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 | 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."

ONE FC: Rise of Heroes | Toquero's Skills and Experience will Make the Difference.

Filipino mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Eugene Toquero will rely on his experience and skills to beat, even knock out, undefeated American-born Malaysian Gianni Subba on May 2 in the star-studded ONE Fighting Championship card at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena.

“My experience and skills will make the difference. There will be a knockout and it will be him going down,” Toquero, whose MMA record is four wins and one loss, said.

He guarantees that the fans will enjoy his fight with Subba.“The fans will enjoy our fight. Subba may be good but I’m better because of my experience and skills.”

“I have more fights in my career than Subba. I’m a veteran when it comes to competition. Mas maraming baon ako,” he added.

Before venturing into MMA in 2009, Toquero, a flyweight like Subba, was a member of the Philippine muay thai national team from 2004 to 2009. In his teen, he was a member of a Cebu kickboxing gym and participated in local competitions.

Eugene Toquero at the ONE FC Press Conference.

Toquero, 33, admitted that the competition in ONE FC is tough that’s why he’s not taking his fight with Subba, 22, lightly. “Maraming magagaling sa ONE FC kaya hindi puwede pa-easy easy lang. Laro laro din ako pero nandon pa rin ang game plan (There are lots of good fighters in ONE FC that’s why it’s not advisable to take it easy. I play but I still follow my game plan),” the Cebuano fighter said in an interview.

Toquero, whose day job is gym instructor and coach to some local celebrities on mixed martial arts, said he has learned some lessons during his first MMA loss to Team Lakay fighter Geje Eustaquio in the ONE FC event last December. “Lessons learned? One should not stop from training. One should learn more techniques,” he said. Toquero said this time against Subba, he’s training hard and spending more time in the gym and has enhanced his fight techniques.

Gianni Subba vs Eugene Toquero.

He started training as early as January this year even though he has no opponent yet at that time. He admitted, though, that he has not seen any fight tape on Subba and would not watch it even as the fight nears. “I will be underestimating myself if I watch his fight tapes.”

Toquero may seem like a brash fighter because of his intemperate comments but in reality he’s silent and serious. “I just want to entertain the fans that’s why I seem like arrogant sometimes."

Tickets for ONE FC: RISE OF HEROES are on sale now at SM Tickets.
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.