MANILA, Philippines - Fil-Am Ana Julaton makes her keenly awaited debut in the octagon arena as she slugs it out with Egyptian kickboxing champion Aya Saeid Saber in tonight’s ONE FC: Rise of Heroes at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.
Julaton, formerly the women’s WBO and IBA super bantamweight titlist who has also excelled in other martial arts like taekwondo, kung-fu, kenpo karate and shotokan, hopes to make a successful jump from the ring to the mixed martial arts cage although Saber said it’s not going to be easy.
“I can’t wait to get into the cage and beat Ana (Julaton),’’ said Saber, who has already fought thrice in MMA and won just one, during one of the pre-fight workouts staged by the ONE FC.
“Unlike her, I have fought in the cage and I’m not new to MMA. So be careful Ana, you are entering this world, my world,’’ she added.
For the 33-year-old Julaton, she also hopes to rely on crowd support.
“It’s a dream-come-true for me fighting for my countrymen. I live in the US, but my heritage is here in the Phl so it will be an honor to win here,†said Julaton, who has won 13 boxing bouts, lost four and drew once before hanging up her gloves to throw her hat to the MMA ring.
Julaton will be one of the two Filipinos fighting in the card with Eugene Toquero facing off with unbeaten Malaysian Gianni Subba in the other featured match.