One Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano Fernandes to defend title against Martin Nguyen
The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced the complete card at ONE: IRON WILL, set for 24 March at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand. In the main event, reigning ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes of Brazil will defend his title against ONE Featherweight & Lightweight World Champion Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen of Sydney, Australia.
Ticket information for ONE: IRON WILL is available at www.onefc.com
Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “I am super excited to announce another huge world title bout as reigning ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano Fernandes will face two-division ONE Featherweight & Lightweight World Champion Martin Nguyen at ONE: IRON WILL. It’s a tremendous matchup, and one that the whole world wants to see. I have no doubt that these two warriors will be putting on a great show for everyone watching live in Bangkok. This is the biggest martial arts event in the history of Thailand, and I can’t wait to be in Bangkok for this one. It’s going to be absolutely phenomenal.”
37-year-old Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes of Brazil is the reigning ONE Bantamweight World Champion, and widely considered one of the best martial artists in the world bar none. He made his ONE Championship debut back in 2012 and captured the bantamweight world title in 2013. Since then, Fernandes has remained unbeaten inside the ONE Championship cage, showcasing tremendous striking and grappling ability and an unwavering will to win. In his most recent bout, Fernandes made quick work of top divisional contender Andrew Leone, submitting the American with a rear-naked choke in the very first round. In his next title defense, Fernandes is set to face ONE Championship two-division titleholder, Martin Nguyen.
29-year-old Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen is one of the most highly-regarded martial arts champions in the world. With an impressive 10-1 professional record, which includes three submissions and seven knockouts, Nguyen’s all-around skill set allows him to perform at the highest level of competition. All of Nguyen’s wins have come by exciting finish. In his most recent bout, Nguyen scored a scintillating knockout victory over the Philippines’ Eduard Folayang to become the first man in the history of ONE Championship to hold two titles simultaneously in two different weight divisions. Nguyen now reigns as the ONE Featherweight & Lightweight World Champion, and this March in Bangkok, he attempts to make history once again in going for his third world title in as many divisions. Nguyen is scheduled to face ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes in his next bid for greatness.
Garry “The Lion Killer” Tonon of the United States is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Tom deBlass and Ricardo Almeida. He is a No Gi specialist who has clinched multiple world titles at the IBJJF World and Pan American Championships. At age 14, Tonon fell in love with wrestling and grappling and has developed into a bonafide grappling superstar over the course of his career. He is a prominent fixture in submission-only format competitions such as Metamoris, Polaris and the Eddie Bravo Invitational. After defeating Japanese legend Shinya Aoki via heel hook in a Grappling Super-Match in May of 2017, Tonon announced that he would transition to the ONE Championship cage. He makes his cage debut against Richard Corminal.
Filipino lightweight competitor Richard “Notorious” Corminal is a Filipino martial artist based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, training out of MuayFit. He holds a professional record of four wins and three losses, with each of his career victories to date coming by way of knockout. In his most recent bout, Corminal succumbed to Frenchman Arnaud LePont via first-round submission. Corminal now aims for redemption, as he aims to spoil the much-anticipated debut of Garry Tonon.
Former ONE Strawweight World Champion Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke is a three-time Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai world champion with a Muay Thai record of 282-65-3 and an 8-3 professional record in ONE Championship. He is known as a technical striker with quick hands and lightning feet, employing some of the most unique and creative offensive combinations. As a martial artist with over 25 years of competitive experience, Dejdamrong is a seasoned veteran. Next, the Thai warrior goes up against Jeremy Miado.
Strawweight contender Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado of Manila, Philippines is a martial artist with a 6-2 professional record and a former Blaze FC Strawweight Champion. He is a Muay Thai and boxing practitioner who owns a Muay Thai record of 76-7. In his most recent bout, Miado went shot for shot with rising Thai star Pongsiri Mitsatit. Miado is now ready to get back in the win column, and will face Muay Thai legend and former champion Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke.
Light heavyweight knockout artist Alain “The Panther” Ngalani, who trains out of Impakt MMA in Hong Kong but is originally from Cameroon, is a terrifying combination of power and speed, and is always looking to end matches early. Owning a 25-7-1, 2 NC kickboxing record which includes 23 knockouts, Ngalani is a heavyweight world champion in Muay Thai and kickboxing. Last September, Ngalani scored a record-setting 11-second KO of former ONE Heavyweight World Title Challenger Hideki Sekine. Next for Ngalani is a matchup against Ariunbold Tur-Ochir.
28-year-old Ariunbold Tur-Ochir of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia is set to make his ONE Championship debut. A boxing stylist with fast and powerful hands, Tur-Ochir is a Mongolian champion representing Irves Team. With a professional record of 4-1, Tur-Ochir joins a growing light heavyweight roster in ONE. He will be tasked to face the colossal Alain Ngalani in his first bout for the promotion.
29-year-old Shannon “OneShin” Wiratchai of Thailand is one of the most thrilling offensive innovators in ONE Championship. The creator of the OneShin Striking System, Wiratchai developed his own style which incorporates various elements from Muay Thai, boxing, wrestling, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Training out of Tiger Muay Thai and Bangkok Fight Lab, Wiratchai emerges as Thailand’s biggest and most exciting martial arts star. Wiratchai seeks to return to his winning ways as he faces Rahul Raju in his next contest.
“The Kerala Krusher” Rahul Raju of India is a 26-year-old Kung Fu stylist based in Singapore and trains out of the prestigious Juggernaut Fight Club. He is a former Ultimate Satira Champion and owns a professional record of 5-1. With heavy hands, Raju is known for his great knockout power and undeniable striking ability. He makes his ONE Championship debut against Shannon Wiratchai.
Jake Butler of the United States has firmly established himself as one of the top elite wrestlers in ONE Championship. He owns a highlight reel of victories with exciting finishes, and possesses some of the best wrestling and grappling in the sport having honed his skills as captain of the Princeton wrestling team. With a professional record of 7-2, Butler is unstoppable when he utilizes his signature techniques, but has also improved his striking skills by training with Muay Thai world champions in Asia. He takes on the tough Gilberto Galvao in his return to the ONE Championship cage.
Gilberto “Giba” Galvão is a martial arts veteran from Brazil, with extensive experience of over 30 professional bouts spanning over a decade in the cage. A solid top contender at middleweight, Galvao has competed largely in Brazil and has compiled 29 total victories, more than half of which have ended in submissions. A former Aspera FC Middleweight Champion, Galvao is looking to make run at the middleweight title, but will have to first go through talented American Jake Butler.
Rika “Tinydoll” Ishige is a 28-year-old female atomweight from Thailand who trains out of Tiger Muay Thai and Bangkok Fight Lab. She is of mixed Japanese and Thai heritage, beginning her martial arts training at age 9 with aikido and taekwondo. Heavily influenced by her late father who trained in judo, Ishige went on to hone her skills as a martial artist, and turned professional earlier this year. All of Ishige’s victories have ended via impressive finish, showcasing her high-level grappling skills. In her last bout, Ishige defeated Rome Trinidad by second-round submission. Ishige will look for her second-straight win when she takes on newcomer Angelie Sabnal.
28-year-old Angelie Sabnal of Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines is a former Muay Thai practitioner now making her professional cage debut. A national Muay Thai silver medalist, Sabnal hones her wide array of skills with other great talent at Mindanao Ultimate. The Filipino prospect is set to make her first appearance in ONE Championship. She will be taking on rising Thai star Rika Ishige.
Talented Turkish lightweight contender by way of Dagestan, Russia, Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev is rapidly making a name for himself as an unstoppable force inside the ONE Championship cage. He has just four victories and only one loss so far in his young martial arts career, but they are four of the fastest finishes in the promotion, resulting in an average cage time of just under a minute. Three of Saygid’s wins have come by technical knockout and one by submission, with all coming in the very first round. The 23-year-old from Istanbul will take on Tetsuya Yamada in his next challenge.
27-year-old Tetsuya Yamada of Kanagawa, Japan, is a promising young martial artist with a distinct ability to seek out highlight-reel stoppages. He made his ONE Championship debut in January of 2016 in an extremely high-level wrestling showdown against Eduard Folayang of the Philippines. A seasoned grappler, over half of Yamada’s 24 career victories have come by spectacular finish, with the ability to end bouts either by submission or knockout. In his most recent bout, Yamada made very quick work of Kyle Rozewski to win by first-round rear naked choke. Yamada will take on the dangerous Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev.
Kaji “Alpha” Ebin is a 26-year-old martial artist from Manila, Philippines and a bantamweight newcomer in ONE Championship. Primarily a kickboxer who stifles opponents with his quick strikes and fluid combinations, Ebin is looking to make an impact in his first appearance as a ONE Championship athlete, squaring off with Indonesia’s Sunoto.
Indonesian martial arts veteran “The Terminator” Sunoto is a ONE Championship bantamweight and a former WKF Indonesia Champion. Representing IndoGym and Team Phantom, Sunoto features a style that combines elements of kickboxing, karate, and jiu-jitsu. With a penchant for scoring spectacular finishes, five of Sunoto’s seven victories have ended before the final bell. The 32-year-old is known as an aggressive warrior who never backs down from a challenge. In his last outing, Sunoto continued to impress on the global stage as he submitted Rin Saroth in the second round. His next bout will be against Kaji Ebin of the Philippines.
Strawweight contender Kritsada “Dream Man” Kongsrichai of Thailand is a talented martial artist and one of the most promising young athletes in ONE Championship. He made his promotional debut in ONE’s first ever show in Bangkok in 2016, stopping opponent Kev Hemmorlor via first-round technical knockout. In his last outing, Kongsrichai made quick work of the Philippines’ Rabin Catalan, finishing his opponent via first-round technical knockout. Kongsrichai wants to give another spectacular performance, this time against Rabin’s brother, Robin Catalan.
27-year old Robin “The Ilonggo” Catalan of Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines, is a member of the Catalan fighting family and a martial artist competing in the ONE Championship strawweight division. He currently owns a record of six wins and three losses, which includes two wins by submission and two by knockout. In his last bout, Catalan dropped a TKO loss to former champion Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke. Now, Catalan is set to face Thailand’s Kritsada Kongsrichai.
Waqar “Psycho” Umar of Lahore, Pakistan is a featherweight with a 4-4 professional record. He is known as a Pakistani combat sports veteran. All four of his victories have come by submission, made possible by his well-established grappling skills. Inside the ONE Championship cage, he’s faced the likes of Peter Davis, Amir Khan, and Benedict Ang. His next task is to take on rising Chinese star Zhao Zhi Kang.
23-year-old Zhao Zhi Kang of Inner Mongolia is a top Chinese martial arts star with a professional record of 23-3. He is a former Chinese sanda champion. Although Zhao considers himself a striker first, the young competitor boasts of incredible submission skills, this in addition to his undeniable knockout power. In his most recent bout, Zhao submitted Thai Rithy in the first round. Representing Shanxi Xindu Martial Arts Club, Zhao will take on Waqar Umar in his return to action.
ONE: IRON WILL
Saturday, 24 March
Impact Arena, Bangkok, Thailand
Prelims start at 7:00 PM local time
Main card starts at 8:30 PM local time
Main Event
Bibiano Fernandes vs Martin Nguyen
ONE Bantamweight World Championship
Main Card
Garry Tonon vs Richard Corminal
Lightweight
Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke vs Jeremy Miado
Strawweight
Alain Ngalani vs Ariunbold Tur-Ochir
Light Heavyweight
Shannon Wiratchai vs Rahul Raju
Lightweight
Jake Butler vs Gilberto Galvao
Middleweight
Rika Ishige vs Angelie Sabanal
Atomweight
Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev vs Tetsuya Yamada
Lightweight
Prelims
Kaji Ebin vs Sunoto
Bantamweight
Kritsada Kongsrichai vs Robin Catalan
Strawweight
Waqar Umar vs Zhao Zhi Kang
Featherweight
ONE Championship is the largest global sports media property in Asian history. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE Championship is the home of martial arts and is the world's largest martial arts organization, hosting bouts across all styles of martial arts such as Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Karate, Kung Fu, Silat, Sanda, Lethwei, Mixed Martial Arts, Tae Kwon Do, Submission Grappling, and more. The world’s most exciting martial arts organization hosts the largest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world's best martial artists and world champions, all signed to exclusive contracts, on the largest media broadcast in Asia. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 1.7-billion potential viewers across 136 countries around the world with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Bandsports, Startimes, Premier Sports, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, OSN, and more.
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