Saturday, June 01, 2013
No Holds Barred: Japanese Fighters Rise to Power at ONE FC in the Philippines
While five fighters from the Philippines were featured on this card, all of them suffered defeat. As it turned out, it was the Japanese fighters who stole the show, winning four of six bouts and two of the three title fights in which they competed.
In the main event, former King of Pancrase Koji Oishi of Japan scored a stunning one-punch, second-round knockout over Honorio Banario of the Philippines to capture the ONE FC featherweight title. In the co-main event, Bibiano Fernandes, originally from Brazil but now from the Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada area, defeated Koetsu Okazaki of Japan by decision in a grueling five-round fight to win the vacant ONE FC bantamweight interim title.
Another local favorite from the Philippines, Kevin Belingon, lost by decision to Masakatsu Ueda of Japan in the final of the Bantamweight Grand Prix. Eduard Folayang, also from the Philippines, also lost by decision to MMA, grappling, and wrestling veteran Kamal Shalorus, originally from Iran but now based in the USA. Yasuhiro Urushitani of Japan won a close split decision over Rey Docyogen from the Philippines. American Andrew Leone outgrappled Geje Eustaquio, also from the Philippines, to win a decision. And karate champ Nobutatsu Suzuki from Japan knocked out American Phil Baroni in the first round.
On the undercard, the Lowen Tynanes of the USA continued his own rise to power, as he won by first-round referee stoppage over Felipe Enomoto from Japan. Yusup Saadulaev of Russia defeated Ryan Diaz of Canada with a first-round submission. And in a clash of American heavyweights, former King of the Cage champion Tony Johnson stopped former UFC champion Tim Sylvia by doctor's stoppage after elbow strikes on the ground opened up a huge cut near Sylvia's right eye.
The significance of this card, the fights themselves, and the many victories of these Japanese fighters as well as the losses of the fighters from the Philippines are discussed.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.
No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.
Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.
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American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.
Labels: Bibiano Fernandes, Eddie Goldman, fighters, Honorio Banario, Japan, Japanese, Koetsu Okazaki, Koji Oishi, MMA, No Holds Barred, One FC, Philippines, Rise to Power
Thursday, May 30, 2013
No Holds Barred: Lenne Hardt on ONE FC: Rise to Power
She has already arrived in Manila in the Philippines in preparation for ONE FC: Rise to Power, which takes place Friday, May 31, at the 20,000-seat SM Mall of Asia Arena.
We spoke with Lenne Hardt by Skype Thursday to preview this card.
"I don't play favorites. It's not just because of my job. I really shouldn't do that. I have to remain neutral," she explained in this interview. "It's also, even if I weren't involved in this as a job, as a fan, there are certain matches I get excited about."
As is usual for ONE FC, this is another loaded card. It is headlined by a ONE FC featherweight title bout between reigning champion Honorio Banario of the Philippines and challenger Koji Oishi of Japan, and pound-for-pound king Bibiano Fernandes, originally from Brazil but now from the Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada area, taking on Koetsu Okazaki of Japan for the ONE FC bantamweight interim title.
Another local favorite from the Philippines, Kevin Belingon, will face Masakatsu Ueda of Japan in the final of the Bantamweight Grand Prix. The popular Eduard Folayang, also from the Philippines, faces MMA, grappling, and wrestling veteran Kamal Shalorus, originally from Iran. Yasuhiro Urushitani of Japan will fight Rey Docyogen from the Philippines. American Andrew Leone fights Geje Eustaquio, also from the Philippines. And American Phil Baroni takes on Nobutatsu Suzuki from Japan.
On the undercard, the up-and-coming Lowen Tynanes of the USA will fight Felipe Enomoto from Japan, American heavyweights Tim Sylvia and Tony Johnson will collide, and Ryan Diaz of Canada will take on Yusup Saadulaev of Russia.
ONE FC: Rise to Power will be televised live on Star Sports in Asia and be shown as an online pay-per-view at http://www.onefc.livesport.tv.
We also discussed with her the atmosphere for fights in the Philippines, what her own future plans are, and more.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.
No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.
Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.
Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.
American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.
Labels: Bibiano Fernandes, Eddie Goldman, Honorio Banario, Koetsu Okazaki, Koji Oishi, Lenne Hardt, Manila, MMA, No Holds Barred, One FC, Philippines, Rise to Power
Friday, May 17, 2013
No Holds Barred: Bibiano Fernandes On His May 31 ONE FC Fight
He will be trying to add yet another belt to his collection, as he takes on former Shooto champion Koetsu Okazaki of Japan for the ONE FC interim bantamweight title on Friday, May 31. This fight will be part of the ONE FC: Rise to Power card at the 20,000-seat SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, the Philippines.
ONE FC: Rise to Power will be televised live on Star Sports in Asia and as an online pay-per-view at http://www.onefc.livesport.tv.
The current ONE FC bantamweight champion, Soo Chul Kim of Korea, is currently recovering from a shoulder injury and is unavailable to fight.
We spoke with Bibiano Fernandes by phone Wednesday about this fight, how his career is going, and his plans.
Bibiano Fernandes is a very busy man, While he lives and trains in the Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada area, he often also travels to the Seattle, Washington, USA area to train at Matt Hume's AMC Pankration gym. In addition, while he is originally from Brazil, he has fought exclusively in Asia since 2009.
When he signed with ONE FC last year rather than with UFC, he demonstrated how ONE FC has become not only the largest MMA organization in Asia, but also a major player in the world. And he has no regrets about his choice.
"I'm very happy to fight for ONE FC," he said in this interview. "For me, I make a good choice. For me, for my family, I make the best choice." Citing the growth of the organization and the people running it, he summed up his experience with ONE FC clearly and succinctly: "Everything's good."
But he also does not anticipate an easy fight against the veteran Koetsu Okazaki. Bibiano has seen video of his fights and noted that he has "good hands" and "good jiu-jitsu." So while Bibiano is known mainly for his grappling and submission skills, he expects that this fight may see a diversity of technique.
We also discussed fighting in front of the enthusiastic fans in the Philippines, whether or not there will be any effect on his opponent who is fighting outside Japan for the first time, and more.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.
No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.
Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.
Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.
American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.
Labels: Bibiano Fernandes, BJJ, Eddie Goldman, Koetsu Okazaki, Manila, MMA, No Holds Barred, One FC, Philippines, Rise to Power
