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​Ahead of clash vs Pinoy upset specialist, Kritsada Kongsrichai turns heartbreak into motivation

It is most likely that Thai prospect Kritsada Kongsrichai endured the most heartbreaking setback an up-and-coming mixed martial artist could suffer in his budding professional career when he competed in front of his countrymen this past March. Kongsrichai was declared the victor and received the nominal medal, including his guaranteed purse with win bonus, but less than 24 hours later, his triumph was revoked and overturned by the top brass of ONE Championship. The 26-year-old native of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand originally earned a technical knockout victory over Robin Catalan at ONE: IRON WILL three months ago as he slammed his Filipino opponent and finished him off with follow-up punches at the 1:40 mark of the first round. Catalan was a recipient of a high-angle belly-to-back suplex that saw him crash his head first to the canvas. However, company head honcho Chatri Sityodtong issued a statement via Facebook after the event that the move was illegal, and as a result, ...

ONE CHAMPIONSHIP ATHLETES FACE OFF IN MACAU AHEAD OF ONE: PINNACLE OF POWER

Adriano Moraes, ONE Flyweight World Champion, stated: “The most important thing in this sport is what we can give back to it. It is a learning journey, and I want to pass my knowledge forward for the future. If I can do this by inspiring fans with my performances, then I am happy. It is all about balance. This Saturday night, I am facing a great warrior in Geje Eustaquio, a man whom I respect as a person and as a competitor in this sport. He is coming with his best, and it is only proper to give him my best performance as well. This is going to be a showdown between two top-level martial artists. May the best man win.” Geje Eustaquio, ONE Interim Flyweight World Champion, stated: “I am proud to be recognized as one of the best flyweights in the world, but there can only be one ONE Flyweight World Champion, and by the end of the night, I am confident my hand will be raised in victory. This belt is important to me because it symbolizes all the hard work I have put in over the years ...

Edward Kelly fixes sights on another highlight-reel finish to establish world title contender status

After scoring a highlight-reel finish in his last bout, Filipino homegrown talent Edward “The Ferocious” Kelly looks for another scintillating performance as he is set to have his second scheduled match under the ONE Championship banner in 2018. Kelly will be squaring off with former ONE Featherweight World Champion Narantungalag “Tungaa” Jadambaa on the undercard of ONE: PINNACLE OF POWER, which takes place at the Studio City Event Center in Macau, China on June 23. The 34-year-old Baguio City native eyes a follow-up to his 21-second knockout win over Cambodia’s Meas Meul this past January. At the opening bell, Kelly engaged Meul at the center of the cage and connected on a quick three-punch combination before unleashing the final blow that sent Meul face first into the canvas. Kelly now owns both the fastest knockout and finish in ONE Championship’s featherweight division, with the scorching stoppage going viral around the world. “I am a martial artist who always looks f...

Jr. NBA All Star Thirdy Ravena Inspires Newest Batch of Jr. NBA Aspirants

Jr. NBA All-Star (2011) Thirdy Ravena engages the National Training Camp participants of the Jr. NBA Philippines 2018 presented by Alaska on their first training day with NBA player Willie Cauley-Stein of the Sacramento Kings. The league’s global youth basketball participation program for boys and girls that teaches fundamental skills and the core values of Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude and Respect, is now in the process of selecting the newest All-Stars of Jr. NBA Philippines 2018 presented by Alaska. WNBA Hall of Famer and 3-time MVP Sheryl Swoopes is also in Manila for the Jr. NBA Philippines program. The top eight boys and eight girls who will follow the footsteps of previous All-Stars like Kobe Paras, Ricci Rivero, Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Kib Montalbo, Kai Sotto and Aljon Mariano, will be announced today (Sunday, May 20) at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall. *This is Press Release

Ahead of Friday’s star-studded card, ONE Championship forms partnership with SGX

With the entire international martial arts community agog over ONE Championship’s star-studded card in Singapore on Friday, 18 May, the promotion struck a monumental deal ahead of its much-awaited live event by announcing its partnership with Singapore Exchange (SGX). The joint venture between ONE Championship and SGX was formally announced at a press conference, which happened on Wednesday, 16 May at the SGX Centre in Singapore. SGX welcomed ONE Championship as its official fitness partner for its “Bull Charge” charity initiative this 2018. “We are delighted to welcome ONE Championship on this meaningful journey. Through martial arts, they have captured the imagination of millions and inspired young people to become champions in their own way,” said Chew Sutat, who is the SGX Bull Charge Chairman and Head of Equities & Fixed Income. SGX Bull Charge, a flagship corporate charity initiative by the investment holding enterprise, was launched in 2004 to br...

Olympic Gold Medalist Joseph Schooling Named Ambassador of ONE Championship

The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced that it has appointed Joseph Schooling as exclusive Ambassador of ONE Championship, supporting his favorite ONE Championship athletes on social media or in person when his schedule permits. Lucky fans may also get the chance to see Joseph in person. Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “I am pleased to announce that ONE Championship has just named beloved Singaporean sports hero Joseph Schooling our Ambassador. Joseph is a tremendous athlete, and a wonderful young man who embodies the true values of ONE Championship. He is the perfect example of how, with hard work and dedication, we can achieve many great things. I am very proud of this young man for what he has accomplished at such a young age, and happy for him to be a part of the growing ONE Championship family.” Joseph Schooling, ONE Championship Ambassador, stated: “Partnering with ONE Ch...

Singapore is the best place to start again for Filipino hero Eduard Folayang

Former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang had a memorable trip to Singapore nearly two years ago when he hoisted an intricately-crafted hardware above his head in celebration after claiming the biggest victory of his professional career. Folayang’s world title-clinching performance against Shinya Aoki at ONE: DEFENDING HONOR in November 2016 was a win that no one ever expected, but what made it more spectacular was how the beloved Filipino superstar defeated the Japanese mixed martial arts legend with his bare hands. In the third round, Folayang thwarted the Japanese veteran by driving a hard knee to the head before unleashing a barrage of punches to coerce referee Yuji Shimada to wave it off. The manner by which Folayang beat a high-profile competitor like Aoki shocked the world because the latter has long been considered as the most dominant lightweight mixed martial artist in the Asian region for the better part of the last decade. Folayang will be...