Paradise Run for both the Laoag leg on March 24 and Laguna leg on April 8, have three (3) race distances, 3K, 5K and 10K.  As for the kits, runners for both events can choose from the Deluxe Kit, Rockstar Kit and the Superstar Kit.

The Deluxe Kit, which is priced at P750, comes with a dri-fit shirt, sunglasses, race bib, color packet and a finisher’s medal.

While the Rockstar Kit, priced at P1,050, comes with a dri-fit shirt, sunglasses, race bib, color packet, finisher’s medal, drawstring bag and headwear.

Finally, the Superstar Kit, priced at P1,500, comes with a dri-fit shirt, sunglasses, race bib, color packet, finisher’s medal, drawstring bag, headwear and a finisher’s singlet.

Registration is still ongoing for both CM Paradise Run - Laoag leg and CM Paradise Run - Laguna leg. For more information, visit www.colormanila.com.


***

ABOUT COLORMANILA:


ColorManila encourages everyone to run, and to illustrate to non-runners how enjoyable the sport is, we bring out the real fun in the ‘fun’ run, through a color festival.  We are the paintbrushes, and You are the Paint. We carry the palette but You make your own Strokes. You become the human canvas, as we literally bring out your most energetic and happiest hue.

You are the Color, the human Canvas. You are the bits and pieces of this kaleidoscope. Because life is not a competition. Rather, it is a race where you run at your own pace, where you throw high-fives to people, where you carry all the colors of your experiences. We make this as the most exciting fun run ever, that you’d want to do it over and over again. We want to give you that unique kaleidoscope experience every time!

Visit www.colormanila.com for more information.

Jr. NBA Philippines 2018 Continues Search for Talented Young Ballers Nationwide

Jr. NBA coaches led by Coach Carlos Barroca were assisted by 2016 Jr. NBA All-Star and Alaska Ambassador Julian Alfonso Jugo who facilitated drills at various skills stations of the Jr. NBA Regional Selection Camp. More than 1,100 young ballers aged 10-14 from the North Luzon region travelled to Benguet State University to showcase their skills and secure a slot in the National Training Camp of Jr. NBA Philippines 2018 presented by Alaska from May 18-20.  Jugo shared his valuable experience with the Jr. NBA aspirants, inspiring the campers to excel on and off the court. The fourth and final Regional Selection Camp this year will be staged April 21-22 at Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati, Metro Manila.

ASICS RELAY 2018

The 2nd edition of ASICS Relay is back in 2018, bigger and better! Nothing is more fun & rewarding than entering this relay race with a few of your favourite running buddies. Keeping true to our belief that teamwork precedes individual ability, ASICS Relay 2018 is the perfect relay race to accomplish something memorable with the people that matter!

Gather your team of 4 and join us in Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore!

Asics Relay 2018 Kicks Off in Philippines

Receive a complimentary team slot when you purchase any regular-priced footwear!

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Promotion is valid from 14 March 2018 to 14 April 2018.

• Promotion is only valid with purchase of any regular priced ASICS footwear products.

• Promotion is valid on first come, first served policy, and while promo codes last.

• Promotion is available only in ASICS GREENBELT 3, ASICS TWO PARKADE, ASICS AYALA CEBU and ASICS TRINOMA.

• The complimentary team slot is valid for a team of 4 runners to participate in any category in the ASICS Relay Philippines 2018.

• Participants will be required to register online at www.asics.com/asics-relay -- using the promo code before registration closes on 27 April 2018.

• Sonak Corporation reserves the right to withdraw the promotion or amend these Terms and Conditions without prior notice.

Last Call for Runners to Sign Up for ColorManila's CM Paradise Run Clark and CM Paradise Run Laoag!

ColorManila, the country’s number one fun-run organizer, which dominated headlines in various countries early January for CM Paradise Run, will now bring the same exciting franchise to Clark, Pampanga, this Sunday, on March 18, and to Laoag on March 24, 2018.

As for the experience that runners can look forward to, expect CM Paradise Run to take you through various color stations with palm trees, garlands and hammocks in the race route serving as backdrop to the paradise atmosphere.  This will be capped off with the CM Color Festival, where runners will get to groove and dance to the fresh music of the DJ, as everyone simultaneously throws colored powder in the air.

Popular actor and vlogger Xian Lim, was on of those spotted in the 21K race route early January at the SM MOA Grounds, enjoying the CM Paradise Run, along with thousands of other runners.  He in fact posted about his experience in his very own social media accounts.

ColorManila VP Justine Cordero says, “We are happy to bring the CM Paradise Run franchise to Clark and Laoag this March 2018.  We saw how the over 10,000 participants enjoyed this treat last January, and we want those who are in Northern Luzon, such as Clark and Laoag, to get to try this fresh and exciting concept.”
  
Cordero continues, “This is also a perfect opportunity to bond with friends and family, a perfect IG-worthy experience, specially for those who are into social media posting.”

CM Paradise Run for both the Clark leg on March 18, and the Laoag leg on March 24, have three (3) race distances, 3K, 5K and 10K.  As for the kits, runners for both events can choose from the Deluxe Kit, Rockstar Kit and the Superstar Kit.  

The Deluxe Kit, which is priced at P750, comes with a dri-fit shirt, sunglasses, race bib, color packet and a finisher’s medal.

While the Rockstar Kit, priced at P1,050, comes with a dri-fit shirt, sunglasses, race bib, color packet, finisher’s medal, drawstring bag and headwear.

Finally, the Superstar Kit, priced at P1,500, comes with a dri-fit shirt, sunglasses, race bib, color packet, finisher’s medal, drawstring bag, headwear and a finisher’s singlet

Registration is still ongoing for both CM Paradise Run - Clark leg and CM Paradise Run - Laoag leg. For more information, visit www.colormanila.com.

***

ABOUT COLORMANILA:

ColorManila encourages everyone to run, and to illustrate to non-runners how enjoyable the sport is, we bring out the real fun in the ‘fun’ run, through a color festival.  We are the paintbrushes, and You are the Paint. We carry the palette but You make your own Strokes. You become the human canvas, as we literally bring out your most energetic and happiest hue.

You are the Color, the human Canvas. You are the bits and pieces of this kaleidoscope. Because life is not a competition. Rather, it is a race where you run at your own pace, where you throw high-fives to people, where you carry all the colors of your experiences. We make this as the most exciting fun run ever, that you’d want to do it over and over again. We want to give you that unique kaleidoscope experience every time!

Visit www.colormanila.com for more information.