Eric Kelly and Honorio Banario, together with Eugene Toquero and Ruel Catalan, leads the Filipino contingent in ONE’s return to Stadium Putra in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia called Tigers of Asia.
Former ONE Bantamweight Champion Honorio Banario looks to bounce back
Honorio Banario (8-5) of the famed Team Lakay in Baguio City, Philippines, is back! After getting submitted at ONE: Valor of Champions, the Filipino featherweight is ready to show fans exactly what he’s been working on in the past few months since his last fight. An expert in Wushu, Banario will showcase his lightning quick strikes against Malaysia’s own, Ev Ting, in a featherweight showdown that promises to electrify the arena.
Ev “E.T.” Ting’s (8-3) most recent fight was against tough Russian foe Marat Gafurov, in one of the most valuable learning experiences for the 26-year old Auckland MMA product. Ting is currently 3-1 inside the ONE Cage and will now look to get back in the winner’s circle in front of his hometown crowd.
Eric Kelly returns after long-layoff
Top featherweight Eric “The Natural” Kelly (11-1) of the Philippines will make his much awaited return to the ONE Cage after a year off from competition. His last bout was an unforgettable scrap against Rob Lisita, one that resulted in Kelly taking home the first ever ONE Warrior Bonus in a masterful performance. Standing in Kelly’s way on his road back to the top is Hiroshige Tanaka.
Japanese MMA standout Hiroshige Tanaka made his ONE Championship debut last year against Herbert Burns. He is 10-2 in MMA and has been working on improving his game for the past year. Tanaka gets a chance to showcase his explosive progress against one of the division’s finest in Eric Kelly.
Toquero looks to extend winning run
Eugene Toquero is one of the most exciting fighters to come out of Manila and has impressed with a solid 7-1 MMA record. The former celebrity MMA trainer’s only loss came against fellow countryman Geje Eustaquio, but he’s been unstoppable since. Toquero’s time inside the ONE Cage has been memorable, as he’s delighted fans with impeccable striking and flashy combinations. His flyweight clash against Riku Shibuya should be one for the books.
Japanese MMA wildcard Riku Shibuya won the hearts of fans in his battle with ONE Flyweight World Champion, Adriano Moraes, just a few months ago. Shibuya’s unorthodox style and powerful combinations were on full display, and now, fans in Kuala Lumpur will get to see Shibuya once again as he takes on the equally unpredictable Eugene Toquero of the Philippines.
Ruel Catalan faces uphill battle
In a flyweight battle, Ruel Catalan (2-6) of the Philippines takes on Brazilian Jiu-jitsu black belt and member of the Evolve MMA Fight Team, Almiro Barros (1-0), in a classic striker versus grappler matchup. The 27-year-old Filipino fighter is looking to get back on track with a victory against an opponent with a knack for submissions.
The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), in partnership with Alienware Malaysia, is set to deliver fans in Kuala Lumpur another exhilarating night of world-class mixed martial arts action on 9 October, featuring the absolute best in local and international talent. ONE Middleweight World Champion Igor “Lionheart” Svirid will now headline the spectacular fight card in Kuala Lumpur as he defends his title against Vitaly Bigdash. ONE: TIGERS OF ASIA will also feature three Malaysia Super Fights as Ann Osman takes on Irina Mazepa, Ev Ting battles Honorio Banario and Peter Davis duels Adrian Pang.
