One Championship: ‘nemesis’ Eddie Alvarez looks to spoil the Philippines’ monumental MMA party
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- Blockbuster clash with Eduard Folayang set to steal show on historic Manila card which also features return of Demetrious Johnson
One Championship threw down the gauntlet in Tokyo for their historic “A New Era” card at the end of March. But they just might raise their own bar in Manila on Friday with what promises to be the biggest mixed martial arts show ever staged in the Philippines.
Two world title fights; the returns of UFC legends Eddie Alvarez and Demetrious Johnson, who are sure to draw plenty of eyes from the West; and five members of Baguio City’s hometown heroes, Team Lakay – it all makes for a historic moment in Asian MMA.
“This is the first time for a One event that I have friends from Hong Kong and Macau reaching out to me for tickets,” said Kevin Benning, senior vice-president and COO of Manila’s City of Dreams hotel and resort, which hosted Tuesday’s press conference.
“It’s never happened before, but I’ve got a dozen messages from my colleagues saying, ‘Hey, if I come in Friday night can I get a ticket for the fights?’ That didn’t happen three or four years ago.”
The nearby Mall of Asia Arena will host “Dawn of Heroes” on Friday evening, a show headlined by featherweight champion Martin Nguyen’s defence against Koyomi Matsushima. England’s One flyweight Muay Thai world champion Jonathan Haggerty will also make his first world defence against Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon of Thailand.
