ONE FC and Legend Battle It Out Again
It seems just a few weeks ago that these two were fighting for you PPV money and indeed it was. Legend 7 held in Macau again was a great success and ONE FC were breaking into Indonesia as Jakarta was home to their show with some 4000+ fans enjoying a great Main Card (with one exception). Anybody who doubts the great strides being made in Asian MMA could consider this, ONE FC and Legend will battle for our attention again from their home bases. Legend on Friday the 30th in Hong Kong and ONE FC on Saturday 31st from Singapore.
Both organisations are offering very exciting cards so let’s have a look at them, working backwards from the Main Event.
Legend first, as well, their show is due first:
Legend Fighting Championship 8 – 30th March 2012 Prelims at 7:00pm (Hong Kong Time) and Main Card at 9:00pm.
Show to be held at Asia World-Expo.
The Main Event is: Jadamba Narantungalag who is Legend FC Lightweight Champion Vs Nam Yui Chul.
Narantungalag is 7-2 but that’s not the whole story because those loses were his first two fights since then it’s been winning all the way. It’s nearly five years since he tasted defeat. His championship win was against Adrian Pang at Legend 6 and was a Split Decision. Pang is a bit of a split decision king with 6 in his last 8 fights which shows how durable he is. This shows the quality of Narantungalag as a fighter.
But Chul is no push over at 13-3-1 he is a tough and back in 2010 he also fought Adrian Pang and he managed a draw, but since then he has won four out of five fights. What this fight is, is potential dynamite. I mean this fight is a genuine main event with two of the Asia Pacifics finest fighters.
So to ONE FC – 31st March Singapore Indoor Stadium – Start 7:30pm
and their Main Event is:
Felipe Enomoto Vs Zorobabel Moreira
Enomoto is 6-3 and coming off of a win against what I would dare to suggest may not have been a fully fit Ole Laursen. Before that fight had lost two.
Moreirais 5-1 and is on a three fight winning streak.
While this is a good match up and might produce a good battle, as a fight by fight comparison I will pick the Legend fight here.
Next Legend match is Ji Xian Vs Yusuke Kawanago This is for the Legend Featherweight Championship.
Xian is a very solid 4-0 and his last win was over URCC veteren Leonard Delarmino.
Japanese Kawango is at 11-3-1, however his recent record is slightly shaky with 1-2-1 however his last two fights both went to decision
I think though a tough test Xian will continue moving forward.
ONE FC’s Next Fight is Tatsuya Kawajiri Vs Donald Sanchez
Kawajiri (30-7-2) has done really well in the Japanese K1 and Dream fields but his first step outside into Strikeforce went the way of so many Japanese fighters who cross the pond and he got his ass kicked by Gilbert Melendez falling to a TKO in 3:14 of round 1. However this is ONE FC and there is no doubt that at this level he is an exceptional fighter. His last three fights all under the Dream banner were wins.
Sanchez (25-12) Sanchez is a King of the Cage (KOTC) veteren and has an exceptional record in that organisation. His one attempt in the Shooto organisation though was not so powerful.
So on paper this should be a close and potentially explosive fight. Although the reality is Kawajiri has been fighting at a higher level and I would expect him to win.
I think for this fight ONE FC take it.
Third Fight: Legend – Yuki Niimura vs Sam Brown
Niimura (3-0) has blown through his firth three fights at DEEP none going beyond the first round and he will pose a real threat to plenty of people.
Brown (10-4-1) is an experienced fighter with one Legend Victory to his name, however I think Niimura will prove to strong for him. Brown of course is much more used to fighting so his experience could tell, but I say not this time.
ONE FC – Ole Laursen Vs Eduard Folayang
Laursen (5-3) is a very exciting fighter but he is coming back from a loss at the last ONE FC event and his record maybe says that he is about at the top end of his ability in ONE FC. He waltzed through ONE FC’s bastard half sister Martial Combat with a straight 5-0 record.
Folayang (11-1) is an exceptional fighter and I really don’t see that changing, Laursen is a tough guy but Folayang is an exceptional talent who must be a possible future UFC fighter, his win against A Sol Kwon was a proof of just how tough he is as he fought most of the fight with his nose spread over his face.
I am biased on this one because I really like to watch Folayang fight so must give this round to ONE FC.
Fourth Fight: Legend – Kim Hoon Vs Keita Nakamura
Hoom (9-8-1 and 1 N/c) Vs Nakamura (22-5-2) – I just cannot see beyond Nakamura, Hoon is a real tough guy but he seems unable to build up a winning run of any note and is just too unpredictable to put your money on.
ONE FC – Yuya Shirai Vs Fabricio Monteiro
Shirai (22-10-1) a vastly experienced and successful fighter who only really fails at the higher levels
Monteiro (17-9) is another very experienced fighter and although is recent record is very poor (1-5) he does have the ability to create a shock. But he won’t Shirai will win this one.
Both fights will be good to watch but again I think ONE FC takes it.
Fifth Fight: Legend – Wu Haotian Vs Daniel Hooker
Wu (5-1-1) Vs Hooker (5-3) should be a close fight but Wu is intent of moving forward and I think he should take this one.
ONE FC – Yoshiyuki Nakanishi Vs Melvin Manhoef
Nakanishi (11-2-0) is a DEEP veteren with a superb record whilst Manhoef (24-9-1) is coming off of the back of three losses over a period of two years, whilst he is definitely no Bob ‘Tap’ Sapp it does feel like he may be here to be a big name scalp for Nakanishi.
I think this fight also goes to ONE FC.
Sixth Fight: Legend – Rob Hill Vs Yusuke Kasuya
Hill (9-5-1) whilst no mug, is outclassed in this company and I do not expect Kasuya (6-0-1) to have too much trouble here.
ONE FC – Jian Kai Chee Vs Eddie Ng
Chee (3-3) Aha and this is where it all falls down for ONE FC like various fights at the last event we start to scrape the barrel for some talent to please local fans with no real record at higher level – and the ONE FC website report on this fighter that claims “Chee’s ability to trade punches with the best in the game is well-known” is frankly ridiculous he has never been anywhere near the best in the game, he is a low level fighter reminiscent of those fighters who stunk up the Undercard at ONE FC’s last event.
Ng (4-1-0) Brit Ng is a superb young fighter and he won’t have any trouble with Chee.
Frankly both these fights are mismatches but the ONE FC fight stinks much more – Legend win this one.
Seventh Fight: Legend – Wu Chengjie Vs Leonard Delarnino
Wu (1-3) whilst he has a pretty smelly record his last two losses were both vis decision at earlier Legend events
Delarmin0 (3-2) is coming off of a two fight losing streak. While not the greatest fighters this at least has the makings of a solid fight.
ONE FC – Masakazu Imanari Vs Kevin Bellingon
Imanari (24-10-2) according to the ONE FC website “has brought some of the best fighters in MMA to their knees – quite literally – with his devastating heel hooks and toe holds.” of course this is the type of hype that ONE FC do that drives me crazy, Imanari has never been in a cage with any of the best fighters in MMA, maybe good fighters in Asian MMA! But he is a good level fighter in this company.
Bellingon (9-0-0) is a URCC, Legend and Martial Combat Veteren who is going to walk through Imanari
Legend has this one.
Ablasi (2-0) from Team Lakey which can only mean one thing, he will be tough to beat!
Batgerel (1-0) won his last Legend appearance by TKO in round 1 and will prove a tough test. I don’t know who will win this fight but it will be a great battle.
ONE FC – Jeet Toshi Vs Nicole Chua
Toshi (1-0) Vs Chua (no record) – This might be a fun bout but I am not convinced that either of these fighters will bring a high level of skill or competition.
Legend all the way.
Ninth Fight: Legend – Jo Nam Jin Vs Agustin Delarmino Jr.
Jo (7-3) is going to have his hands full with Delarmino (5-1) - I predict a tough fight but I see the Filipino fighter taking it.
ONE FC – Quek Kim Hock Vs Major Overall
Hock (no record) Vs Overall (1-0) I saw Overall’s victory and frankly it was very impressive but it was one fight, he does look a supremely confident fighter and will put on a show as he does have ‘presence’.
You have to go with Legend here if only because both fighters are much more experienced.
Tenth Fight: Legend – Terence Chan Vs Alex Lee
Chan (no record) Vs Lee (0-1-0)
ONE FC – Jlang Long Yun Vs Yodsanan Sityodtong
Yun (3-1-1) is no mug, he will provide a solid opponent to Sityodtong (1-0) Sityodong is basically untested as his one Win was against Daniel Mashiamite who has not covered himself in glory for a long time. But as Evolve are behind him you have to believe this fight has been carefully chosen to please the home crowd. Regardless I am going for Yun.
ONE FC take this fight.
Eleventh Fight – Legend – No Fight
ONE FC – Richie Whitson Vs Danny van Bergen
Whitson (11-2-0) Vs Bergben (10-10-3)
So of course that’s ONE FC’s
Total Scores: ONE FC 6 Vs Legend 5
But that’s not the whole story, what we have here is ONE FC flexing it’s muscles and learning more as it moves forward. there are less weak fights, less fighters who should not even be fighting in a cage at this level than previous events. They have a big advantage over Legend in the depth of options for potential fighters as Legend only deals with fighters from Asia Pacific. ONE FC brings in fighters from all over the world. This ultimately will prove it’s biggest strength. In this fight ONE FC have the better main card but still lag behind Legend lower down the scale as they try to please home crowds with easy fights for the locals.
Legend continue to put on solid shows and are growing the local market, giving local fighters a great opportunity to fight at a good level.
ONE FC needs to shy away from featuring fighters who have done nothing to deserve to step up to that level. On this card they really only have one and that’s a great sign.
Of course it’s unfair to compare these two organisations, one is well know for making overly grandiose claims while the other plays a straight bat. But ONE FC have to be better than Legend if they wish to achieve their potential.
At the moment they are moving forward. BUT, I have heard rumours that one of the losing fighters at ONE FC 2 who should never have been in the cage will get a second chance, that, if it’s true is a terrible decision. It was two low level fighters and to actually find somebody the local guy can beat will ultimately lead to making ONE FC a laughing stock. Hopefully the rumour is not true. because ONE FC really is marching forward.
The best thing here of course is that Asian MMA fans have two great events they can watch this weekend.
And Victor Cui has kindly decided that ONE FC will have their whole event free on You Tube Live – That is a good deal!
(NOTE: the fight cards are taken from the organisations websites and hopefully are shown in the correct order if not well F- It why spoil a good idea with facts- and if that is the case well blame the organisations for being lazy)
