Vera, Julaton lead Phl bid in One FC slugfest

MANILA, Philippines - Six Filipinos, headed by former Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter Brandon Vera and boxing champion Ana Julaton, try to snap the Philippines’ title spell in the ONE FC Championship, which unveils an explosive fightcard on Friday at the SM MOA Arena in Pasay City.

Not since Honorio Banario lost his featherweight crown in May last year has there been a Filipino winner in the ONE FC with Vera and Julaton eager to showcase their fighting skills and end the drought in the upcoming event dubbed as the “Warrior’s Way.”

Vera is eyeing no less than a win against Igor Subora in a heavyweight fight that he hopes will revive his career, which took a downswing following a pair of losses to Ben Rothwell and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in the UFC.

Julaton, on the other hand, is looking for her second win in mixed martial arts after beating Aya Saeid Saber via TKO due to punches and elbows right last May, also at the MOA Arena. She tackles Walaa Abas in a flyweight bout.

“I’m excited to fight before my fellow Filipinos, this fight is for the country,” said Vera in yesterday’s workout session at The Fight Factor at The Fort in Taguig City.

Eduard Folayang, a product of the Universal Reality Combat Championship of Alvin Aguilar, seeks a victory against Timofey Nastyukhin for a crack at the lightweight title currently held by Shinya Aoki.

“I’m confident I’ll win,” said Folayang, who boasts of a two-win match streak against Kotetsu Boku and Vincent Latoel, in Pilipino.

Banario is also out to redeem himself from a loss to Koji Oishi in their featherweight title clash as he slugs it out with Herbert Burns.

Other Filipinos in the card are Kevin Belingon, who clashes with Koetsu Okazaki, and Rene Catalan, who tangles with Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke.