ONE Fighting Championship held their latest Asian Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) super show this past weekend with ONE FC: Pride of a Nation taking place at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines.
It was One FC’s first appearance on the island nation since starting operations in July 2011 as the most likely successor to PRIDE FC since that promotions unfortunate demise and acquisition by Zuffa a few years earlier.
Also taking of where the now-defunct DREAM left off, ONE FC put together their most ambitious fight card yet for this one, with former DREAM champion Bibiano Fernandes headlining and former UFC heavyweight champs Andrei Arlovski and Tim Sylvia also meeting for the fourth time.
In addition, no less than three members of the famed Gracie Family (Gregor, Igor, Rolles) also stepped into the ONE FC cage along with some of the Filipino MMA’s top talents (Eric Kelly, Kevin Bellingon, Eduard Folayang) and other UFC vets in Jens Pulver and Phil Baroni.
Ultimately this fifth rendition of ONE Fighting Championship can be labeled as another success for the promotion as it looks to establish itself as the preeminent MMA promotion on the eastern side of the globe.
Bibiano Fernandes earned himself a unanimous decision victory over resilient Australian Gustavo Falciroli in the evening’s main event while Arlovski and Sylvia started off strong before a few untimely-placed soccer kicks (before the referee had given the go ahead; an obscure rule) caused their bout to end in a no-contest but also likely setting up a fifth bout between the two rivals.
ONE FC: Pride of a Nation also set up another pivotal fight for the org with featherweights Eric Kelly and Honorio Bagario both scoring big wins against the aforementioned Jens Pulver and Andrew Benibe respectively to set up their championship class at ONE FC’s next event, dubbed ONE FC: Rise of the Kings and scheduled for October 6th in Singapore.
Here’s full results from all the action in Manila below.
Full results for ONE FC: Pride of a Nation – Quick Results
Main Card (PPV Stream)
Bibiano Fernandes over Gustavo Falciroli by unanimous decision
Eduard Folayang over Felipe Enomoto by unanimous decision
Andrei Arlovski vs. Tim Sylvia ruled a no contest (illegal kicks)
Eric Kelly over Jens Pulver by referee stoppage (strikes) at 1:46 of round 2
Rolles Gracie over Tony Bonello by submission (rear naked choke) at 1:33 of round 3
Jung Hwan Cha over Igor Gracie by referee stoppage (strikes ) at 1:03 of round 3
Soo Chul Kim over Kevin Belingon by unanimous decision
Preliminary Card (Free Live Stream)
Gregor Gracie over Nicholas Mann by submission (armbar) at 3:38 of round 1
Phil Baroni over Rodrigo Ribeiro by referee stoppage (strikes) at 1:00 of round 1
Shannon Wiratchai over Mitch Chilson by KO at 2:03 of round 2
Honorio Banario over Andrew Benibe by KO at 3:47 of round 3