Largest MMA event comes to Dubai

Vaughn Donayre is set for the big challenge. — KT photo by Mukesh Kamal

ONE Fighting Championship (ONE FC), Asia’s largest mixed martial arts (MMA) organisation with a 90 per cent market share is all set to stage their largest ever event on August 29 at the World Trade Centre in Dubai.

Gates open at 6.30pm to an extravaganza of 10 classy bouts featuring 10 fighters and possibly an Emirati challenger. There will be titles at stake in the lightweight and welterweight classifications. Speaking to Khaleej Times in a pre-event buildup were hands-on fighter Vaughn Donayre, the UAE-based Filipino star, and Loren Mack, the PR director for ONE FC, headquartered in Singapore. Donayre said: “Getting into the fighting cage in front of the sports loving UAE audience will be an experience I will not be able to forget I am sure. The class of fighters coming here are top notch and the night promises to be one of ONE FC’s best ever events.”

In his individual capacity to educate newcomers to one of the fastest growing sports disciplines in the world, Mack, said: “The notion that MMA, the umbrella term and body for the sport under which comes the Asian brand ONE FC, is dangerous, is quite wrong. “Let me give you an example. When children including my daughter came to me for advice on choosing between boxing and MMA, my immediate response was for them to take up MMA.”

Mack added: “More people actually take it up as a pure form of the various martial arts to stay healthy and fit. There are so many safety measures during the fights in competitions and it is not a ‘slug fest’ like boxing which is centred on ‘hatred’ towards the opponent. In fact my first love was boxing when I moved into Nevada for my schooling and higher studies in business communications. Tyson was and is still a hero for me but the headquarters and the events of the MMA organisation in the city soon caught my fancy. “The modesty of the philosophies of the great ancient martial arts forms are combined into one package, and the cage part for the competitions is actually for the well being and safety of the fighters. The showdown in Dubai on August 29 will prove to the uninitiated that the sport holds great promise for the recreational aspect as well.”

ONE FC lightweight world champion Shinya Aoki will make the first defence of his title here in Dubai since winning it in April 2013 against Kotetsu Boku. This time he will take on veteran Kamal Shalorus of Iran. Mixed martial arts superstar Roger Huerta will also return to action to take on the undefeated Christian Holley.

Former WBO and IBA boxing world champion Ana Julaton will also return to the ONE FC cage to take on decorated wushu and kickboxing champion, Irina Mazepa.

The event will also feature a clash between top featherweights Herbert Burns and Hiroshige Tanaka, a media release by the promoters here stated. The four bouts have been added to the stacked card which features a main event title fight between Ben Askren and Nobutatsu Suzuki for the ONE FC Welterweight World Championship, which was announced earlier.

CEO of ONE FC Victor Cui, earlier this season, said: “ONE FC’s ‘Reign of Champions’ is set to be the biggest night in the history of mixed martial arts. A historic four ONE FC World Championships will be on the line on August 29 and will feature some of the greatest mixed martial artists from all over the world. “Shinya Aoki is the greatest grappler in mixed martial arts but he will be tested when he takes on Kamal Shalorus, who has been on a tear since joining ONE FC. Fans are in store for a historic night featuring world class and adrenaline-pumping mixed martial arts action.”

Fans in Asia can catch all the action live on Star Sports and action online via live streaming at www.onefc.livesport.tv <http://www.onefc.livesport.tv/> More updates on ONE FC, can be obtained from www.onefc.com <http://www.onefc.com/> and one can follow on Instagram and Twitter @ONEFCMMA, Facebook at www.facebook.com/ONEFCMMA <http://www.facebook.com/ONEFCMMA> and Weibo at http://www.weibo.com/onefc <http://www.weibo.com/onefc>