Martial Arts 101.

Martial arts is a popular type of self defense that emphasizes discipline and focus. Today, it's taught primarily as a tool for physical fitness, sports, confidence and mental discipline, but it originated as a method of self defense that was taught to soldiers and used in combat.

Bruce Lee.

What is Martial Arts?
The term “martial arts” includes various types of fighting techniques that are used primarily for self defense. Martial arts originated thousands of years ago within the cultures of China, Japan and India. China is home to one of the oldest types of martial arts, called Oigong, thought to have been practiced as long as 5,000 years ago. Qigong, which means "energy cultivation," is a martial arts technique that was developed to increase the flow of energy in the body. According to Chinese philosophy, a person's life energy is responsible for strength and health throughout their lifetime.

What are the Types of Martial Arts?
Some types of martial arts are practiced without self defense weapons, while others include weapons like swords, knives and daggers. Whether armed or unarmed, the desired result of all types of martial arts is to achieve physical power over an opponent. The different types of martial arts fall into categories that include striking arts, joint lock arts and throwing arts.

Lyoto Machida, Shotokan Karate black belter.

Striking Arts
The striking arts method of martial arts is one of the oldest techniques. Striking arts techniques focus on striking the opponent in vulnerable body parts in order to defeat him. Striking arts include Karate, Tae Kwon Do and boxing. While Karate and Tae Kwon Do employ various punches and kicks to the body, boxing focuses on hitting the opponent in the upper torso using boxing gloves.

Photo credit: Aikido Auckland.

Joint Lock Arts
In joint lock arts, you must learn how to push and manipulate your opponent's joints past their normal comfort zone. This self defense technique is especially helpful when a small person is pitted against a larger person. Aikido, a disciplined type of martial arts, uses joint lock techniques, but these techniques require years of study and are extremely hard to master.

Roger Gracie, grandson of Carlos Gracie - creator of Gracie Jiu Jitsu.

Throwing Arts
Throwing arts, practiced in Judo and wrestling, focus on knocking your opponent off their feet. Hapkido and Braazilian Jiu-Jitsu use a combination of striking, joint lock and throwing arts performed with fluid movements that are meant to take an opponent quickly to the ground.

Wordless Wednesday #132 | Oss!

Future blackbelter with his Sensei.
The boy is now wearing his very own gi! :)

ONE FC: Warrior's Way | Wins, Losses, and all the Action!

'Twas another night of hard-hitting, world class mixed martial arts action as ONE Fighting Championship (ONE FC) returned to Manila last night for ONE FC 23: Warrior's Way. Here's a recap of all the action that happened at the Mall of Asia Arena.

ONE FC Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes retained his title with a submission win over Korea’s Dae Hwan Kim. Kim proved to be a live challenger as he tested Fernandes’ championship mettle in the first round with a display of lightning quick strikes that found their mark. In the second round, Fernandes turned to grappling as he quickly worked to secure Kim’s back after the Korean missed a punch. Moments later, Fernandes locked in a Rear Naked Choke, forcing Kim to tap out.

And still the ONE FC Bantamweight Champion!

In the co-main event of the evening, international mixed martial arts superstar Brandon “The Truth” Vera of the Philippines defeated URCC champion Igor Subora of the Ukraine via spectacular knockout, sending the MOA Arena crowd into a frenzy. The fight started off with both fighters trading heavy blows. Vera caught Subora in a Muay Thai clinch and unleashed a couple of knees to the head. Towards the end of the round, Vera slipped a punch by Subora and countered with a straight left, dropping his opponent and throwing in two more kicks for good measure. The referee stepped in to stop the fight, awarding Vera with the victory.

Brandon Vera comes home - and takes the win!

Timofey Nastyukhin of Russia defeated hometown hero Eduard Folayang after connecting with a combination of devastating strikes to win by knockout. After a solid exchange of power shots at the center of the cage, Nastyukhin landed a flying knee to the chin of Folayang, sending the Filipino to the canvas in the first round. Two quick kicks finished things off as the referee stepped in, awarding Nastyukhin the victory.

Flying knee to the chin of Folayang.

Roger Gracie of the renowned Gracie fighting family made a successful ONE FC debut against the hard-hitting James McSweeney. In a feeling out round, the two light heavyweights spent the majority outside of each other’s range until McSweeney connected with a roundhouse kick. In the second round, a cut opened up on McSweeney’s right eye courtesy of a Gracie left hand. Gracie went to work on the eye for the remainder of the round. In the third, things got worse for McSweeney as he hurt his foot after missing with a kick. Gracie immediately capitalized on the situation and pounced on McSweeney with downward strikes, causing the referee to call a halt to the contest.

Roger Gracie's first ONE FC match, and he takes the win!

In a bantamweight matchup, Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon impressed with a strong performance against the highly touted Koetsu Okazaki of Japan. After a slow start, it was Belingon who was able to land the damaging blows as he dropped Okazaki to the mat with a thudding right hook towards the end of the round. In round two, Belingon continued his dazzling display of elite striking with a wide array of kicks, punctuated by a flashy spinning side-kick that knocked Okazaki back. In the third, Belingon scored on a pair of kicks and finished the round with a series of sharp elbows from top position. All judges were in favor of Belingon, who won by unanimous decision.

Herbert Burns needed just a few minutes to take care of Honorio Banario, working and securing a Rear Naked Choke to end the fight in round one. As soon as the opening bell sounded, Burns took Banario’s back with lightning quick efficiency, sinking in the hooks almost immediately as both fighters hit the ground. For the rest of the round Banario tried desperately to defend from the choke but it was inevitable. Once the choke was locked in, Banario had no choice but to tap out, giving Burns the submission victory.

In a battle of light heavyweights, former NCAA Division I wrestler Jake Butler dominated Sylvain Potard in a much anticipated rematch. In round one, Butler controlled most of the action, keeping Potard ineffective against the cage. Butler used his wrestling again in round two, this time to gain mount, letting his hands go with a combination of damaging left hands. Butler continued his dominance to the end of the third and final round, winning the fight by unanimous decision.

Former Lumpinee champion Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke of Evolve MMA showed fans just how dangerous his world-class Muay Thai can be by taking care of Rene Catalan of the Philippines in a clash of ferocious flyweights. In round one, Sor Amnuaysirichoke worked masterfully in the clinch, blasting a plethora of vicious knees to Catalan’s midsection, one of which sent the Filipino to the canvas writhing in pain. With his opponent unable to continue, Sor Amnuaysirichoke nabbed the win by knockout.

Ana Julaton wins via unanimous decision.

Former boxing world champion Ana Julaton showcased her newfound grappling skills against opponent Walaa Abas, winning a unanimous decision. In the first round, both fighters traded strikes in the clinch but it was Julaton who was able to score on a takedown. In the second, Julaton’s boxing shone through as she landed a series of solid blows. The third round saw much of the same action as Abas tried her best to keep the distance and avoid Julaton’s power punching.

Amazing ground and pound by Jujeath Nagaowa.

The Philippines’ Jujeath Nagaowa and Cambodia’s Tharoth Sam kicked off the action for ONE FC: Warrior's Way in an entertaining women’s atomweight contest. The former pro-boxer Nagaowa dominated the fight with impressive boxing in the clinch and some solid ground work. In the second round, Nagaowa caught Sam out of position and swiftly worked to get full mount, unleashing ground and pound to win by referee stoppage.

Official results for ONE FC: Warrior's Way

ONE FC Bantamweight World Championship bout:
Bibiano Fernandes defeats Dae Hwan Kim by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 1:16 minutes of round 2
Heavyweight bout: Brandon Vera defeats Igor Subora by Knockout at 3:54 minutes of round 1 Lightweight bout: Timofey Nastyukhin defeats Eduard Folayang by Knockout at 3:11 minutes of round 1
Light Heavyweight bout: Roger Gracie defeats James McSweeney by TKO (Strikes) at 3:15 minutes of round 3
Bantamweight bout: Kevin Belingon defeats Koetsu Okazaki by Unanimous Decision
Catchweight bout: Herbert Burns defeats Honorio Banario by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:59 minutes of round 1
Light Heavyweight bout: Jake Butler defeats Sylvain Potard by Unanimous Decision
Flyweight bout: Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke defeats Rene Catalan by Knockout at 2:30 minutes of round 1
Flyweight bout: Ana Julaton defeats Walaa Abas by Unanimous Decision
Atomweight bout: Jujeath Nagaowa defeats Tharoth Sam by TKO (Strikes) at 3:34 minutes of round 2

And in case you missed the action, log on to www.onefc.com/livestream for the full replay of the fights at only US $9.99.

One FC: Warrior's Way | Gearing Up for Fight Week!

One FC, Asia's largest mixed martial arts organization, has prepared a series of engaging pre-fight events for the public to witness and enjoy. Fans, partners, and media will get an opportunity to spend some time with the world-class stars billed on the December 5 event.

December 1 activities.

Tuesday (December 2) will provide the media the opportunity to witness three of the country’s best in action. Eduard Folayang, Honorio Banario, Kevin Belingon, Ana Julaton, and Brandon Vera will conduct an open workout session, where they will showcase their skills as well as share with the country their mindset ahead of the upcoming clashes at One FC: Warrior's Way. The event will be at Fight Factory at Karport, Bonifacio Global City at 1 p.m.

Selected gym partners will also be in for a treat as one of the greatest minds in the sport today, One FC Vice President of Operations, Matt Hume will be imparting his skills in an MMA seminar. Several of Hume’s students have gone on to win world championships and he will share his knowledge with a few lucky gym partners. There will also a summit for some of the martial arts leaders in the country on that day.

December 2 and 3 activities.

Fans looking to experience the training regime of these highly trained athletes now also get the opportunity to do so, with free trials at several gyms that are part of the One FC network. These gyms have produced talented mixed martial artists, several of whom have eventually gone on to compete against world-class stars at One FC.

The events will then culminate with the weigh-ins at the Mall Of Asia Atrium. This will be the last chance to catch the stars of One FC as they make their final public appearance and face off with their opponent ahead of their anticipated bouts the following day.

December 4 and 5 activities.

Finally, on 5 December, Manila will become the epicentre for world-class mixed martial arts action. One FC: Warrior's Way will happen live at MOA Arena and will be broadcast all around the world as the best mixed martial artists in the world do battle inside the One FC cage!

One FC: Warrior's Way | Brandon Vera's Homecoming.

Most were left intrigued when mixed martial arts superstar Brandon Vera spoke in Tagalog during the press conference held at NBA Cafe last September 3. In the said event, Vera's One FC signing was announced, as well as his debut match which will be held on December 5 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

It is not an uncommon fact that there are some Filipinos who would change their accent the moment they land in the US, even for a short holiday. One then wonders why Brandon Michael Vera, a US citizen, would imprint the alibata - an ancient writing system that now only appears on history books - on his back for all the world to see. He fought for 8 years in another organization and during his fights, he would bear the Philippine flag as he walked down the Octagon, or would have its logo imprinted on his fighting gear.

Tracing his roots.
Photo credit: Brandon Vera.

Brandon was left by his Italian-American mother at age 3. Eventually, he was raised by a Filipina step-mom and a Filipina grandma who taught him and his siblings to eat with his hands (kamayan). He is an expert at it and that skill became evident when Mark Zambrano of GMA-7 had a one-on-one interview with him at Kamayan restaurant last October.

Who among us even bothers to eat without utensils? Is it not that we have this ardent desire to depart from what our culture has inculcated on us? Then here comes Brandon with all the privileges of an American citizen, born and raised in the land of milk and honey, and he attempts to have a dual citizenship. Isn't it ironic?

Living the country life.
Photo credit: Brandon Vera.

Perhaps because he was abandoned by his mother at such a young age, perhaps it is his need to put down his roots to what he wants to call home, perhaps he just wants to become closer to his Filipino fans. Whatever it is, let us welcome him home, as he has done so much more than most Filipinos who were born and raised here in terms of embracing culture and heritage and being immensely proud of his roots.

Welcome home Brandon! See you on Dec. 5!

One FC: Warrior's Way | Roger Gracie returns to MMA action.

When you think about fighting families in the world of  mixed martial arts, only one name comes to mind. That is the legendary Gracie family, who were the inventors of the martial art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. They will now send one of their greatest descendants to do battle in the world-renowned One FC cage. The representative is multiple-time world grappling champion, Roger Gracie.

Roger Gracie gearing up for his One FC debut.

Roger Gracie is set to make his long-awaited debut for One FC on 5 December in Manila when he takes on knockout artist James McSweeney. McSweeney has professional kickboxing experience and will look to demonstrate his striking prowess against the grappler Gracie. Since coming to One FC, McSweeney has destroyed both light heavyweight and heavyweight opponents via knockout. This is a clash of two high profile athletes in the sport today.

Roger Gracie is an icon of the grappling world. He is the grandson of Carlos Gracie, the creator of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In 2005, he won both the heavyweight and absolute division tournaments at the prestigious ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship. He also won all of his bouts at the 2009 Mundials and have never been submitted in competition in more than ten years. He also has an impressive mixed martial arts record, notching up six victories thus far.

After his last bout a year ago, he was prepared to walk away from mixed martial arts. However, after speaking with a few close friends and One FC executives, he decided the itch for competition remains and decided that now was the time to come out to Asia to create a legacy.

Another Gracie in One FC!

"I am happy to sign with One FC. I had given up in fighting MMA, decided to go back to jiu-jitsu, but I got this offer and it changed my mind," Gracie said. "I’m going to do a few more MMA fights, and I still want to compete in jiu-jitsu."

He now teaches and owns an academy in London, England. Gracie has seen his cousins Igor, Gregor and Rolles Jr. all achieve mixed results in the One FC cage and is determined to do the legendary family proud by letting the world witness a Gracie become world champion once again. He has announced plans to compete at two weight classes and want to reign supreme at both classes.

Tickets for One FC: WARRIOR’S WAY on 5 December in Manila are on sale now at SM Tickets (http://www.smtickets.com). Ticket categories begin with the full Red Carpet and cageside experience for VIPs at PHP 6,360 followed by Patron PHP 3,180, Lower Box PHP 1,280, Upper Box PHP 640 and General Admission PHP 220. Prices include ticketing fee. Pre-sale packages are currently available.

One FC: Warrior's Way | Brandon Vera leads pack of seven Filipino fighters.

On December 5, 2014, 7 Filipinos will show their warrior skills inside the cage in front of the Filipino audience at the SM Arena. The pack of 7 will be led by none less, Brandon Vera, international MMA superstar who is set to have his debut fight for One FC that night.

One FC: Warrior's Way is set to be the organization’s fifth stop in the country, and the star-studded card will feature seven Filipino superstars taking on foreign opponents. Jujeath Nagaowa, Ana Julaton, Rene Catalan, Honorio Banario, Kevin Belingon, Eduard Folayang and MMA superstar Brandon Vera are the seven Filipino stars set to feature on the card and the group form an impressive representation of the martial arts prowess of the Philippines. Both Jujeath Nagaowa and Ana Julaton have boxing pedigrees, with Julaton a former WBO and IBA Super Bantamweight Champion. Catalan, Banario, Belingon and Folayang all have a long list of accolades in Wushu and Brandon Vera is a kickboxing champion and one of the most highly touted fighters in recent history. A win for any of the Filipino stars could put them up for title contention in a future event.

One FC: Warrior's Way Fight Card.

Jujeath Nagaowa is taking on Tharoth Sam, a female mixed martial arts pioneer from Cambodia. Ana Julaton, who arguably had the loudest ovation at the last Manila event, will be back in action once again to take on Egyptian kickboxing champion Walaa Abbas. Julaton has been training with some of the top wrestling coaches in the states and is eager to showcase her new grappling chops in this bout. 

Former ONE FC Featherweight World Champion Honorio Banario will look to make the climb back into title contention, but he faces a stern test in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion Herbert Burns. Belingon will be disappointed that he is not in the main event, considering he was dominating in a #1 contender bout against Dae Hwan Kim before succumbing to a submission. Dae now gets to compete in the main event and Belingon will be determined to gain a headlining spot.

Eduard Folayang has another stern test in Russia’s Timofey Nastyukhin. Folayang has staked his claim for a title opportunity by defeating Vincent Latoel and former ONE FC Lightweight World Champion Kotetsu Boku, and a win over Nastyukhin will make it hard for the matchmakers to overlook his claims.

The event will also see the debut of MMA superstar Brandon Vera in the Philipines. Fans in the country have been clamouring for an opportunity to see him live in action for more than a decade and will now get the chance at One FC: Warrior's Way. He will take on Igor Subora, a Ukrainian who has destroyed the regional scene in the Philippines. The clash of heavyweights is one of the most heavily-anticipated bouts of the year and will cap off the Filipino participation at this momentous event.

Tickets for One FC: Warriors Way on 5 December in Manila are on sale now at SM Tickets (http://www.smtickets.com). Ticket categories begin with the full Red Carpet and cageside experience for VIPs at PHP 6,360 followed by Patron PHP 3,180, Lower Box PHP 1,280, Upper Box PHP 640 and General Admission PHP 220. Prices include ticketing fee. Pre-sale packages are currently available.

One FC: Warrior's Way | New Fights Announced!

One FC: Warrior's Way, which happens on December 5, promises to be the biggest MMA event the Philippines' has ever witnessed. And from the way things are going - with four new exciting bouts added to the fight card - this event is sure living up to its promise.

Headlining this event is Bibiano Fernandes' title fight against Korean contender Dae Hwan Kim. There's also the co-main event which every Filipino MMA fan is looking forward to - Brandon Vera's debut fight against the undefeated Igor Subora.

And over the weekend, One FC CEO Victor Cui announced the new bouts that have been added to the Warrior's Way fight card. "ONE Fighting Championship is set to end the year with a blast by making Warrior's Way the biggest and most exciting MMA event of 2014!" said Cui. "We have added some truly massive fights on the already astounding fight card. Team Lakay warriors Kevin Belingon and Honorio Banario seek redemption inside the ONE FC cage while Filipino-American Brandon Vera makes his debut. Fans can definitely expect an unforgettable night of world class and adrenaline-pumping mixed martial arts action!"

Happening on December 5 at the Mall of Asia Arena!

Koetsu Okazaki vs. Kevin Belington

Koetsu Okazaki worked his way up the ranks of Shooto by dominating all opposition and earned the Shooto World Championship belt as a featherweight. He has never been knocked out or stopped with strikes due to his excellent chin and ability to take a punch. Okazaki is looking to continue his win streak by defeating Kevin Belingon to move up the ranks and work his way to another shot at the Bantamweight title.

Kevin Belingon is arguably one of the best bantamweights to hail from the Philippines, renowned for his striking ability while possessing incredible speed and power. He can get in and out of range without being taken down or countered and can inflict serious damage with just a single strike. To top it off, Belingon has some of the most dangerous kicks in the entire division, rounding things out with explosive takedowns and devastating ground-and-pound. Belingon is set to come back stronger this time against Okazaki in front of his home crowd.

Honorio Banario vs. Herbert Burns

Honorio Banario has a record of 8-4 and is hungry for a win, with the ultimate goal of landing another shot at One FC gold down the road. Known for his aggressive yet calculated approach to striking, Banario will need to overcome the toughest challenge of his career against Brazilian featherweight standout Herbert Burns before he can consider himself back in the running for the ONE FC Featherweight world title.

Herbert Burns is one of the top Featherweight prospects in One FC with a penchant for locking in fight-ending submissions. With his strong background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Burns is widely considered the top contender in his division and is on the fast track to getting a shot at the ONE FC Featherweight title. He is extremely driven to win the belt to prove to fans all over the world that no one can get in his way.

Roger Gracie vs. James McSweeney

Yes, folks. It's THE Roger Gracie, and he will make his debut at One FC: Warrior's Way against contender, James McSweeney. Roger is one of the greatest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners of all time and is part of the world famous Gracie fighting family, the originators of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. He is undeniably one of the most skilled grapplers to transition into mixed martial arts and is looking to showcase his world-class technical acumen when he competes in Asia for the very first time.

Challenging Roger Gracie in this exciting light heavyweight bout is British fighter, James McSweeney, who is coming off a series of wins since his debut in One FC. Nicknamed ‘The Hammer’, McSweeney is menacing in the cage and will look to completely destroy his opponent to prove that he is the top fighter in the ONE FC light heavyweight division.

Jake Butler vs. Sylvain Potard

Since transitioning into mixed martial arts, former collegiate wrestling standout Jake Butler has amassed four victories with only one defeat and has exhibited some of the finest wrestling skills seen in professional mixed martial arts competition. Butler uses his elite wrestling pedigree to control opponents on the ground and in the clinch, where he does most of his damage by assuming dominant position and unleashing powerful strikes. Butler has been waiting for a rematch against Sylvain Potard to avenge the only loss on his otherwise unblemished record. One FC: Warrior's Way is the perfect opportunity for Butler to even the score.

French fighter, Sylvain Potard has a record of 7-4, with one of those victories being a memorable one-punch knockout of Jake Butler at One FC: Total Domination. In a highly-anticipated rematch, Potard will enter the One FC cage with Butler, this time, to prove his first victory was no fluke. A victory here will reinstate that he is the better fighter of the two. Both Potard and Butler have a lot riding on this matchup and fans will not want to miss the action.

Tickets for One FC: Warrior's Way on December 5 in Manila are on sale now at SM Tickets. 
Fans around Asia can catch all the action live on FOX Sports 3. Please check your local listings.

One FC: Warriors Way | Brandon Vera vs. Igor Subora.

Brandon Vera's recent signing to One FC created much hype and excitement among mixed martial enthusiasts, especially to Filipino fans. After all, Brandon Vera is a Filipino-American, who's very proud of his heritage and very excited to fight in Philippine soil.

After the press conference held last September 3, many have speculated as to who Brandon Vera will be fighting against in his debut match. The guesswork finally ended as Victor Cui, CEO of One FC, made the much-awaited announcement this week.

Photo credit; Brandon Vera.

"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", said Cui. "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!"

Former URCC heavyweight champion Igor Subora is currently riding a five fight win streak, with all of his wins coming by either submission or TKO/KO. He has never heard the final bell and looks to finish off his opponents within the distance. The Ukrainian is trained in Sambo and aims to demonstrate his elite grappling skills when he steps into the cage against Brandon Vera.

One FC 23: Warrior's Way.

New ONE FC acquisition Brandon “The Truth” Vera will make his promotional debut and promises to wow fans in Manila as he competes in the Philippines for the first time in his career. Vera is an American mixed martial arts superstar with Filipino ancestry. He has an impressive mixed martial arts record of 12 wins and 7 losses. Vera has faced some of the top light heavyweights and heavyweights in the world. He is also a multiple-time grappling champion, a wrestler in the Air Force and high school. He also possesses excellent Muay Thai skills and some of the most powerful kicks in the business.

Tickets for One FC: Warrior's Way on December 5 in Manila are on sale now at SM Tickets (http://www.smtickets.com). Ticket categories begin with the full Red Carpet and cageside experience for VIPs at Php 6,360 followed by Patron Ph 3,180, Lower Box Php 1,280, Upper Box Php 640 and General Admission Php 220. Prices include ticketing fee. Pre-sale packages are currently available.

Fans around Asia can catch all the action live on FOX Sports 3. Please check your local listings.
Also, fans from around the world can witness the action online via live streaming at http://www.onefc.com/livestream. The event will be available for purchase at just US$9.99

For more updates visit: 
One FC Official Website / One FC Twitter / One FC Facebook / One FC Instagram

Brandon Vera set for One FC debut in Manila.

For the first time in his mixed martial arts career, Filipino-American Brandon Vera will get a chance to fight in Manila as he makes his debut in One FC. This was announced yesterday, September 3, at the press conference held at the NBA Cafe in Taguig City. Joining Brandon Vera in the press conference was Rich Franklin, former UFC Middleweight Champion and now Vice President of One FC.

Brandon Vera, looking very down-to-earth in a pair of 'tsinelas'. :)

NBA Cafe, Manila.

"I am so excited to compete in Manila for the first time for ONE FC,” said Brandon Vera, who used to fight with the UFC. “The fans in the Philippines have been behind me my entire career, and I want to repay their faith by giving them an exciting performance and bringing my best into the ONE FC cage for a victorious debut this December."

Brandon Vera's debut happens on December 5, 2014 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. The event, dubbed as 'One FC 22: Warrior's Way', will be One FC's fifth card in the Philippines. Vera will be fighting at 265 pounds (heavyweight division) for the first time in his mixed martial arts career. His opponent for the said event has yet to be announced.

Whipped out his phone...

Brandon Vera parted ways with the UFC last June, and signed with One FC in July. He said the opportunity to fight in front of his hometown crowd (ergo, Manila) was the decisive force in signing with One FC.

"Pusong Pinoy talaga ako," said Vera, who surprised the crowd with his proficiency in Tagalog, albeit with a slang."Nung lumalaki ako, sinusubuan ako ng lola ko ng nakakamay, tanggal ang sapatos ganyan... Filipino talaga ako." (I'm a Filipino by heart. Growing up, my grandmother would feed me using her hands. We'd take off our shoes inside the house... I'm a real Filipino.)

... for a groufie with Rich Franklin!

Known for his aggressive Muay Thai style and skills in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (he holds a black belt, fyi), Brandon Vera had a combined record of 8-7, 1 no-contest in his 9-year stint in the UFC. He kicked off his UFC career with a 4-0 run, which included a 69-second destruction of ex-champion Frank Mir.  

The Truth and The Ace.

Vera, who once described his MMA career as 'peaks and valleys' said that his fight in Manila this December 'will be the highest peak ever'. Winning his first ever match in One FC will make Vera the inaugural One FC Heavyweight Champion.

Mark your calendars!

“It’s a dream to become a champion in this organization," Vera stated. "From the very start of my career, I never handpicked my opponents I will fight anyone just to be the first One FC heavyweight champion and reign as long as possible."

Best of Both Worlds | Korean Celebrities and Mixed Martial Arts.

The long weekend is about to come to an end, but I'm still on a high from the action that was UFC Macao. Although I must say, I was rather disappointed that Dong Hyun Kim lost that way. I had high hopes that he would stun Tyrone Woodley the way he did with John Hathaway; unfortunately his grinding, relentless fighting style took the best of him.

Next month, UFC will be bringing the action to Saitama, Japan, with three Korean mixed martial arts fighters included in the fight card. Kang Kyung Ho and Hyun Gyu Lim will be fighting against Japanese contenders in their respective Prelims matches, while Choo Sung Hoon (more popularly known as Yoshihiro Akiyama) will fight in the main card against Kyle Noke.

You might not know this (unless you're a Kdrama/variety show fan), but Choo Sung Hoon is also a TV star in Korea. He currently appears in 'Superman is Back', a reality show where celebrity dads are left to care for their kids alone for 48 hours without the help of anyone.

In fact, there are a few other Korean celebrities who are making a name for themselves in the mixed martial arts scene. Here are some of them:

1. Cheon Jung Myung.
The star of Cinderella's Sister, Fashion 70's, and Glory Jane, Cheon Jung Myung has more than just acting awards to his name. He also holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), and trains under Professor John Frankl - the founder of BJJ in Korea.

Photo credit: Cheon Jyung Mung.

 2. Lee Jae Yoon.

Also training under John Frankl, Lee Jae Yoon holds a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He is famous for his roles in Queen of Ambition, Cruel City, and Golden Rainbow. Oh, and he was also in Macao to watch UFC Fight Night. :)

Photo credit: Lee Jae Yoon.

3. Lee Si Young. 

In 2010, Lee Si Young took up boxing to prepare for her role as a female boxer in a TV drama. While the drama ended up getting scrapped, Lee fell in love with the sport and continued with her training. At present, Lee is a member of the Incheon City boxing team, and is the first and only Hallyu star to become a national team athlete for any sport in Korea.

Lee Si Young at the National Amateur Boxing Championship.

4. Lee Seung Yoon.

Popular for his stint in 'Gag Concert' and his segments 'Fitness Girl' and 'Health Show', Lee Seung Yoon is also a mixed martial arts fighter. He made his debut on Road FC (Korea's number one MMA organization) in October 2010, going up against a professional MMA fighter ten years his junior.

Photo credit; Hancinema.

5. Yoon Hyung Bin.
Also a Gag Concert alumni, Yoon Hyung Bin made his debut as a professional mixed martial arts fighter in Road FC earlier this year. He competed against Japanese fighter Takaya Tsukuda in the lightweight category, and earned the victory by knocking out his opponent in the first round.

Photo credit: Road FC.

Mixed martial arts is growing in leaps in bounds in Korea and I'm sure Korean MMA fans are looking forward to a UFC event in their country. I for one, would love to have a UFC event here in the Philippines! Dana White, Fertita brothers, anyone from Zuffa? :)

UFC Fight Night | Chael Sonnen for the win!

Talk like a gangster. Fight like a boss. Win like a champion.
That's exactly what Chael Sonnen did in UFC Fight Night 26, when he beat Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua with a first round submission.

In front of more than 12,000 fans in Boston's TD Garden, Sonnen proved that there's more to his trash-talking and unpredictable shticks. Using his impressive wrestling skills, he took Rua down early on in the round, and they pretty much stayed on the mat the entire time.

Rua, a former light heavyweight champion, managed to defend himself and got back on his feet. And just when you thought the odds have turned in favor of the Brazilian, the American Gangster got a standing guillotine, brought it down, and locked it tight. And at 4:47 of the first round, Rua (who happens to be a black belter in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu), tapped out.

Photo credit: Jared Wickerham / Zuffa LLC

After the fight, Sonnen dedicated his win to his grandmother, to his friend Alaina, and to all cancer patients and survivors. Of course, no interview would be complete without his witty remarks, and this time he picked on another Brazilian. "Wanderlei Silva. 6 feet tall and 205 pounds, but until I met you, I didn't know they could stack crap that high," said Sonnen, quipping a line from Full Metal Jacket.

He was a bit 'tamer' however, in the post-fight press conference. When asked how he felt about snapping his two-fight losing streak, Sonnen answered, "It feels good because it's Shogun."

Check out the pink ribbon!
Originally posted on my Instagram. :)

He went on by saying, "The guy's a former world champion. He's going to be in the Hall of Fame. He's beaten [Chuck] Liddell. He's beaten Forrest Griffin. He's beaten [Lyoto] Machida. He's beaten all these guys. He's beaten guys I've known and looked up to, from the Kevin Randlemans and Mark Colemans of the world. So yeah, it feels good."

And boy, do I feel good.
And why not? I am perhaps the biggest Chael Sonnen fan in this country, if not the world. So yeah, my happiness is beyond the stars.

Congrats Chael Sonnen!
And to all the other winners in UFC Fight Night 26 - Travis Browne, Urijah Faber, Matt Brown - kudos to you, too! You've all made me a happy fangirl. :)

Chan Sung Jung, and throwback to UFC 163.

Last Saturday, 'Korean Zombie' Chan Sung Jung battled it out on the octagon with Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. And while the odds may not have been in favor of the Korean contender, the fact still remains that Chan Sung Jung is the first Asian to headline a UFC main event and fight for the championship title.

Photo credit: MMA Weekly

A native of Pohang, South Korea, Chan Sung Jung made his professional debut in June 2007. He made his debut in the UFC four years later, in March 2011 at UFC Fight Night 24. Chan Sung Jung's ability to fight aggressively and withstand heavy blows from his opponent has earned him several accolades in the UFC, including the 2012 Submission of the Year and 2012 Fight of the Year awards.

UFC 163 would be the biggest day in Chan Sung Jung's career as a mixed martial arts fighter, and in a pre-fight interview, the Korean Zombie said that he felt great physically and mentally, and will do his best to beat Jose Aldo.

Photo credit: Fighter Fashion

When asked as to how it felt to have reached the pinnacle of his MMA career, the 26-year-old Taekwondo black belter said, "It's been my goal and dream for several years now, so it means the world to me. I know that it would push MMA in Korea to the next level if I win, so a victory would be that much more important."

Unfortunately, the Korean Zombie dislocated his shoulder during his match against Jose Aldo, which brought about a TKO loss in the fourth round. This would be his first loss in four UFC fights.

Photo credit: MMA Fighting

"...when I separated my shoulder, I tried to put it back in myself, but it didn't work, and I think Jose noticed my shoulder was out, and he kicked me three times really hard. So unfortunately, the shoulder was not able to be put back in," said Chan Sung Jung during the post-fight press conference. Thankfully, the medical team was able to pop the shoulder back in and the Korean Zombie was able to speak before the press (together with his translator) - arm sling, bandages, and all.

Would the Korean Zombie ask for a rematch?
"As far as the rematch goes, I would love to get a rematch," he answered. "I would love to ask for a rematch, but I think there are other people that are waiting in line, and I probably have to get a couple more wins in the division before they'll give me another shot at the title."

Sure, the Korean Zombie would have to work his way back up to the Featherweight ladder, and even he knows that for a fact. Here's hoping that he gets better soon - last I heard he also has an orbital fracture on top of the dislocated shoulder. His fans in and outside of Korea (including me!) will be looking forward to his return to the Octagon, and hopefully, for another shot at the title.