One FC 23 will feature the return of bantamweight champion Bibiano Fernandes, and the debut of longtime UFC veteran Brandon Vera.
One FC officials announced on Friday that Fernandes will put his 135-pound title on the line in the main event of One FC’s return to Manila on Dec. 5 against undefeated Korean. Dae Hwan Kim.
Speaking to MMAFighting.com in September, Fernandes said he expected to meet Kim in his next One FC bout.
“I don’t know who I’m fighting next, but there’s this guy, Dae Hwan Kim, who is really good,” Fernandes said. “He has a good muay thai Igor Subora.”
Fernandes (16-3) looks to defend his title a second time after scoring a unanimous decision win over Masakatsu Ueda in May. Kim (10-0-1) enters the title fight coming off a pair of submission wins under the One FC banner.
One FC 23 also features Vera’s promotional debut in a heavyweight contest against Igor Subora. Vera (12-7, 1 no-contest) returns to action for the first time since a TKO loss to Ben Rothwell in 2013, while Subora (5-1) makes his One FC debut riding a five-fight finishing streak.
“One Fighting Championship will hold nothing back as it returns for another night to remember at the state-of-the-art Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines,” One FC CEO Victor Cui stated in a release. “Brandon Vera is a global Filipino mixed martial arts superstar, and One FC will finally give fans in the Philippines the opportunity to see him in action live for the first time!
“He’ll be tested against heavyweight standout Igor Subora. Also, bantamweight champ Bibiano Fernandes will have his hands full against the unbeaten and dangerous Dae Hwan Kim. We have some awesome fights lined up for fans in Manila as Warrior’s Way promises to be the biggest fight card of 2014!”