Tag: ONE Fighting Championship

Rolles Gracie To Meet Bob Sapp At ONE FC 2 Event In Jakarta, Indonesia

Tweet The Singapore based ONE Fighting Championship promotion has added a bout between Rolles Gracie Jr (5-1), who fights as a heavyweight, and former K-1 veteran Bob ‘The Beast’ Sapp (11-9), who now competes as a super heavyweight fighter. MMAMania.com reported the bout this morning, along with a bout between M-1 standout Rustam Khabilov (12-1) […]

The Singapore based ONE Fighting Championship promotion has added a bout between Rolles Gracie Jr (5-1), who fights as a heavyweight, and former K-1 veteran Bob ‘The Beast’ Sapp (11-9), who now competes as a super heavyweight fighter.

MMAMania.com reported the bout this morning, along with a bout between M-1 standout Rustam Khabilov (12-1) and Brazilian Rodrigo Ribeiro (9-7). The website stated both bouts were official, but at time of writing, have yet to confirm the news.

ONE Fighting Championship 2 Battle of Heroes is scheduled to take place on February 11, 2012 at the Sports Mall Kelapa Gading in Jakarta, Indonesia. The event is expected to feature a ten-bout card including Indonesian fighter Victorio ‘Indra’ Senduk.

Gracie fought twice in 2011, winning both times erasing his disastrous appearance with the UFC. The submission fighter used arm-triangle chokes to stop Lee Mein at a Wreck MMA show in October, and Braden Bice at a UCC show in April. Before that Gracie made his one Octagon appearance in February 2010, losing via second round TKO to Joey Beltran at UFC 109. Gracie looked good in the opening minutes of the bout but appeared gassed after three minutes into the first round. He was released after the loss.

Sapp has seen his MMA career slide decline since 2008 when he had won four straight. He is currently 1-6 in his last seven bouts and most recently lost via first round TKO to Croatian fighter Maro Perak this past December. Sapp’s last win came in March 2010 after submitting Sascha Weinpolter in the first round at a local event in Croatia.

‘The Beast’ has found more success lately as a pro-wrestler than he has as a fighter and may be in for another loss against a submission fighter like Gracie.

Renato ‘Babalu’ Sobral Signs With ONE FC, To Debut In March

Tweet Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Renato ‘Babalu’ Sobral (36-10) has not had a fight since a title eliminator loss to Dan Henderson in December 2010. Since that loss ‘Babalu’ has been shelved for a year waiting to find out where his next fight might happen. He’s been kept busy by helping fighters such as […]

Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Renato ‘Babalu’ Sobral (36-10) has not had a fight since a title eliminator loss to Dan Henderson in December 2010.

Since that loss ‘Babalu’ has been shelved for a year waiting to find out where his next fight might happen. He’s been kept busy by helping fighters such as Igor Pokrajac, Wanderlei Silva, Fabricio Werdum and the rest of the team at Kings MMA in California prepare for their bouts.

Now comes news from ONE Fighting Championship’s Facebook page that the UFC veteran has signed with the Asian based promotion and is set to debut in March at the ONE FC-DREAM event in Singapore.

The co-branded ONE Fighting Championship 3/DREAM event is expected to take place on March 31, 2012 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore.

Sobral started his professional mixed martial arts career back in 1997, winning twelve straight until a majority decision loss to Dan Henderson in the final of the King of Kings 1999 Final tournament event in Japan. ‘Babalu’ would join the UFC in 2002, going 1-2 in his three appearances and would then move onto the IFL for a short stint to win the IFL light heavyweight tournament final over Jeremy Horn.

The Brazilian would return to the UFC in April 2005, making six appearances losing a title shot against Chuck Liddell at UFC 62. He would then go on and fight under the Affliction banner and Strikeforce, winning the Strikeforce light heavyweight strap in 2008.

In his first title defense, he would get KO’d by Gegard Mousasi in the first round of the Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg event. He would go on to decision Robbie Lawler before losing to Henderson again in a No. 1 contender bout.

Over Sobral’s fourteen year plus career, he’s fought such names as Fedor Emelianenko, Chael Sonnen, Maruicio ‘Shogun’ Rua, as well as multiple fights versus Liddell and Henderson.

ONE Fighting Championship 2 “Battle Of Heroes” Poster

Tweet The Asian based ONE Fighting Championship promotion is set to hold it’s second event this coming February in Indonesia with it’s ONE Fighting Championship 2: Battle of Heroes event. The action is set to go down on February 11, 2012 at the Sports Mall Kelapa Gading in Jakarta Indonesia. Entitled “ONE Fighting Championship 2 […]

The Asian based ONE Fighting Championship promotion is set to hold it’s second event this coming February in Indonesia with it’s ONE Fighting Championship 2: Battle of Heroes event. The action is set to go down on February 11, 2012 at the Sports Mall Kelapa Gading in Jakarta Indonesia.

Entitled “ONE Fighting Championship 2 – Battle of Heroes”, fans of MMA can look forward to 10 fights of non-stop adrenaline and excitement as 20 top fighters from around the world including Indonesia’s own hero, Victorio “Indra” Senduk, compete for honor and glory. Champions from every major martial art, will proudly represent their nations in an epic clash of skill, determination, and pure athleticism. ONE Fighting Championship is the “King of Asian MMA”.

ONE Fighting Championship And DREAM Join Forces

Tweet Press Release – 28 November, 2011 – Singapore: Asia’ss largest MMA promotions, ONE Fighting Championship™ and DREAM, have entered into a mutually exclusive partnership, signifying another monumental inflection point for the sport of MMA in Asia. Specifically, ONE Fighting Championship and DREAM have agreed to co-promote events together and have also agreed to fighter […]

Press Release – 28 November, 2011 – Singapore: Asia’ss largest MMA promotions, ONE Fighting Championship™ and DREAM, have entered into a mutually exclusive partnership, signifying another monumental inflection point for the sport of MMA in Asia.

Specifically, ONE Fighting Championship and DREAM have agreed to co-promote events together and have also agreed to fighter exchanges. Fighter exchanges are expected to happen with immediate effect. It means that any ONE FC fighter will automatically be eligible to compete on DREAM and any DREAM fighter will automatically be eligible to compete on ONE FC.

In addition, the first co-promotion is tentatively scheduled for March 31 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in the name of “ONE FC / DREAM in Singapore,” subject to approval by media partners and other third parties. In the future, both parties will work together to co-promote events in Japan to evolve the sport of MMA in Asia.

Victor Cui, CEO/Owner of ONE Fighting Championship, said, ”I am thrilled by this partnership. Japan has the highest level of MMA fighters in Asia due to its long history in the sport. DREAM is the most prestigious event in Japan. With this partnership, ONE Fighting Championship and DREAM will continue to showcase the most exciting fights between the best fighters in Asia. I am truly excited by the potential of this partnership to create new opportunities for fighters, gyms, sponsors, advertisers, and media partners.”

Keiichi Sasahara, Event Producer of DREAM, said, “DREAM and ONE Fighting Championship will work together to lead the sport of MMA in Asia to a better future. DREAM has some of the best fighters in the world and we also have deep experience of putting on world-class events. ONE Fighting Championship has the largest media platform in Asia and many other assets. I see many great synergies with this partnership. It is certainly a new era for everyone in Asian MMA.”

About ONE Fighting Championship™

Headquartered in Singapore, ONE Fighting Championship™ (http://www.onefc.com) is Asia’s largest mixed martial arts organization. ONE Fighting Championship hosts the most prestigious mixed martial arts event in Asia and is the only Asian MMA organization with a pan-Asian media broadcast.

About DREAM™

Headquartered in Tokyo, DREAM (http://www.dreamofficial.com) is the only major Japanese major mixed martial arts organization. It started in 2008 and has since held 19 events. World-class fighters such as Shinya Aoki, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Hiroyuki Takaya, and Gegard Mousasi are a few of the many names that have been fighting for the organization. DREAM is widely regarded as the top MMA event in Asia and is aiming for the Asian market in 2012 in order to take a leadership role to bring the Asian MMA scene to the next level.

ONE FC Fighter Blog: Brian ‘Polar Bear’ Choi Training With Fighters Such As Shinya Aoki

Evolve Mixed Martial Arts is fast becoming one of the top gyms in Asia and is home to ONE FC’s latest acquisitions, Brian ‘Polar Bear’ Choi (3-0) who is preparing for an upcoming fight in his hometown of Seoul, Korea. The ‘Polar Bear’ meets fellow countryman Bae Young Kwon at an upcoming ROAD Fighting Championship event. Choi trains with the likes of DREAM champ Shinya Aoki and offers fans a look at some his training in Asia.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Evolve Mixed Martial Arts is fast becoming one of the top gyms in Asia and is home to ONE FC’s latest acquisitions, Brian ‘Polar Bear’ Choi (3-0). Choi is preparing for an upcoming fight in his hometown of Seoul, Korea where he meets fellow countryman Bae Young Kwon at an upcoming ROAD Fighting Championship event. The ‘Polar Bear’ trains with the likes of DREAM champ Shinya Aoki and offers fans a look at some his training at the Evolve gym in Korea.

ONE Fighting Championship CEO Victor Cui Says Promotion Will Hold 35 Events In 2012

ONE Fighting Championship CEO Victor Cui talks about organizing the biggest mma network in Asia and building it into one of the largest promotions in the world. Cui says ONE FC will hold 35 events in 2012, and hopes for more as other organizations join him under the ONE FC network.

Click here to view the embedded video.

ONE Fighting Championship CEO Victor Cui talks about organizing the biggest mma network in Asia and building it into one of the largest promotions in the world. Cui says ONE FC will hold 35 events in 2012, and hopes for more as other organizations join him under the ONE FC network.