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Sports

Fernandes-Ueda promises fireworks

Jade Sanchez - The Philippine Star

The Philippines will witness a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event like never before as One Fighting Championship, the biggest MMA organization in Asia, return to the Philippines on May 2 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The entire nation will be in awe as the best fighters in the Philippines will be featured and a championship bout between two globally top-ranked warriors will headline the biggest show to ever hit the country.

Top of the world

Ranked as the No. 3 bantamweight fighter in the world by Fightmatrix.com and No. 6 by ESPN.com, the reigning ONE FC Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano Fernandes is without a doubt, one of the best fighters in the planet.

An accomplished grappler with multiple medals in his arsenal, Fernandes has all the tools to compete against any top bantamweight fighter who is willing to step up to the plate. Speaking of which, a new challenger has emerged who is equally dangerous, especially on the ground.

Fernandes will defend his belt against former Shooto champion and the One FC Bantamweight Grand Prix winner Masakatsu Ueda of Japan.

A match in experience

A veteran of the sport, Masakatsu earned impressive victories over gutsy competitors during his Shooto days. He was such a dominant force in Shooto that American-based promotion Bellator signed him up to be a part of the Season 6 of their Bantamweight tournament.

Thereafter, Ueda took the opportunity to return to Asia by signing with One Fighting Championship and immediately made a huge statement in the inaugural Bantamweight Grand Prix by submitting former UFC champion, Jens Pulver. He reached the finals of 8-men Grand Prix, where he eventually emerged as the winner dominating Filipino superstar Kevin Belingon.

Ueda knows a win against Fernandes will not only make him the champion but also will catapult him up into the upper echelons of the world rankings.

Fernandes and Ueda both possess world-class grappling with a superb stand-up game. If there's a fighter out there who is willing to engage with Fernandes wherever the fight takes place, it’s the Japanese superstar, Ueda.

These two gallant warriors have exceptional skills on the ground that even if the fight goes there, the action will still go on.

One FC: Rise of Heroes features 10 exciting bouts to be climaxed by the championship bout between Fernandes and Ueda.

Tickets to the blockbuster event One FC: Rise of Heroes are now on sale at www.SMTICKETS.com.

BANTAMWEIGHT GRAND PRIX

BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION BIBIANO FERNANDES

FERNANDES

FERNANDES AND UEDA

GRAND PRIX

JENS PULVER

KEVIN BELINGON

ONE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP

RISE OF HEROES

SHOOTO

UEDA

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