ONE Championship News
5 potential opponents up next for Joshua Pacio
BJPENN.COM Staff - November 12, 2019
Joshua Pacio is establishing himself as one of the elite champions in ONE Championship with every performance. The 23-year-old successfully defended his ONE Strawweight World Championship at ONE: Masters of Fate in front of his hometown crowd of Manila, Philippines. Pacio scored an impressive second-round submission victory over Rene Catalan. The win was Pacio’s first defense since regaining his title from Yosuke Saruta in April. He’d been upset by Saruta back in January. In all, it was a pretty strong 2019 for Pacio as he has re-established himself as the king of his division.
Sage Northcutt reacts to Dana White’s retirement suggestion
Harry Kettle - November 11, 2019
ONE Championship star Sage Northcutt has given his thoughts on UFC president Dana White’s suggestion that he should consider retiring from mixed martial arts. Northcutt officially signed with ONE nearly a year ago now after parting ways with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. His first fight with the promotion took place at May at ONE Championship: Enter the Dragon, where he was knocked out by Cosmo Alexandre in just 29 seconds. The knockout led to the youngster sustaining eight fractures in his face, leading to a nine-hour surgery after the fight.
The significant debuts and returns at ONE: Age of Dragons in Beijing
BJPENN.COM Staff - November 11, 2019
ONE: Age of Dragons will mark the return and debut of several major competitors on the ONE Championship roster. The card takes place at the Cadillac Arena in Beijing, and if the bouts live up to their billing, it could be a riveting night of action. Beijing has long been a hotbed for martial arts culture. The region has become a significant focus on the mixed martial arts world with champions emerging across the globe whose origins are China.
5 serious contenders for Kiamrian Abbasov's newly won Welterweight Title
BJPENN.COM Staff - November 11, 2019
It took Kiamrian Abbasov a while to get his shot at the ONE Welterweight World Championship, but when he got his opportunity, he made the most of it. Abbasov dominated Zebaztian Kadestam at ONE: Dawn of Valor in October to win the title. The victory made Abbasov just the third man to win the title in the promotion’s history. Through Abbasov’s career, he has compiled a 22-4 record with 10 KOs and four submissions. He wasn’t able to finish Kadestam, but his unanimous-decision victory served the rest of the division notice. It will take a herculean effort to dethrone the new king. Here is a look at five prospects who will line up to challenge the new champion.
Rene Catalan believes it’s his time to rule strawweight division
BJPENN.COM Staff - November 6, 2019
Rene Catalan has waited long enough to meet Joshua “The Passion” Pacio for his ONE Strawweight World Title. On November 8 at the Mall of Asia Arena in the Philippines, all eyes will be on both Filipinos as they headline ONE: Masters of Fate. Pacio is a two-time champion, but Catalan believes winning the golden strap is within his grasp. With Catalan’s knowledge, tenure, and continuous skill development, he believes he has what it takes to win.
Predictions for ONE: Masters of Fate's biggest bouts
BJPENN.COM Staff - November 6, 2019
The ONE: Masters of Fate card is set for November 8 in Manila, Philippines. The event will be punctuated by a ONE Strawweight World Championship bout. Filipino Joshua Pacio will put his title on the line against his countryman Rene Catalan. The event will also see the return of former two-time ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard Folayang as he tries to bounce back from consecutive losses. Folayang will face Mongolia’s next serious mixed martial arts contender in Amarsanaa Tsogookhuu. This is a must-win situation for Folayang. A three-bout losing streak would be disastrous for anyone, but it will be especially damaging to Folayang.
Eddie Alvarez to teach Ben Simmons MMA after hectic NBA brawl
Natasha Hooper - November 1, 2019
Eddie Alvarez has found himself a new apprentice. The former UFC champion is going to teach his MMA skills to basketball star Ben Simmons, following the crazy NBA brawl. Philadelphia 76er, Joel Embiid went head-to-head with Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns during a basketball match. As the fight ensured, fellow basketball players, rallied around the bust-up including Ben Simmons. The 76er point guard administered a rear-naked choke to Towns, forcing him to ‘tap out’. Watch the full clip below:
Robin Catalan seeks redemption at ONE: Masters of Fate
BJPENN.COM Staff - October 31, 2019
Robin Catalan is looking for a much-needed win at ONE: Masters of Fate when he faces Gustavo “El Gladiador” Balart at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila on November 8. Catalan dropped a knockout loss to Pongsiri Mitsatit last May after receiving sharp knees to his ribs. He is motivated to give a better performance this time around, knowing he will be performing in front of his countrymen.
Joshua Pacio stepping up on behalf of Team Lakay
BJPENN.COM Staff - October 29, 2019
ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua Pacio will not allow Rene Catalan to take his title on 8 November at ONE: Masters of Fate. Pacio is focused on his preparations and won’t leave anything to chance, knowing that he will return to the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila where he reclaimed his golden strap from Yosuke Saruta in April.
Looking back on the Ben Askren-Demetrious Johnson trade one year later
Cole Shelton - October 27, 2019
On Oct. 27, 2018, the MMA world was shaken up as it was announced the UFC and ONE Championship made a trade. The Las Vegas-based promotion traded longtime flyweight champion, Demetrious Johnson, to the Singapore-based promotion for the former welterweight champion, Ben Askren. Right away, fans wondered who came out on top in this trade. The UFC was sending one of the greatest fighters of all time in Johnson for an undefeated Askren who could sell fights with his trash-talk. It seemed like a win-win for both fighters and promotions at the time. But, one year later, is it still a win-win?
ONE: Dawn of Valor results and highlights - John Lineker wins debut, Kiamrian Abbasov captures title
Tom Taylor - October 25, 2019
On Friday, ONE Championship returned to our screens with ONE: Dawn of Valor out of Jakarta, Indonesia. The card boasted a number of interesting attractions, including the promotional debut of John Lineker, who took on the ferocious Muin Gafurov, as well as a ONE lightweight kickboxing title rematch between champ Regian Eersel and challenger Nieky Holzken, and a ONE welterweight title fight between champ Zebaztian Kadestam and challenger Kiamrian Abbasov.
Kiamrian Abbasov could be the first in a long line of tough challengers for Zebaztian Kadestam
BJPENN.COM Staff - October 23, 2019
Zebaztian Kadestam’s last title defense was no cakewalk. He was pushed extensively by Georgy Kichigin back in March at ONE: Reign of Valor. His next defense takes place on October 25 in Jakarta, Indonesia, and the battle could be just as fierce for “The Bandit.” The promising and well-rounded Kiamrian Abbasov awaits, and he’s in the midst of a three-fight win streak. Most recently, Abbasov made short work of Japanese legend Yushin Okami. The 26-year-old from Kyrgyzstan scored a second-round TKO victory over Okami at ONE: For Honor in May.