Pinoy Active

Fans in the Philippines will witness all the action live as ONE Welterweight World Champion Ben “Funky” Askren returns to defend his title against hard-charging Russian opponent Nikolay Aleksakhin. Former NCAA Division I All-American, Ben Askren is a collegiate wrestling legend and one of the finest mixed martial artists in the world today. In just a few fights in ONE, Askren was able to seize the ONE Welterweight World Championship with a resounding technical knockout victory over Nobutatsu Suzuki. The highly-skilled Askren is widely considered to be the absolute best in his division and one of the best fighters in the world pound for pound. His next challenge is a tough one, as he goes head-to-head with Russia’s Nikolay Aleksakhin. Veteran welterweight from Russia, Nikolay Aleksakhin will make his highly-anticipated return to the ONE Championship cage in Manila this April. Aleksakhin was impressive in his debut for the promotion when he submitted Burenzorig Batmunkh with a rear naked...

Former three-time Lumpinee champion in Muay Thai, Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke went home to Thailand recently after living and working in Singapore to grace a press conference for ONE Championship’s “Kingdom of Champions” fight card which takes place May 27 at the Impact Arena in Bangkok. The reigning ONE Strawweight World Champion is the first world champion in mixed martial arts of Thai descent and is leading the charge for MMA in Thailand. “I have waited a long time for this. Coming home to Thailand and performing in front of my people has always been my greatest dream,” said Dejdamrong, who won the strawweight title with a 5-round technical decision over Filipino stalwart Roy “The Dominator” Doliguez last year. The unbeaten Dejdamrong is a Muay Thai master. He transitioned into MMA back in 2014 and hasn’t looked back since, stringing together six straight victories whilst capturing the title along the way. ONE Championship has brought Dejdamrong to places like Manila, Dubai, Jaka...

4 March 2016 – Manila: Two-time United Football League (UFL) Champion GLOBAL FC sent a powerful message to its opponent Ceres FC last Thursday night at Rizal Memorial Stadium, that they are out for glory.  Defending Champion Ceres FC was undefeated until their GLOBAL FC match. GLOBAL FC won 2-1 against Ceres in a match where everyone was on the edge of their seats.  GLOBAL FC players Milan Nikolic and Matthew Hartmann scored 1 goal each. Coach Leigh Manson predicted it right when he said after the Loyola win that, “In a game wherein Azkals play against other Azkals, nobody wants to lose that game.” Azkals players from GLOBAL FC Misagh Bahadoran, Daisuke Sato, Dennis Villanueva, Amani Aguinaldo and Patrick Deyto went against Ceres’ Stephan Schrock, Martin Steuble, Patrick Reichelt, Manny Ott and Kevin Ingreso. “We are continuing to have a formula and a plan that works for the team.  The players know their jobs when they go out, they also know what we expect from them....

The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), electrified the iconic Stadium Negara with another evening of world-class mixed martial arts action. Fight fans in Masdlaysia were on the edge of their seats as the best in local and international mixed martial arts talent battled it out inside the ONE Cage. In the Malaysia Warrior Bout main event, Malaysia’s own Ev “E.T.” Ting defeated the Philippines’ Eric “The Natural” Kelly by submission and took the time to call out reigning champion Marat Gafurov in the post-fight interview. In the Malaysia Warrior Bout main event, an exhausted Ev Ting pulled out a gutsy victory over Eric “The Natural” Kelly of the Philippines, winning by submission in round three. Ting dominated the striking exchanges throughout the bout, blasting Kelly with various combinations. Kelly spent most of his time defending against Ting’s aggression, biding his time and pacing himself for a distance finish. In the third, Ting latched on a sta...

HONG KONG, Jan. 28, 2016 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced today the formation of the Jr. NBA Asia Advisory Council as part of the league’s expanded efforts to encourage basketball participation and active lifestyles among children.  The council, which includes Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo, will provide direction on Jr. NBA’s development and accelerate the program’s growth with the goal of reaching more boys and girls across the region to help address and combat inactivity among youth.  The Jr. NBA Asia Advisory Council consists of prominent business and community leaders as well as basketball stakeholders from Asia.  In addition to Dikembe Mutombo, Jr. NBA Asia Advisory Council members include: CEO/Asia, Forbes Media William P. Adamopoulos; Boonrawd Brewery Co., Ltd. Executive Vice President and Director Chutinant Bhimrombhakdi; Westports Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. CEO Ruben Emir Gnanalingam; GDP Venture and Kaskus CEO Martin Basuki Hartono; Xebio Co., Ltd. ...

Eric Kelly: Nothing personal, just business Filipino mixed martial artists have come a long way. Together with the fast rise of the sport, Filipino fighters have upped their games to be able to compete on the world stage. Focus on the grappling arts has taken priority while still maintaining signature striking capabilities. Baguio City’s Eric “The Natural” Kelly (12-1) returns to the ONE Championship cage this Friday, January 29, at the Stadium Negara in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia against hometown favorite Ev “E.T. Ting (10-3). They will do battle in a three-round featherweight main event at ONE: CLASH OF HEROES that will bring the victor one step closer to a shot at the ONE Featherweight World Championship, held by reigning champion Marat “Cobra” Gafurov. “Training has gone well. I feel great. I’m ready,” said Kelly. “I feel strong and ready to bring honor to my country.” Kelly, considered one of the best Filipino fighters currently on offer, came very close to a title shot back in 2014, ...

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, Jan. 15, 2016 – The Jr. NBA /Jr. WNBA Philippines 2016 presented by Alaska will return to the Philippines for the ninth consecutive year from Jan. 23-April 24.  The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA program is free and open to boys and girls between the ages of 10-14.  Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA, the league’s global youth basketball participation program for boys and girls, teaches the fundamental skills as well as the core values of the game at the grassroots level in an effort to help grow and improve the youth basketball experience for players, coaches and parents.  During the 2015-16 season, the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA program will reach more than 6.5 million youth in 32 countries. The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines 2016 presented by Alaska is comprised of four stages: skills clinics in schools and communities, Regional Selection Camps, a National Training Camp and an NBA experience trip.  The skills clinics will be held nationwide from January through April with stops in Bukid...