MANILA, Philippines – Filipinos Eric Kelly, Eduard Folayang and Honorio Banario boosted their stock as mixed martial art warriors as they came through with impressive victories in the ONE Fighting Championship 5: Pride of a Nation fight card watched by a huge crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday night.
Kelly, a former taxi driver, bodyguard and movie stuntman, preserved his unbeaten card (8-0) after stopping Jens “Lil Evil” Pulver, the first lightweight champion of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, in one of the highlight fights of the night.
Impressed was ONE FC chief executive officer Victor Cui, giving Kelly a shot at the vacant featherweight crown against Banario in one of the three title bouts to be featured in the ONE FC 6: Rise of Kings in Singapore on Oct. 6.
“It’s an honor to fight in front of my countrymen. And I thank ONE FC for giving me a chance to win a title that I will dedicate to the Philippines,” said Kelly.
Banario, fighting out of the Baguio-based Team Lakay, knocked out Maics Gym’s Andrew Benibe in one of the undercards.
Folayang made it a twinkill for Team Lakay with a unanimous win over Japanese Felipe Enomoto.
Also making a good account of himself, Folayang was lined up by Cui for a crack at the vacant lightweight title versus Brazilian Zorobabel Moreira also in the Singapore card.
“Thank you for the opportunity, and I promise to win it for the country,” said Folayang.
Kelly, however, impressed the most with his KO win over Pulver, a legend in the UFC before making his appearance at ONE FC.
Pulver took his hats off to Kelly.
“Your boy was so fast and strong. He’s definitely the Manny Pacquiao of MMA,” said Pulver. “I’m 37 and I think it’s retirement for me now.”
Brazilian Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes outpointed Australian Gustavo Falciroli in the main bout of the fight card lasting past 12 midnight.
The fourth installment of the heavyweight fight between former UFC champions Tim “The Maine-iac” Sylvia and Andrei “The Pit Bull” Arlovski ended anti-climactically after their bout was declared a no-contest following an illegal kick by the latter on the former’s head.
Both Sylvia, ahead, 2-1, in their head-to-head, and Arlovski agreed to settle the issue in another showdown soon.
Rolles and Gregor Gracie, whose family was the originator of the Gracie jiu-jitsu or the modern Brazilian jiu-jitsu, kept the family tradition by beating Tony Bonello and Nicholas Mann in impressive fashion.
Their brother, Igor, was not as fortunate as he got felled by Korean Jung Hwan Cha, who lived up to his moniker as “Stone Cutter” with a mighty upset.
Another former UFC star, Phil Baroni or “The New York Badass,” also came out with a head-turning win after he knocked out Brazilian Rodrigo Ribiero right in the first round.
Thai Shannon Wiratchai came back from the jaws of defeat by taking out Mitch Chilson with a right counter to the latter’s jaw in the second round.