ONE Championship is in town this week for their event, ONE: Hero’s Ascent, which takes place this Friday, January 25th at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
The world’s largest martial arts organization recently held a kick-off press conference at City of Dreams Manila. ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong took the time out to thank the Filipino fans whom he described as among the most passionate in the world, as well as GAB Chairman Abraham Khalil B. Mitra for the continued support.
“I would like to give a special thanks to Games and Amusements Board Chairman [Abraham Khalil B.] Mitra who has been instrumental in ONE Championship's success in the Philippines,” Sityodtong addressed media in attendance.
“I am eternally grateful to GAB and their entire team for always welcoming ONE Championship and allowing us to showcase the very best of Philippine martial arts.”
ONE Championship counts Manila as one of its strongest markets in Asia. The promotion has always worked closely with GAB on all of its events since they established their organization eight years ago.
For Sityodtong, ONE Championship’s focus on building real-life martial arts heroes to inspire its growing worldwide fan base has been key to their dominance in Asia.
“ONE Championship was built by a martial artist, for martial artists. I understand the athletes and what they go through each and every day. I am very proud to be standing here alongside them as their CEO and Chairman,” said Sityodtong.
“When I look at this card and these incredible athletes, I am so fired up. This is going to be an amazing evening. As the world’s largest stage of martial arts competition, all ONE Championship wants to do is showcase the very best. See you all at the Mall of Asia Arena this Friday night.”
ONE: Hero’s Ascent is ONE Championship’s 86th event overall and it’s 16th in the Philippines. The organization has penciled in four events in Manila this 2019.
The event this Friday is headlined by a World Title showdown between reigning ONE Flyweight World Champion Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio of Baguio City’s famed Team Lakay and longtime rival Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes of Brazil.
Eustaquio and Moraes have met each other on the ONE Championship stage twice prior, and they each have a victory in their series. In this historic trilogy bout, the first ever in ONE Championship, the two martial artists look to finally settle the score and determine the true owner of the ONE World Title.
Also on the card are Eustaquio’s Team Lakay teammates Danny “The King” Kingad and Honorio “The Rock” Banario who face Tatsumitsu Wada and Lowen Tynanes respectively.