Aoki, Pinoy fighters headline ONE FC Singapore bash

MANILA, Philippines - The ONE Fighting Championship will hold its eighth fightcard dubbed as “Kings and Champions” on April 5 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kellang with Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki and two Filipino fighters Kevin Bellingon and Rene Catalan highlighting the event.

Aoki, one of the world’s top submission specialists, earned a lightweight title crack against reigning champion Kotetsu “No Face” Boku after a swift submission victory over Arnaud Lepont in ONE FC: Rise of Kings last October, also in Singapore.

Boku snatched the inaugural lightweight crown from heavy favorite Zorobabel Moreira of Brazil, also in the ONE FC: Rise of Kings.

“We’ve got heavy stuffs for the ONE FC: Rise of Kings and the Boku-Aoki title fight just tops it all,” said ONE FC chief Victor Cui, a Filipino-Canadian.

But Filipinos are expected to focus on how Bellingon and Catalan would fare against Vietnamese Thanh Vu and Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist Alex Silva, respectively.

A win by Bellingon, who nailed his first-ever win inside the One FC cage after two disappointing losses with a first round technical knockout of Russian Yusup Saadulaev also in Singapore last year, will boost his bid for a possible crack at the bantamweight crown.

“I’m dedicating this fight to my country,” said Belingon, fighting out of Baguio-based Team Lakay, in Filipino.

For Catalan, the Wushu Asian and Southeast Asian Games gold medalist is eyeing no less than a smashing debut.

“I just want to start my ONE FC career with a win,” said Catalan.

Fans from around the world can also witness the action online via livestreaming at www.onefc.livesport.tv. 

For updates on ONE Fighting Championship, visit www.onefc.com and follow on Twitter @ONEFCMMA and Facebook at www.facebook.com/ONEFCMMA.