Fodor, Colossa seek Japanese legend belt

MANILA, Philippines - Who will have a chance to challenge Japanese mixed martial arts (MMA) legend Shinya Aoki, the current ONE Fighting Championship (ONE FC) lightweight titleholder?

This will be finally answered during ONE FC: Moment of Truth on Dec. 6 at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena when former American Marines Caros Fodor and South African muay Thai practitioner Vuyisile Colossa battle in one of 10 electrifying bouts.

“I’m not taking any chances although I’m the better striker than him,” Fodor said in an interview after the open workout organized by ONE FC for the media and MMA fans at the Resorts World Manila in Pasay City.

Fodor and Colossa separately won in thrilling matches during ONE FC 10 “Kings and Champions” event in Jakarta, Indonesia, in September this year.

Fodor, a veteran of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Strikeforce before joining the ONE FC fold, thrashed the previously undefeated Seung Ho Yang of Korea for three rounds in his debut match.

His compelling win sent notice he is a potential contender for Aoki’s lightweight title, who has a career record of 24 stoppage wins.

The same was said of Colossa who saw action in the main event after he put up an impressive unanimous victory against veteran Japanese Kotetsu Boku, the former One FC lightweight champion.

“Since the beginning of One FC, my campaign [has been] for the belt, to fight for the title. That’s what I want, and Aoki is holding the title,” Colossa has said after his win.

ONE FC said the Manila fight on Dec. 6 will finally determine who is worthy to face the Japanese champion.

The two warriors will face off in the Manila card headlined by the much-awaited rematch between Filipino Honorio “The Rock” Banario and current ONE FC featherweight champion Japanese Koji Oishi, who dethroned him in May this year at the same venue.

Another exciting matchup is between Filipino combatant Kevin Belingon and undefeated Spaniard David Aranda Santacana, who is known for his wrestling skills and has beaten eight of his opponents by way of submission.

Although Belingon, one of the fighters under Team Lakay, lost in his last fight in May by points against former Shooto champion Masakatsu Ueda, his two earlier wins were impressive to still mark him a dangerous adversary.

Prior to that loss in the hands of the Japanese, the Team Lakay fighter scored consecutive knockouts against Yusup Saadulaev last year and Thanh Vu at One FC 8.

“I don’t care about his (Santacana’s) record. I will just focus on my game plan,” Belingon declared during the open workout.