MALAYSIAN & SINGAPOREAN HOPES CRUSHED - ONE CHAMPIONSHIP LIGHTWEIGHT TOURNAMENT

22 Feb 2019. One Championship held it's fifth event for 2019 in Singapore, dubbed 'Call to Greatness' It's the 2nd event that feature fights in the Lightweight World Grand Prix. Tonight saw two quarter-finals bouts go down in the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Malaysian put their hopes on Ev Ting to carry their flags in this tournament. But their hopes came crushing when his opponent Dagestani BJJ Champion Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev connect with a left hook, then continue with several strikes on the downed Ev, ref stops the fight 25 seconds into round 1.

This is Ev's second consecutive lost in the first round. In last Oct, it was against veteran grappler Shinya Aoki whom took him out with a arm triangle choke in 56 seconds. Coincidently that fight was also in a ring. It's going to be back in the drawing board for the Malaysian-Kiwi.

( click here to watch the video )

Saygid, coached by former One Championship Lightweight champion Marat Gafurov improved to 7-1-0 and advance to the semi-finals as he sat with the crowds to watch the next quarter-finals match between home town favourite Amir Khan vs Costa Rican Ariel Sexton, to see who is he going to face next.

--------#Warriors.Asia----------

Singaporean hopes was high in the 2nd Lightweight tournament quarter-finals. Amir Khan came into the fight to redeem his last fight lost to Eduard Folayang in Nov last year for the vacant Lightweight title, and he is now given another shot at the title. 

The fight with Ariel Sexton was fireworks and didn't disappoint. 

Amir was successful with his hands and connect clean shots, but Ariel being the wily experience fighter with a 12-4-0 going into this fight stayed composed; going for take down to nuliy Amir's striking. 

It was back & fourth. In 2nd round, Amir connect with a good right hand , dropped Ariel and went in for the kill but Ariel survived, and put on his own attack. Ariel end the round with a beautiful take down that lauched Amir's both feet in the air and was ready to pound all the way home until the bell end the round. 

The tired Amir could not keep Ariel at bay in the 3rd round. Ariel put on his best grappling and took Amir's back for a rear naked choke finish, which silence the cheers from the local Singaporean crowds.

( click her to watch the video )

In the victory speech, Ariel gave props to the young warrior Amir whom he said was a tough opponent. Commentator Mitch Chilson brought in Saygid to face off Ariel.

" I'm gonna grow a beard better than him" 

said Ariel and promise to bring the best to face Saygid in the semi-finals as he mentioned that they ( the fighters ) do their best to in the rings all for the entertainment of the crowds.

The next quarter-finals ( for the Lightweight tournament ) will be the highly anticipated debut of former Bellator & UFC Lightweight Champion, Eddie Alvarez , whom will face Timofey Nastyukhin in ONE Championship : A New Era in Tokyo on 31 March

One Championship : Call to Greatness ended with Stamp Fairtex winning the Atomweight Muaythai World Championship beating American Janet Todd.

The 11 bouts on the night ended with 8 finishes , with the 4 four pre-lim bouts all end with finishes, giving One Championship head honcho Chatri Sidyodtong a happy smile as he wasn't very happy with their last event which didn't have enough finishes.

---------#Warriors.Asia----------

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EV TING OUTWORK KOJI ANDO FOR HIS WIN TO CALL FOR A TITLE FIGHT NEXT

23 June 2018. One Championship concluded last night in Macau for ONE CHAMPIONSHIP : PINNACLE OF POWER. It's ONE's fourth event featuring the ONE Super Series (Kickboxing and Muaythai fight )

Two MMA title was on the line, the Flyweight title and the female Strawweight title. 

In the main event of the night, Filipino Geje Eustaquio managed to earn a split decision to unify the flyweight belt against long time champ Adriano Moraes.

In the co-main event, China's Xiong Jing Nan dominates Laura Balin to kept her belt via unanimous decision.

-------------#WRB---------------

In a lightweight fight, Malaysian-Kiwi spitfire Ev “E.T.” Ting defeated another notable name in the promotion’s stacked lightweight division, routing Koji “The Commander” Ando of Japan. It was a striking showcase from start to finish as both men delivered shattering blows, particularly Ev with powerful high round house that battered Ando.

Ando gallantly traded punches with Ting, but the latter connected on effective strikes through excellent counterpunching. Ting pulled away in the last round when he scored on a devastating high knee. With his gutsy performance against Ando, Ting was awarded a unanimous decision win.

It is worth noting that although Ando was on a 3 fight losing streak going into this fight, but he has never been finished and recorded a win over former UFC lightweight Roger Huerta. 'The Commmander' also went toe to toe with submission ace Shinya Aoki in a 5 round title fight in 2015.  

This is Ev's 3rd win after he lost the title fight challenging Eduard Folayang back in April last year. The lightweight belt has change owner since Nov 2017, when Martin 'The Situ-Asian Nguyen knocked out Eduard. A win by Ev over the experience Ando further pushes Ev called for a Lightweight title fight against Martin Nguyen

Click to watch the hi-lights of Ev vs Koji 

Warriors of Borneo talked to Ev after his victory last night.

WRB: How does it feels to be back fighting an MMA match in a ring? I believe the last time u did that was in your early MMA career right? Do you like fighting in a cage or ring?
ET: Cage feels like do or die and the ring feels more like a demonstration of skills and yes correct haven't competed in one for awhile but still often train in one. I enjoyed it and look forward to more ventures in there.


WRB: Going into the fight vs Koji, did you prepare with lots of wresting & take down defense?
ET: Yes, every camp I'm always improving on all aspects, but was certainly aware of his judo credentials and his submission finishes. So the game-plan was to keep my range to pick him apart.

WRB: Were you surprise that Koji prefered to stand and trade and hardly attempt any take down?
ET: Koji is one of the toughest competitors out there and has a mindset of a real samurai. 

I think the first round he was looking for take-downs until he realised it wasn't there due to my range and movement therefore he adjusted and came back slightly in the 2nd.

WRB: Take us through the fight? You pressured him by much of combos and high kicks in first two rounds, but Koji seems to have more output in the 3rd round. Tell us about that knee in the 3rd round.
ET: I took the lead in the striking in the first, Koji adjusted and started walking me down in the 2nd, took me awhile to adjust but once I did I was able to time some combos and also that knee where I missed the first couple times with the right, so switched it to the left and it connected. Much respect to such a tough opponent.

Ev Ting signature jumping knee connecting Ando in the 3rd round. Pic by YK TANG Photography

WRB: Of the 3 wins after you challenge Eduard, which win was the hardest and most satisfying? What's the thing that changes most since the loss to Eduard?
ET: Each win since my title shot is just another learning curve and what has changed most is my mindset, instead of trying to please everyone I just invested in myself and smart training. Smarter and harder now.

WRB: You clearly wants to challenge Martin for the lightweight title, do you think it should be your next fight?
Absolutely it should be the next fight, no other lightweight contender have taken out the contenders I've had.

Martin is not even a real lightweight so he has the choice to vacate or defend. If he truly believes he's the champ, then he would not hesitate to prove it.


WRB: When do you think you ready to fight? If ONE didn't give you that title fight, will you fight in KL card in July?
ET: Yes I've been campaigning for this but being 3 weeks out and he has another invented interim belt, it may be unlikely, but absolutely I will be ready. I'm not scared of any lightweight on his planet.

WRB: Tell us about your relationship with Martin? have you train with him before? What do you think of his recent win vs Christian Lee? How do you think your style vs Martin will play out in a title fight?
ET: We are both sponsored by the same gym Saigon Sports Club, while I spent over two years coaching there, he was getting all these awesome opportunities. Martin is the current champ for a reason. His timing and efficiency is on point but he has yet to be in deep waters.

ET vs 'The Situ-Asian' will sell out in Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand simply because people know it's going to be a real fight. Survival of the fittest type of fight.

WRB: What's that gold chain all about in Macau?
Bali MMA made it just for Xiong Jingnan the champ, Mario and myself so it would be rude not to wear it. Plus it looks pretty cool, but intrinsically it's more of a mindset for me.

WRB: Please give readers some tips of how you develop that power in your high kicks?
ET: The more times you do something the better you get, so it's simply repetitions. Having a good pad holding coach can help with the distancing and timing. Drills and skills pays the bills

WRB: Any leisure after win in Macau?
Asides from the overpriced food, we went to the after party at Pachao in Studio City, thanks ONE for hosting was a great night and everyone had a blast. #Whiskeysquad LOL

I want to thank ONE Championship for having me on the show, I look forward to represent and express my craft each time I step in the arena. Also all my partners who make it possible for me to fulfill my camps and lifestyle.

Onward and forward, I have got my eyes on the prize.

---------#WRB---------

ONE Championship: Pinnacle of Power @ Macau full results

ONE Flyweight World Championship bout: 

Geje Eustaquio defeats Adriano Moraes by Split Decision (SD) after 5 rounds

ONE Women’s Strawweight World Championship bout: 

Xiong Jing Nan defeats Laura Balin by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 5 rounds

ONE Super Series Muay Thai catchweight bout (67.0kg): 

Petchmorrakot Wor. Sangprapai defeats Fabrice Fairtex Delannon by TKO (Doctor Stoppage) at 0:43 minutes of round 2

Lightweight bout: 

Ev Ting defeats Koji Ando by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds

Featherweight bout: 

Narantungalag Jadambaa defeats Edward Kelly by TKO (Strikes) at 4:58 minutes of round 2

ONE Super Series Muay Thai flyweight bout: 

Lerdsila Phuket Top Team defeats Sok Thy by Split Decision (SD) after 3 rounds

ONE Super Series Kickboxing heavyweight bout: 

Tarik Khbabez defeats Alain Ngalani by Knockout (KO) at 1:49 minutes of round 3

ONE Super Series Muay Thai flyweight bout: 

Yukinori Ogasawara defeats Rui Botelho by Knockout (KO) at 2:54 minutes of round 2

Featherweight bout: 

Li Kai Wen defeats Rodian Menchavez by Knockout (KO) at 0:10 minutes of round 1

Flyweight bout: 

Danny Kingad defeats Ma Hao Bin by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds

Bantamweight bout: 

Rin Saroth defeats Mario Satya Wirawan by TKO (Strikes) at 2:30 minutes of round 3

One Championship next event will be in Yangon on 29 June, ONE Championship: SPIRIT of WARRIOR with a Middleweight title fight between Myanmar's hero and champion Aung La N Sang vs Japanese challenger Ken Hasegawa. Watch the full event LIVE & FREE on the ONE Super App , download it now http://bit.ly/ONESuperApp

                                             ---------#WRB---------

MMA Showdown of the biggest fight card yet for FMD

When FMD released it's 13th edition poster....using a clever play of the 1987 Predator movie starred by Arnold Schwarzenegger. It got my attention, because that movie till today is my all time favorite movie. and with this, ...I know FMD 13 is gonna be awesome!

How awesome is that?...How about matching two ex UFC fighters together in the main card and a mouth watering featherweight fight. In the main event is Lightweight title fight between Will 'The Kill' Chope vs Tommy 'Wildcard' Hayden. As for featherweight, MMA standout Ali Motamed from Phuket's Tiger Muay Thai will fight American Luke Adams of Singapore's Juggernaught Fight Club. 

Calm before the storm...Will and Tommy having a drink at FMD's press con

Okay before we get all excited about the fights, let's just go back a bit in time to see how FMD has developed over the years. The party theme fights started with DARE. It was the earliest MMA promotions in Thailand, started in 2011. They held a few shows till 2013. American Jon Nutt was their face, emcee and practically coordinate almost everything for DARE. Eventually he left and formed Full Metal Dojo (FMD) on his own in 2014.

Many would think MMA would not flourish in Thailand given that the Thais are very protective of their Muaythai heritage. But with clever marketing, and a passion to bring people together for a wild good time, Jon was able to combine party theme, music, tourism and fight sports into one entertaining show. That is FMD, with an attitude. 



FMD also has play a huge role in showcasing the best new talents from Thailand and from around the region. Bringing more attention to the fight gyms in Thailand and growing the sports of MMA in this Land of Smiles

To date, FMD has consistently held shows since June 2014 and it has build itself to a legendary status in Asia as a unique MMA event. The fights are explosives and intense, the music is mesmerizing and hip moving, the people are cool and fun loving. If the bigger MMA organisation shows are mostly like attending a rock concert, attending FMD is like going to a underground metal or punk gig. It's trully an unforgettably enjoyable experience.

Jon is a very familiar face in Asia's MMA. Aside from his own FMD, he has hosted and involved in the very successful amateur MMA tournament in Malaysia - MIMMA, regional boxing event, Songkran MMA, Singapore Fighting Championship and emcee for Patong Boxing Stadium from for 2 years.

I'm with Jon at MIMMA 2016 Grand Final

His voice is distinctively macho and he emcee very well in providing the audience with bits of infor without talking too much to educate them on MMA. He always has the right things to say to draw them deeper into the fights. Sponsors also like him as he knows how to effectively promote and highlight them without being too hard sell.



Jon was having a hectic week as FMD 13 draws closer, at the same time his wife was heavily pregnant and when Warriors of Borneo talked to him, Jon was in the hospital waiting for his baby. ( He is now a proud father of a baby boy...Congratulations! )

Tell us about the concept of FMD 13: Concrete Jungle Where Dreams Are Made Of.
It's a play on the songs by Alicia Keys, New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of. The idea from the songs was joke amongst friends actually.  If you don't know, well...my organisation are only made of 3 people, whereas other organisation ARE organisation. We're just a couple of guys that do this...me, Ree Webster and Richard Arthur.

Bangkok is where we represent. We've always consider it concrete jungle where dreams are made of, because, well New York was where immigrant used to go, all three of us are immigrants in Thailand and Bangkok is the spot where we feel most comfortable in life and hence it is the place where dreams are made of.




It's been a journey of more than 2 years for FMD since 2014, through the journey what has been the significant breakthrough?
Yea we've done 12 shows since June 2014. For any organisation, doing a steady amount of shows yearly, it Is what puts you in the next level of being a larger and more respected shows that has more integrity. Our shows are a parties. Our shows are literally party, not just MMA. You're not in a gym, not in a stadium, you're in a club! 

And the significant breakthrough was between me leaving DARE and starting FMD, realising that in all honesty, my shows and my events is different and sets apart from all other shows that just do MMA. Also the breakthrough is realising the difference between UFC fans and MMA fans. 

There are really not many MMA fans. Pretty much anybody that says they are MMA fans are actually just UFC fans and they won't go support local shows and watch other shows such as Bellator, WSOF, ONE or FMD. They just care about the UFC.

So the breakthrough that makes FMD successful is realizing that people that actually pay for shows, we realized are not MMA or UFC fans....we made our own fans, we made FMD fans. 

People that are comin' to Bangkok and they wanna party, they want to hear great music and they want to see great fights. So what sets us apart is that we have actually made our own fan base. A lot of them are actually fans and just friends of mine that just wanna come watch a great live action show, a real live 80s or 90s action movie if you will.





Jon has been trying a few times to make Will vs Tommy happened. It was planned twice but was scrapped as both fighters got injured in their muaythai fight. But this time it is finally materializing and Jon has put this main card as a Lightweight title fight, and with Full Metal Dojo style, the champion will not be awarded a big huge belt but instead a slick life size Samurai sword!

OK now back to the fights that will go down this Saturday. 

At his current record stands at 33-12-0, Will 'The Kill' Chope is considered the busiest fighters in MMA. He fights almost every month. Not just in MMA, but he also takes up Muaythai, boxing and kickboxing match. Last year alone he fought 15 times, 10 MMA, 2 K1, 2 Muay Thai,1 Pro Boxing. 

Will has the ambition of going down in history as the fighter with most fight...he is eyeing to beat Dan Severn's record of 101-19-7 and the still active Jeremy Horns' record of 91-23. At only 26, Will looks like a potential heir to that title.Will is based in Thailand and fighting is his full time job that puts food on his table and provides for his family. 

Asked on how his is able to keep injury free to fight regularly...
"Part luck, Part just training and fighting smart. I got a lot of experience and ring time. I know my limits. But accidents do happen...but I just have to recover and don't use them as excuses"

In an interview with John Hyon Ko of The Fight Nation. Will explained that there are ways to fight regularly, one just have to keep busy and take up any fights that come along. He said that a lot of fighters are like divas, they want to choose their opponent, their own timing and their choice of place...they want everything in their favor. 

So if fighters want to make a living out of fighting they can't behave that way. Will said lots of fighters he met admire how he can fight every month, but most of them don't really willing to do it. ( catch the interview in this link )

Will fought in UFC in 2014, losing to Max Halloway, the current UFC Interim Featherweight Champion. Most of his fights are main event feature. In April 2016, Will became URCC's Lightweight Champion, but he lost the title to Brazilian Fabrício Guerreiro last month at URCC 29

Considered the tallest Lightweight in MMA at 6ft 4, he uses his reach advantage fully to keep opponents at bay as he peppered them with strikes using his long limbs. And when he gets in the pocket, he lets loose his knees and those long limb will also swiftly sneak in for a choke.


On the opposite side of the cage is Tommy Hayden. He has a record of 10-3-0. He is a person that likes to scrap. 

As Jon Nutt puts it, ...
" I personally likes a fighter that really likes fighting, not just showing they like fighting. Tommy is a type of guy that if someone punch him in the face, he just smiles, that's the type of fighters I like and I want on my card."

Tommy was active in the American regional MMA scene till he was offered to fight at The Ultimate Fighter Season 9 in 2009. He lost that fight. He was back in UFC in 2012, fought twice but lost to Fabrício Camões and Dennis Bermudez.

He came to Thailand to refocus and coach at Bangkok Fight Lab. Tommy last fought in a China MMA promotion - WKG in Jan this year wining by submission in round 2. 

Ask about his take on fighting...
"Fighting to me is LOVE. It sorta reminds of of obsession. Honestly fighting is fear, its emotion, its anxiety, its happiness, its sadness, its everything roll into one, its life.

When I jump out of a plane with a parachute, that's fun. When I'm 100ft under water watching sharks swimming around, that's fun. When I'm doing something that could get me kill, that's fun for me. That's life for me. 

So every time I get to step in the cage, that is real life. That's when I experience my true self. That's when I get to express myself"

It's a great match and this is the card with the most experience fighters ever put up in FMD. Will is a striker and Tommy is a wrestler! Opposites attract and sure fire mayhem in FMD cage when the bell rings!

The Featherweight fight between Ali Motamed and Luke Adams is also a promising fight that will possibly be the fight of the night. Initially Iranian Ali was schedule to met ex UFC fighter Rocky Lee, but Rocky could not make it and it looks like Ali will see no action in the cage.

But a last minute arrangement materialize and the accomplished American Luke Adams stepped up to offer himself. Luke started his pro MMA career fighting in the regional MMA scene around California for 6 years.

He is now a coach in Singapore's acclaim fight gym Juggernaut Fight Club. Luke is riding on a 6 fight winning streak and all these 6 victory is finishes with either strikes or submission, that never goes the distance.

Iranian born Ali is a young fighter that started his amateur MMA fights in Malaysia and Thailand. He fights out of Tiger Muay Thai. In all his 9 amateur fights, 8 were victorious. Ali turned pro in 2016, fighting in China's Bullet Fly FC. He is now on a 3 fights winning streak. Luke is the most experience fighter Ali has met so far and a victory over him will certainly established Ali as a hot talent for the bigger organisations.

pix credit: David Ash of Singapore Maven

3 pro and 8 ammy cards are schedule this Friday. And all this will go down at Bangkok's happening night club, INSANITY NIGHT CLUB. Tickets is available at ticketmelon.com and at the door. 

And if you are not in Bangkok, do your self a favor, grab yourself a cold beer or any other beverage of your choice, some chips or buffolo wings ( if you are there, you can order it from the HOOTERS girls ), glue yourself in front of your computer or smartphone and click on to Full Metal Dojo FB and watch it on live stream!

Hooters...babyyyy. Pix credits :Pugilpix.com

Thanks to all the sponsors that is making FMD 13 happen

Get ready for an unforgettable night!