Danny Kingad ‘Excited’ About Opportunity To Face Demetrious Johnson

When you talk about the flyweight division, one name tends to rise to the top of the discussion: Demetrious Johnson. For Danny Kingad, the opportunity set out before him at ONE: CENTURY this 13 October from Tokyo, Japan is the biggest and most important of his career to date. 

Kingad and Johnson will tangle in the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Championship Final, with the winner walking out of the Ryogoku Kokugikan with the ultimate prize. 

“I feel excited to face DJ,” Kingad said. “I am happy because I have been given the opportunity to compete against him. I have been through so many difficulties - both in my bouts and my training - to reach my dreams, to reach the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Championship Final.”

“The King” has scored a pair of decisions on his path in the World Grand Prix, toppling Senzo Ikeda and Reece McLaren. Interestingly enough, he holds decision wins over Johnson’s two opponents in Tatsumitsu Wada and Yuya Wakamatsu.

“This is my time to become a world champion,” Kingad said. “I am blessed and extremely happy because this is truly one of my goals in life.”

Kingad, a member of the famed Team Lakay, sports a six-bout win streak to his credit and is 11-1 overall. He made his debut in 2014 and signed with ONE Championship just two wins and two years later. 

The two World Grand Prix bouts have been the most difficult in the career of Kingad, but he was able to solve both mysteries of Ikeda and McLaren thanks to his ever-improving skills.

“(Ikeda) was really tough,” Kingad said. “No matter what I did, I just could not knock him down. In that bout, I dominated him. I showed my ground game and wrestling. 

“My bout with Reece was one of the hardest matches I have ever had because he was also a champion in another promotion. When we were in the ring, I focused on striking, but he did not want to strike with me. He was focused on takedowns, he really wanted to submit me. I focused on ground defense. He was not able to control me and he eventually got exhausted.

“I started to dominate him in both striking and on the ground. For me I did not feel pressure because it was in my hometown. My countrymen were cheering for me and that gave me motivation and determination”

Now, Kingad must put all of his tools together into one contest with Johnson - which he knows will be the ultimate test.

“People were saying our ground game has improved, but we are striving to further improve on our past mistakes,” he said. “Now we are well rounded. We can strike. We have a ground game. We have wrestling. I am excited to show the world the results of my hard work over the last two years.”

Honorio Banario Training Efficiently To Avoid Injuries

Honorio “The Rock” Banario will be returning to the biggest global stage of martial arts competition to face “Crazy Dog” Dae Sung Park at ONE: DAWN OF HEROES on August 2 in Manila, Philippines.

Banario recently fell to Hawaiian Elite MMA representative Lowen Tynanes in the first round of the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix at ONE: HERO’S ASCENT. 

Eyeing a return to the winner’s circle, “The Rock” has been training non-stop to give another great performance in front of his countrymen. He says his previous outing serves as a lesson, and that he vows to showcase his improvements moving forward.

“I find my match with Lowen [Tynanes] as somewhat bittersweet,” Banario said.

“I did my best in that match but Lowen proved to be the better man that night. He was quick in taking me down and I failed to defend myself on time. I have learned a lot from that match and I will be taking those lessons in my upcoming bout.”

Tynanes, Ariel Sexton, and Timofey Nastyukhin all had to pull out of the high-profile tournament due to injuries. Although he has already bowed out of the tournament, the Baguio City native is training efficiently with his stablemates at Team Lakay to avoid any injury. Banario is one of five Team Lakay athletes preparing for the blockbuster Manila event.

“Coach Mark always plans our daily training menu with our efficiency and safety in mind,” Banario said. 

“Even though there are five of us competing in Manila, we have always been training independently with our partners in the same weight division. We know the pressure coach Mark is feeling with roughly half of his athletes competing on the same night so we also do our part and train diligently.”

The former ONE Featherweight World Champion is eager to get back into action especially with his teammates sharing the stage in front of their Filipino fans.

“This is the perfect opportunity for me to win,” Banario concluded. 

“It is unfortunate that great athletes are getting injured and even though I’m out of the tournament, I will be doing my best to win on behalf of them as well as all the fans who are supporting us in my upcoming match.”

Eduard Folayang Gearing Up For Dream Match With Eddie Alvarez

Former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang will share the stage with American mixed martial arts legend Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez when the two square off in the main event of ONE: DAWN OF HEROES on August 2 in Manila.

Folayang, who has dreamed of a bout with Alvarez ever since “The Underground King” signed with ONE Championship last year, says he is ready for an intense battle with his American counterpart.

“I was very excited when I heard the news that Eddie Alvarez was next for me,” Folayang said.

“He’s one of the most well-known martial artists in the world. In many ways, he’s a legend. Sharing the ring with him is my honor and privilege. At the same time, I don’t plan on backing down. He deserves the best challenge and I’m going to give it to him. I’m here to represent Asia in this battle between the East and the West.”

Folayang is a few months removed from losing his lightweight title to Japanese legend Shinya Aoki at ONE: A NEW ERA. Alvarez was knocked out by Timofey Nastyukhin in his ONE debut on the same card.

Both men are out for redemption and both are looking at making a run at the ONE Lightweight World Title currently held by Christian Lee.

Folayang and Alvarez are two of the most dynamic offensive forces in the sport, and the Filipino veteran expects nothing but fireworks when the two share the ONE Championship ring at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“I’m going to go toe-to-toe with him. It’s going to be a war and a fight for the fans,” Folayang said.

“Everyone’s going to love what we will do in the ring. I think it will be one of the most exciting fights of the year. Eddie always comes to fight and I never back down from a challenge. I’m ready to go.”

The Baguio City native is putting all his focus on his upcoming bout. A win against an exceptional athlete like Alvarez would be a huge boost for his ascent back to the top spot. This is without a doubt Folayang’s biggest test. As such, “Landslide” is ready to turn in his most spectacular performance to date.

“I’m both spiritually and mentally ready for this fight,” Folayang concluded.

“Right now, we’re just polishing our skills, making sure I’m as sharp as possible on the day of the fight. No doubt, this is going to be one of the biggest challenges of my career. I never imagined I would be able to face a really big name and one of the most popular fighters in the world. I have to be on point so I can give a good performance. I have to be accurate and precise with my techniques.”

Government, Public Sectors Kick Off Support for Athletes, Para Athletes in First-Ever Unity Walk

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) joined forces Saturday, June 22 at the College of Science Oval in UP Diliman to stage a unity event among various sports sectors to prepare for the coming Southeast Asian Games later this year and the ASEAN Para Games in 2020.

Billed as Olympic Day and Lakad Para Atleta 2019, the event witnessed for the first time ever, a unity walk of abled body athletes walking side by side with para athletes to give life to the event theme, “Unity and Transformation Through Sports.” The event was highlighted by a torch relay that featured five pairs of Olympians and Paralympians traversing the 500-meter oval, symbolizing inclusiveness and equality for all.

The torch relay culminated in a cauldron lighting ceremony followed by the Lakad Para Atleta Legacy Walk participated in by athletes and non-athletes, including a huge group from Citi Philippines as key supporter of PPC and the Paralympic movement. After the walk, the Philippine Olympians Association turned over seedlings to the University of the Philippines to express their advocacy that sports can be used for the betterment of the environment.

Exhibitions and participative activities followed in arnis, skateboarding, athletics, karate, underwater hockey, petanque and parasports like Braille Chess, Wheelchair Racing, Wheelchair Basketball and Para Athletics entertained attendees. A Body Combat session conducted by Fitness First turned the event into a sports fair.

“We are overwhelmed by the show of support from our partners in the government and private sectors, especially Citi Philippines. This is a big push for our national athletes who will be competing for the country in the upcoming SEA Games this November and the ASEAN Para Games in January 2020!,” said PPC President Michael Barredo.

For his part, Citi Philippines CEO Aftab Ahmed said that by supporting the event, Citi Philippines is expressing its corporate commitment. “Para Athletes are truly an inspiration as they overcome the odds to achieve and excel with courage and determination. Today is an opportunity for us to become advocates of their cause, so that we can break down the perceptions around disability and push for inclusion and equality for all.”

Olympic Day is an annual global event of the Olympic Movement that promotes the sharing of the Olympic Ideals, its Olympic Day pillars of Move, Learn, and Discover and the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship, and Respect. The event was introduced in 1948 to commemorate the birth of the modern Olympic Games in June 1894 at the Sorbonne in Paris.


Around 3,000 people from all walks of life registered for the event.

TORCH BEARERS: (OLYMPIAN + PARALYMPIAN)

Elma Muros Posadas – Queen of Long Jump, 1984, 1996

Andy Avellana – Athletics, 2012

Roel Velasco – Boxing Bronze Medalist 1992

Ernie Gawilan – Swimming, 2016

Christine Jacob Sandejas – Swimming 1984

Jerrold Mangliwan – Wheelchair Racing, 2012

Stephan Fernandez – Taekwondo 1992

Josephine Medina – Table Tennis, Bronze Medalist, 2016

Sen. Freddie Webb – Basketball 1972

Adeline Ancheta-Dumapong – Para Powerlifting, Bronze Medalist, 2020

NBA 2K LEAGUE REVEALS 198 PLAYERS VYING FOR 74 SPOTS AT THE 2019 NBA 2K LEAGUE DRAFT TOMORROW

NEW YORK, March 4, 2019 – The NBA 2K League today announced the pool of 198 players who will be eligible for the 2019 NBA 2K League Draft taking place tomorrow, Tuesday, March 5, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.   All 21 teams will complete their six-person roster at the four-round draft, which will begin at 5 p.m. ET and will be livestreamed on the league’s Twitch channel.

This year’s draft pool includes 22 international players from nine countries outside the U.S.: Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, New Zealand, the Philippines, Spain, and the United Kingdom.  A complete list of draft-eligible players is available here*.  Visit the NBA 2K League YouTube Channel to meet some of the members of this year’s class.

With the addition of four expansion teams, 126 players will compete in the NBA 2K League’s second season, and new this year, the number of draft-eligible players will exceed the spots available in the league through the draft.  During the offseason, 52 players from the inaugural season were retained or selected in the Expansion Draft, leaving 74 roster spots available.  The 198 draft-eligible players consist of 144 new players who were selected by the league following an extensive tryout process, six players from the league’s first-ever APAC Invitational that took place in Hong Kong in early February, and 48 unretained players from the inaugural season.

“I want to congratulate these 198 players on establishing themselves as among the best NBA 2K players in the world through a rigorous evaluation process,” said NBA 2K League Managing Director Brendan Donohue.  “We’re looking forward to an exciting draft day as we welcome a new class of players to the NBA 2K League family.”

By winning the NBA 2K League Draft Lottery, Jazz Gaming has the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA 2K League Draft.  The full draft order is available here.

For more information, fans can follow the NBA 2K League on Twitter (NBA2KLeague), Instagram (nba2kleague) and Facebook (NBA 2K League) and visit NBA2KLeague.com.

*Draft pool is subject to change

**Qualified through NBA 2K League APAC Invitational

About the NBA 2K League 

The NBA 2K League, a professional esports league co-founded by the NBA and Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO), launched in 2018 and features the best NBA 2K players in the world.  Each of the league’s 21 teams features six players who compete as unique characters in 5-on-5 play against the other teams in a mix of regular-season games, in-season tournaments and playoffs.  Knicks Gaming won the first-ever NBA 2K League Finals on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018.  For more information about the NBA 2K League, visit NBA2KLeague.com.

Eduard Folayang Looking For Another Decisive Finish Against Shinya Aoki

ONE Championship pulled out all the stops when they put together the complete card for their first ever live event in Japan, ONE: A NEW ERA. Headlining the blockbuster event is a ONE Lightweight World Title bout between reigning champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang of the Philippines and local hero Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki.

The iconic Ryōgoku Kokugikan will host one of the most highly-anticipated rematches in recent memory, and though news of the event’s proceedings has created an unmistakable buzz and excitement, it is Folayang who is most excited about his next outing.

“Of course, I am happy to be part of the first event in Japan, especially because of how big this is going to be,” Folayang said.

“Just looking at the card, it’s undeniable that this is the biggest event of the promotion yet.”

They first squared off back in November 2016 where Folayang spent the majority of the first two rounds fending off Aoki’s vaunted grappling. In the third round, Folayang connected on a flying knee as Aoki was coming in, sending his Japanese foe reeling towards the cage. There, he unleashed a rain of punches until the referee called a halt to the contest.

Folayang mentioned that nothing much has changed in his preparations for the Japanese submission artist except for the fact that he will be the one defending the title this time around.

“The only difference right now is that I’m the one defending the World Title, so as much as possible, my mind is set on preparing to the best of my abilities to guarantee a favorable result,” Folayang said.

“Tobikan Judan” is loosely translated to ‘The Grandmaster of Flying Submissions’, of which Aoki has become known for over the years with his flashy flying armbars and unorthodox submission techniques.

After winning his last three bouts in the first round, two by submission and one by knockout, Aoki is poised to give Folayang another stiff challenge. The Filipino acknowledges this and maintains he is better prepared this time around.

“He finished all his opponents in the first round, so that means he’s really determined and prepared to reclaim his belt,” Folayang said.

“I think he’s still the best at what he does, which is grappling, and that’s where I need to be more careful now more than ever.”

This time around, Folayang feels much more comfortable however. Destroying the aura of mystique surrounding Aoki in 2016, the Filipino stalwart is more confident in his abilities and has become somewhat of a legend himself.

Folayang has become so confident, that he hints at beating Aoki at his own game.

“I think I have an advantage because of my mental and spiritual strength,” Folayang said.

“I have improved quite a bit myself, especially with the simple details in technique for takedowns and the ground game. With striking, I am constantly perfecting my accuracy and timing, so I had that time to sharpen them further.

“As much as possible, I won’t let it go to the scorecards. Personally, I want to predict that I’ll win via submission.”

The three time ONE Lightweight World Champion has been garnering accolades long before he embarked on a professional career in mixed martial arts, in international wushu competitions no less. But his experience with ONE Championship took him to a whole new level.

Folayang is grateful for the opportunity provided by the promotion and he plans to show fans and people who are inspired by his career by giving the best performance of his life.

“It’s huge, especially for those who aspire to become World Champions or martial artists because they could see that there is a stage where they can perform if they keep working on their craft,” Folayang concluded

“It’s truly an honor to be an instrumental part of the rise of martial arts in the Philippines."

WRESTLING CHAMPION RITU PHOGAT JOINS ONE CHAMPIONSHIP

The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced that it has signed women’s wrestling sensation Ritu Phogat of India to a multiple-bout contract.

Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “At ONE Championship, we are constantly on the lookout for the world’s greatest martial arts talents, especially in Asia. Women’s wrestling sensation Ritu Phogat embodies the true values of martial arts and is a great fit for our organization. I would like to personally welcome Ritu to the ONE Championship family. I’m excited to share Ritu’s story with the world and to showcase Indian martial arts at the highest level, on the biggest global stage of martial arts competition in ONE Championship.”

Ritu Phogat, ONE Athlete, stated: “It is both an honor and a privilege to join ONE Championship, the best and biggest martial arts organization in the world. Wrestling will always be my first love, but I feel that it is time to expand my horizons. I am excited to compete against the best mixed martial artists in the world and to bring glory and pride to my home country. I also look to prove that Indian martial arts is truly world-class. Thank you, ONE Championship, for the opportunity to share my talent on the global stage.”

24-year-old Ritu Phogat is a champion wrestler and top women’s mixed martial arts prospect who hails from India. She comes from a family of martial artists and began training in wrestling at the age of eight under the guidance of her father Mahavir Singh Phogat. Ritu is a Commonwealth Wrestling Championships Gold Medalist, World U23 Wrestling World Championships Silver Medalist, Asian Wrestling Championships Bronze Medalist, and multiple-time Indian National Wrestling Champion.

Hailing from Haryana, Ritu is widely-regarded as one of India’s top sports superstars and one of the most talented wrestlers in the world. Her sisters Geeta, Babita Kumari, and Sangeeta, as well as cousin Vinesh, are also wrestling champions.

In 2016, Ritu bagged a gold medal at the Commonwealth Wrestling Championship held in Singapore. In 2017, she took home India’s first silver medal at the prestigious World U23 Wrestling Championships held in Poland. In 2018, she placed 5th at the Wrestling World Championships despite only being 24-years-old. Ritu now joins ONE Championship and looks to embark on a promising professional career in women’s mixed martial arts.

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 (ONE) is the largest global sports media property in Asian history, and the largest producer of millennial live sports content in Asia. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE 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. ONE hosts the biggest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world's best martial artists and world champions on the largest global media broadcast in Asia. ONE eSports, a subsidiary of ONE Championship, runs Asia's largest global eSports Championship Series with some of the biggest blockbuster game titles in the world. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 1.7 billion potential viewers across 138 countries with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Bandsports, Startimes, Premier Sports, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, OSN, Great Sports, Tencent, and more.

Jeremy Miado Places the Value of Respect in the Highest Regard

Filipino strawweight contender Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado values respect above everything else as a mixed martial artist.

In his next contest, Miado faces off against former foe Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke once more on 22 February at ONE: CALL TO GREATNESS.

Dejdamrong is a Muay Thai legend. In their first encounter in March 2018, Miado scored a scintillating first-round knockout of the Thai superstar. Many critics say that Miado may have gotten in a lucky punch, and that things will be different in this rematch.

The Filipino “Jaguar” merely shrugs off this kind of talk and harbors no ill-will towards his detractors nor his opponent.

“No matter which martial artist I go up against, whether he’s better than me or not, I should respect him as a martial artist,” Miado said.

The Filipino took Muay Thai while he was still pursuing a Criminology degree in college. With the bond he developed with his coach, he learned a valuable lesson that is more important than punching and kicking.

“My coach back in Bicol, Dante Madrideo [taught me the value of respect],” Miado said.

“He was my first coach who really took me under his wing.”

The gym where he used to train embodied just that as he treated everyone with utmost respect. He rather be remembered as a respectful athlete rather than for his professional record.

“Not just as a martial artist, but as a regular person, respect is important. You won’t get respect if you don’t know how to give it,” Miado said.

“In the cage, if you don’t display this value, win or lose, people will not care. If you won, then good for you, but if you lost, then they would say that you had it coming.

“If you respect the people around you, win or lose, people will be proud of what you did in the cage. You can’t be respectful in the cage and be a different person in everyday life.”

Miado feels at home with ONE Championship as he shares the same values with the company who employs him. He also finds the promotion an avenue to display and share these values.

“ONE Championship is a huge platform where millions of people are watching,” Miado said.

“If you display this value, people will respect you just the same.

“It is especially true against any opponent because you’re not really enemies outside the cage. Competing against each other is what we do, it is our sport, but outside of the cage, we’re all friends.”

As Miado faces the former ONE Strawweight World Champion, he still holds onto immense respect for the highly-decorated Evolve MMA representative.

“I have great respect for him, because when I was starting, I was looking up to him,” he explains.

“It is a huge honor for me to be able to be on the opposite side of the cage (ring) competing against him. That’s why I want to do my best in our match.”

As the day of their rematch approaches, Miado looks tol put on a performance worthy of the respect of his fans and opponent.

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 (ONE) is the largest global sports media property in Asian history, and the largest producer of millennial live sports content in Asia. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE 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. ONE hosts the biggest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world's best martial artists and world champions on the largest global media broadcast in Asia. ONE eSports, a subsidiary of ONE Championship, runs Asia's largest global eSports Championship Series with some of the biggest blockbuster game titles in the world. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 1.7 billion potential viewers across 138 countries with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Bandsports, Startimes, Premier Sports, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, OSN, Great Sports, Tencent, and more.