Two of the Philippines’ most promising MMA fighters are set to return to action this November.
Team Lakay’s Carlos Alvarez will finally have his rescheduled bout, while T-Rex MMA’s Fritz Biagtan makes his comeback at Lumpinee Stadium for ONE Friday Fights 86 on November 8 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Alvarez is slated to face Mirza Aliev in a featherweight MMA match, a fight originally scheduled for ONE Friday Fights 82. However, a minor injury sidelined Aliev, causing the postponement.
Fortunately, the Russian has since recovered and is ready to compete.
While some fighters might lose momentum after a postponement, Alvarez sees it as a blessing in disguise, providing him with additional time to prepare for his opponent.
“The preparation has been good. I think it even improved because of the extended training. The fight was supposed to happen last month, but we never stopped preparing,” Alvarez shared.
“I’m taking the postponement positively. I’m using the extra time to be even more prepared for this fight.”
Meanwhile, Biagtan is set to take on Sayedali Asli in a flyweight contest, aiming for his third win at ONE Friday Fights and a chance to bounce back from a recent loss to Babar Ali.
Hungry to redeem himself, Biagtan is eager to show that he belongs among the top flyweights in the world with a victory over Asli.
“It’s been a while since I last competed in ONE Friday Fights. I thank God for giving me this opportunity. I’ve had time to improve myself, and after waiting for this fight for so long, I’m hungrier than ever,” Biagtan expressed.
“I’m fully committed to giving my all in this fight. I want to win for my Pinoy fans, my family, and of course, for myself.”
Both fighters have their eyes on the ultimate prize—a US$100,000 contract to compete on ONE Championship’s main roster, which is within reach if they deliver impressive performances in the weekly showcase.
One Filipino fighter, Carlo Bumina-ang, has already “graduated” from the program after securing five consecutive wins, earning a life-changing main-roster contract with ONE Championship. Alvarez and Biagtan now aim to follow in his footsteps.
