Melvin Manhoef vs. Babalu Sobral and Kevin Belingon vs. Masakazu Imanari will be featured on ONE FC's third event this March. -- Graphic by Anton Tabuena
Following yesterday's monumental announcement of a 10-year media partnership with ESPN Star Sports, ONE FC unveiled several more interesting news items on a press conference in Singapore.
On the business side of things, the promotion made a huge announcement that government entities from Singapore will be backing them, with Cui saying that both the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Singapore’s Economic Development Board (EDB) will be supporting ONE FC.
ONE FC has also announced two key bouts for their third show that is slated on March 31st. Headlining the card will be UFC vet and former Strikeforce champion, Renato 'Babalu' Sobral (36-10), taking on the very dangerous and explosive striker in Melvin Manhoef (24-9).
Also on a featured bout is Kevin Belingon (9-0), a URCC Champion who is one of the top prospects in the Asia, taking a huge step up in competition by facing the more experienced DEEP Bantamweight Champ, and 'Master of Leglocks', Masakazu Imanari (24-10-2).
Victor Cui also mentioned that there will be 2 more DREAM fighters competing on the card, along with URCC Champion Eduard Folayang, BJJ World Champion Zorobabel Moreira, Eddie Ng, and Nicole Chua, a female Muay Thai fighter who is set to make her MMA debut under the tutelage of the champions at Evolve MMA.
Although signs of their partnership with DREAM are already seen with multiple fighters from the Japanese promotion competing on this March card, Cui revealed that this won't be the co-promoted event as they earlier announced. The ONE FC head did mention though that they're working on that 2012 co-promoted show that would pit ONE FC's best fighters against DREAM's top fighters such as Shinya Aoki and Tatsuya Kawajiri.
More news, and the partial card for ONE FC 3 after the jump. As always, stay tuned to BloodyElbow.com for more updates, and follow me on twitter.
Following the press conference, there are also a bit of new info from the promotion:
- The promotion has expanded the reach of their network with Phuket Top Team, Fairtex, Spider Academy, Ultimate MMA, Fight G, Burnshell, Pak Fight Club, Syena BJJ, Merican Muay Thai, and Streetfight Malaysia, among 17 groups that have been partnered up under their network.
- The ONE FC undercard will be streamed live and free on Facebook, however, the main card will be available globally on PPV on UStream and on their official website for $9.99. The show will be televised all over Asia on ESPN Star Sports on tape delay.
- Gregor Gracie is also rumored to be on the March 31st event.
ONE Fighting Championship 3
March 31, 2012 - Singapore Indoor Stadium, Singapore- Renato Sobral vs. Melvin Manhoef
- Masakazu Imanari vs. Kevin Belingon
- Eduard Folayang
- Zorobabel Moreira
- Gregor Gracie
- Eddie Ng
- Nicole Chua
0 recs | 25 comments
I cannot fathom why Sobral is ranked #19 in the division
I mean, really? He is the 19th best fighter at LHW?
He’s fought 4 times in the last 3 years. He is 2-2 in those 4. He has been inactive for well over a year now.
His last victory is Robbie Lawler in a catchweight bout….a fight that meant nothing regarding Sobral’s talents at LHW, he beat a middleweight.
Other than that, his last with in Sokoudjou….
So a guy losing to Hendo and Mousasi and defeating Soko and Robbie Lawler is the 19th best LHW in the world?
I don’t know, I personally don’t buy it.
Chris Groves - January 31, 2012
Vera is 1-2-1nc in his last 4 and he’s still in the top 25.
Roger Gracie is in the top 25 and his only real win at 205 is over Trevor Prangley.
Bonnar is 3-3.
Tito is 17th at 1-6-1.
No reason to complain about rankings that make no difference in the sport.
Babalu is the shit
Anr - January 31, 2012
Tito had a win over Bader at least, who was pretty high up
Bonnar has at least won 3 in a row and avenged his last loss.
Tito, Vera, and Bonnar have lost to better opponents than Babalu has beaten. At least they are beating guys in their weight class. But on top of that, both Vera and Bonnar are BELOW Sobral in the rankings.
I agree Roger shouldn’t really be in there, though…that’s a bit much.
But I also think well over a year of inactivity should sort of show up in the form of you no longer being considered one of the best.
Chris Groves - January 31, 2012
Bader was high up only because of hand fed opponents
Vance Floyd - January 31, 2012
Show me the staff predictions
Where EVERYONE picked Bader over Jardine and over Rogerio.
Rogerio was legit top 10 when given to Bader.
Chris Groves - January 31, 2012
Every division gets real sketchy beyond (at most) 15.
It’s no big deal.
VenusBlue - January 31, 2012
Unrelated, but I heard a rumor that Hector Lombard might face Mamed Khalidov at an upcoming KSW event
Any truth to that? Because in all honesty it would be one of the biggest matchups at middleweight that can be put on outside of the UFC.
Chris Groves - January 31, 2012
I've heard the same rumor
Multiple times, but I can’t confirm it.
Baby Wads - January 31, 2012
I'd love to see that fight
I mean, that is by far Lombar’s most ‘real’ opponent that he could get…and taking it in a fight outside of Bellator…that’s quite risky.
I mean, for whatever reason, I feel like if Khalidov won he would try to parlay that success into a UFC deal.
But I’ve also heard he’s one of those guys that doesn’t really want to go to the UFC…but maybe he’s just waiting for the king of success that could get him a good deal.
Chris Groves - January 31, 2012
added an update.
ONE FC undercard will be on Facebook, main card will be on an online PPV for $9.99
Anton Tabuena - January 31, 2012
ONE FC goes PPV
before Bellator. I’ll be interested to see how a $10 priced event sells.
wamarsh - January 31, 2012
Seraldo Babalu is worth a tenner of my money.
VenusBlue - January 31, 2012
Ole Laursen isn't fighting?
I figured they’d try to do the Folayang fight now since it didn’t happen last time.
av1o3 - January 31, 2012
Nope.
Laursen is on their Feb 11 event.
Anton Tabuena - January 31, 2012
Damn, good to see they’re gaining some momentum.
Needs some more Minowaman though.
Pyrgz Krum - January 31, 2012
eduard folayang via tko again
rx queen - January 31, 2012
manhoef looks like a sex slave in that pic, wtf is with the collar?
Scurnt - January 31, 2012
not sure where that originated, but
you shouldn’t be surprised cause he wears that all the time.
Anton Tabuena - January 31, 2012
Bring out the gimp!
Harley - January 31, 2012
He's always had it. His coach has him on a leash before each fight and then unleashes the beast.
Sweet Scientist - January 31, 2012
and yet it ends up looking like fetish gear? not worth it.
Victor Rodriguez - January 31, 2012
Hopefully Melvin isn’t too attached to his arm.
MicahtheCynic - January 31, 2012
Always excited to see Seraldo Babalu fight. Without a doubt, he'll be one of the greatest light heavyweights
of the night.
Ikuhisa Quinoa - January 31, 2012
that shit never fails to crack me up.
it’s just classic.
Victor Rodriguez - January 31, 2012
dis wil b a tough test for KEVIN B since he has not fuought for a long time but i will still root for kevin on dis one.gud luck 2 d fight.
neoroy - February 1, 2012
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