WARRIORS FC - 1st TO ESTABLISH RANKING SYSTEM AND REGULATE SAFETY

As I burnt the midnight oil writing this story, up north in the island of Penang, a team of crew in Gurney Paragon Mall is busy setting up for Warriors FC. Since 2014, Warriors FC (WFC) has been the premier combat sports promotion in the northern region of Malaysia. They have organized a few successful events which not only feature many local martial arts stars but also athlete from outside Malaysia. WFC has also managed to successfully provide a full entertainment package to fight fans by combining an after fight party at clubs where fight fans can mingle and get to meet the fighters and their team.

Pass WFC events

But this Sunday fight ( 31 JUL 2016 ) will see WFC taking a very important steps towards improving the standard of combat sports in this country. WFC is setting up a ranking system for all weight categories. Sunday event is not a one off fight event to determine the ranking but will be the start as WFC will continuously organise series of events to further deepen the rank for each weight category. This will be the first combat sports promotion in Malaysia to do such ranking, which usually is done by bigger organization such as Japan’s Shooto, UFC, Bellator and K1.

Sunday’s event will be led by a pro card in welterweight. WFC also will be the first in Malaysia to feature the 4-men Grand Prix in 2 separate divisions as the launch of Warriors Fighting Championship MMA ranking system. The Grand Prix tournament will witness an athlete fight twice in one night to gain the top spot of the ranking.

THE LIST OF FIGHT IS AS FOLLOWS: -

Professional MMA Welterweight (under 77.1 kg)
Marlon Santos Souza (Brazil) VS Arben “Bigbang” Escayo (Philippines)
Amateur MMA Featherweight – Grand Prix (under 65.8 kg)
Loc Tranquang (Vietnam)
Farid Arif (Malaysia)
Nursultan Amangeldiev (Kazakhstan)
Shareh Nasrullah (Malaysia)
Amateur MMA Flyweight – Grand Prix (under 56.7 kg)
Murugan Silvarajoo (Malaysia)
Hussain Jan Turi (Pakistan)
Akezhan Amangeldin (Kazakhstan)
Nik Alfam (Malaysia)

There will also be 7 Malaysian Amateur MMA and Kickboxing matches for up and coming talents in the local combat sport scene:

Amatuer MMA Heavyweight (120 kg)
Shafiq Marican (Positive Gym) VS Azreel Izzat (Lekir MMA)
Amateur MMA Flyweight (56.7 kg)
Calsen Choong (K One MMA Academy) VS Eddy see (MuayFit)
Amatuer MMA Welterweight (77 kg)
Jason George (K-One MMA Academy) VS Amirul Firdaus (Lekir MMA)
Amatuer MMA Featherweight (66 kg)
Shaik Muhd Afiq (K-One MMA Academy) VS Fadilah Abdul Rahim (PM Fight Club)

Amatuer Kickboxing (68 kg)
Jordan Chin (Tactical gym) VS Samueal Durairaj (Meekhong Muay Thai)
Amatuer Kickboxing (66 kg)
Mervien Raj (Saiprawat Gym) VS Abd Nur Fateh (Tactical Gym)
Amatuer Kickboxing (73 kg)
Wei Ko (Tactical Gym) VS Alif Mokhtar (Lekir MMA)

According to Dominic Dorall. WFC's President and CEO, this ranking system will see an organized structure being implemented where fighters pass records of fights will be recorded and given scores. New comers whom just started their amateur fighting career will be pooled in a division where most of them are also just starting out.

As their record starts to improve, they will be move to a higher division. Eventually fighters that have at least 5 or more amateur fights with respectable results will progress to be a pro in the top divisions. This top divisions again will have 2 group, where one group will be fighters that just turn pro, and the other one are pros that have already fought a couple of times.

As each fighter will be match among fighters in his own divisions, this will create competitiveness to top the group and also avoid mismatch. This is a very important factor as a mismatch can results in serious injuries when fighters skills differs too much.

Top rank fighter will eventually be offered title fight

Ranking system will also create an organize system for fighters to have their fights properly recorded. Experience at IMMAF (International MMA Federation) 2014 was a learning point. At IMMAF 2014 where MIMMA1 champions were sent to Las Vegas to compete representing Malaysia, IMMAF officials scrutinized the fight records of Malaysian fighters and questions some of the fight records which makes our fighters appear to be fighting pro which disqualify them for participating in IMMAF World Championship, which is only for amatuer fighters. It must be noted that in the early days of 2000 – 2014 many fight events in Malaysia were not regulated by any sanctioning bodies and organisers practically run an event base on their own terms and regulations.

Matchmaker FS Cheng going through some detailks with Arben and Marlon

Sunday’s WFC event held at Gurney Paragon Mall is free. Only a few dinner tables will be sold to collect funds for charity which will go to St. Joseph Orphanage and Children Protection Society. Not only just contributing charitable funds, but WARRIORS (WFC) has also started providing a program for youth/athletes to help to grow the sports of MMA in Malaysia.

WFC seeks to discover and develop local MMA talents by being the platform for amateur and professional MMA practitioners to compete and put their highly honed skills and countless hours of dedicated training to the test.

Safety is also a top priorities, especially for a full contact sports like MMA & Kickboxing. The promotion would be the first in Malaysia to regulate a fighters’ license that will ensure the safety of all fighters and promotions. There will be a mandatory blood test (which test for HIV, Hepatitis & STD) to further protect the well-being of the athletes for all WFC MMA events. 

Drawing blood from fighters for blood test

Dominic Dorall. WFC's President and CEO (middle) with his partners from REEBOK 

On 31st July 2016, WFC will be launched by a signing ceremony. This is between WFC Managing Director Dato’ C.C. Ooi , Officiating the partnership of WARRIORS and Reebok Malaysia (under RSH (M) Sdn. Bhd. to activate Reebok related events in Malaysia.

Reebok currently is active in partnership with CrossFit, Les Mills, UFC, Spartan Race (Obstacle Race), Ragnar Relay. This signing will see in the future WARRIORS branded event in various sports events other than combat sports, such as crossfit and obstacle run, all supported strongly by Reebok.

WFC will also be signing a MOU with UiTM to further explore and develop future events as partners.

After the ceremony, the first fight will start at 2.30pm. Come and witness foreign fighters from various countries such as Vietnam, Pakistan and Khazakstan and local Malaysian boys showcasing their talent in martial arts.

Don’t miss the main card fight featuring Brazilian Marlon Santos Souza vs Arben “Bigbang” Escayo of Philippines. Marlon is debuting pro MMA. Arben has a 1-2-0 record and have experience fighting two former UFC fighter; Will Chope and Tommy Harden.

 

Fighting at amateur welterweight meanwhile will be Sabahan Jason George, formerly with Team Karabaw Kota Kinabalu, but have since move to Penang, which he nows represent K-ONE MMA. George will look to collect another win after last July’s Warriors Fight Challenge. George will face Amirul Fidaus of Lekir MMA.

For more information about WFC’s events and partnership enquiries, please visit www.facebook.com/WarriorFCAsia.

WARRIORS FC: THE SEARCH FOR WARRIORS

Penang is located in the northern region of Malaysia. This area in terms of martial arts wise is heavily influence by Muaythai as the borders to southern Thailand is just about 200km away, but these last three years has seen a tremendous growth of MMA. Partly thanks to Warriors FC. The pioneer of MMA scene in northern Malaysia.

Today happening at K-One MMA Academy is Warriors FC is organising its Fight Challenge. Today will see a amateur qualifiers for the first Warriors MMA Amateur Grand Prix. Today's fight will also see a ranking system being established for its fighters.

Expect sparks to fly in the main fight card between Joshua Khiew of Penang Top Team and Joseph Yap of Elitez MMA. 

Joshua is a veteran in amateur MMA in Malaysia. Having 9 fights experience under him, his first fight was in the now defunct Malaysian Fighting Championship. But it was in MIMMA2 that he really grew. Reaching the grand finals where he lost to eventual champion Keanu Subba. In 2015, Joshua reached the semifinals of MIMMA3, losing a 3 round decision to Sabahan finalist Effendey Kalai. Joshua is a well balance fighter and has his 6ft height as a great advantage.

Joseph Yap is a martial arts prodigy from Elitez MMA. At 25 this year, he only started seriously training in Jan 2015. Under the careful guidance of Elitez MMA founder Andy Teh teaching Joseph MMA and coach Effendey Kalai in boxing and Ngeoh Jian Cong in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Joseph soaks it all in like a sponge. In March 2015 he debut in his first MMA match. Going in like a dynamite in Ultimate Beatdown 15 winning by TKO with punches.

Joseph participated in MIMMA4 this year and will be in the semifinals this August. He was a feature fighter in 2015 MIMMA3: Contender Fight. Winning his featherweight fight vs Uriel Yu. He now has 6 amateur fights under him and all these fights are by TKO / submission. Joseph is looking to continue his winning streak and aimed to use his aggressiveness to win this match.

Ask on how this fight came about rather close to his MIMMA4 semifinals appearance, Joseph answered; "I planned to spar around actually. Then came Warrior FC but facing Joshua Khiew wasn't what I had in mind. Looking forward to it however because it would be a different experience to face a taller , longer reach & a very experienced fighter. 

I always consider myself as the underdog or new because like most people they have a proper background like Muay Thai, Boxing, Tae Kwan Doe & etc. I'm basically a white paper as I've mentioned I have zero knowledge before joining Elitez MMA. Not to mention he is ridiculously tall. Haha. 

Hmm.. It's a month away so there will be enough time to recover. That doesn't mean I'm letting my guard down though.

My strategy is usually the same against any other opponent. I'll take whatever that comes. Planning to be an overall fighter with no specific game plan & one thing for sure.. I never ever underestimate my opponents."

FIST of PASSION , starred by Andy Teh and Joseph Yap

Recently, aside from polishing his fighting skills, Joseph also tested his acting chops in a Malaysian movie, FIST of PASSION, a Malaysian first film that uses MMA as a backdrop. In this movie he starred opposite his coach Andy Teh as Ah Long. Also recently he completed two fitness courses at FITM and is currently working as a coach at Elitez Mixed Martial Arts Academy.

In this Warrior Fight Challenge we will also see the appearance of Borneon from Sabah.

Jason George will be fighting at welterweight vs Woon Eng Wooi of Penang Top Team. Jason is of Dusun heritage born in Sandakan. He used to train with Team Karabaw in Kota Kinabalu and fought middleweight in Jesselton Fight League grand finals. He also has experience in amateur Muaythai tournament and boxing. His opponent Woon is a MIMMA2 semifinalist & has a MMA amateur record of 2-1-0.

In 2015 Ultimate Beatdown 17, he represented Team Karabaw and was scheduled for a pro fight card vs Brad Robinson, but it was cancelled. After that, Jason reassessed his priorities and decided to learn more and add more skills to his arsenal. In January this year, when K-ONE MMA Academy offered a scholarship program, Jason jumped on this opportunity. 30 candidates were interviewed and put through some physical tests. Only 5 were selected: 1 Brazillian, 2 Indonesian and 2 Sabahan. The other Sabahan is Hartley Peter, from Penampang.

The call for fighters in January 2016

Hartley use to train at Borneo Tribal Squad. For tonight fight, Hartley will represent K-ONE MMA Academy and fight in featherweight vs Kajendra Rao of SEA Combat Gym

Going through the medical check before fight, together with compatriot Hartley Peter

We wish both these two Sabahans good luck! Let's bring home some medals!

Fighters briefing by MMA pioneer Melvin Yeoh

Catch all the fights tonight at 6pm at K-ONE MMA Academy, they have a great set up where platforms are built on top circling the cage where fight fans can watch the fight with excellent view. Tickets are still available. Call: +604- 226 2027.