Local fighters all set for Global Rivals
BARRING any hitches in their training camp, Igorot mixed martial arts fighters are all set to showcase their wares in the upcoming One Championship which takes place on April 15 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Eric Kelly and former One Championship featherweight champion Honorio Banario are raring to get back on their winning ways as they take on separate foes in the event headlined by world welterweight champion Ben Askren as he defends his title against Nikolay Aleksakhin.
One of the most respected mixed martial arts veterans in the country, Banario is back and ready to show fans exactly what he’s been working on the past few months will showcase his lightning quick strikes against fellow Filipino fighter, Vaughn Donayre.
Kelly on the other hand, will test his solid striking techniques and high- level grappling game, which has resulted in 9 submissions out of 12 victories is on the trail for a shot at the featherweight title against Timofey Nastyukhin.
Seeking also an important victory is Team Lakay’s flyweight Geje Eustaquio taking on the veteran Gianni Subba.
Regarded as one of the most proficient wushu practitioners in the Philippines, Eustaquio’s accurate striking and cool composure has led him to a few big wins over the course of his career in ONE Championship where he scored a scintillating onepunch knockout over Malaysian prospect Saiful Merican in his last fight.
Also in the fight card is undefeated Danny Kingad of Team Lakay in his first One Championship fight as he takes on another debuting fighter Muhamad Haidar.
Team Lakay’s April Osenio will also return to Asia’s largest MMA promotion after her much awaited debut against Singapore’s Kirstie Gannaway last year.
Although Osenio fell short of victory, the 21- year- old female atomweight learned a lot in her first time inside the ONE Cage now looks for her first victory, but it will have to come up against fellow Filipino-Australian Natalie Gonzales Hills. Roderick Osis
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