The Philippine Fans Do ONE FC Proud
The Fighters Put On A Great Show
The TV coverage started off showing us the fighters getting off of the coaches and walking into the venue and even at this stage Tim Sylvia looked wooden, I hope he looks better in the fight.
When then had the fighters introduced to the crowds by the horrible shrill voiced Lenne Hardt an Asian MMA legend whose appeal I will never understand.
What I could see of the crowd I have to say it looks like the Philippine fans had come out in force, the Philippines is truly the hotbed of Asian MMA,
Under Card
First bout was:
Andrew Benibe vs Honario Bonario
Two Philippine Featherweight Contenders, the young gun Bonario and the old stager Benibe.
Round 1:
Good early leg kick from Bonario (HB) and his first take down comes at 1:15 in but Benibe (AB) is soon up. Again HB takes him down Benibe is being totally outclassed and this fight is already looking like an easy win for HB. For the rest of the round he totally outclasses AB without looking like he would stop him.
Round 2:
Followed a similar journey at no stage did it look like Benibe could put up any sort of challenge. Frankly it looks like a bad match up or a nice easy match up for what is a fighter being groomed for a title shot.
Round 3:
Eventually Benibe gets tired of being a punch bag and with about a minute to go after a flurry of punches and kicks seems to give up the struggle and the ref steps in to stop it although the official result is a Knockout which is puzzling surely it was a TKO?
Bout 2:
Mitch Chilson vs Shannon Waratchai
The way the commentators were talking about Chilson and Evolve all the way to the cage, talking of his chance at a title fight (yes he is just 1 and 1 in ONE FC!) but the way they talked Shannon Waratchai wasn’t in this bout.
Round 1:
Chilson takes Waratchai down fairly easily and it’s all one way traffic for Chilson he looks to be in no danger.
Between the rounds, I have to say that Chilson is looking tired and the corner did seem concerned which was amazing when he had been in such control.
Round 2:
Chilson really does look tired that’s not championship material.
And even less so when he attacks Waratchai who looks amazingly confident for a fighter who lost the first round so easily. Well maybe he was right Chilson waded in swinging and caught a counter punch from Waratchai which landed him on his ass and follow-up kick from Waratchai and the ref stepped in and it was all over. Fist big shock of the night. Well done to Shannon Waratchai.
Bout 3:
Phil Baroni vs Rodrigo Ribeiro
Baroni came out caught Ribeiro with a straight punch and from then on it was all Baroni who battered a shocked Ribeiro until the ref stepped in with less than a minute gone. A great win and surely a shock for the Evolve team. Two losses in two fights.
Bout 4:
Nicholas Mann vs Gregor Gracie
Gracie has not impressed at all in his two ONE FC fights and Mann a URCC champion is going to be a big test or is he?
Round 1:
As it turned out not so much as after a few exchanges it was on the ground with Gracie on top and then it was all over as Gracie get an arm bar – 1:45 of the first round.
Main Event:
Kevin Belingon vs Soo Chul Kim
Bout 5:
Big crowd favourite Belingon came into the cage to massive cheers from the Philippine crowd.
Round 1:
Kim seemed to be un-phased by the whole event and was at Bellingon from the off.
He soon has Belingon on his back and bullied him for the whole round.
Round 2:
Much the same except for a couple of kicks from Bellingon including an up kick that did nothing good for Kims nose and saw the ref stop the fight so that the blood could be wiped away before resuming it on the ground with Kim on top.
Round 3:
Saw Belingon taking control and he spent the best part of the round on top of Kim which was not much of a plan as he really needed to impress the judges to win this fight.
Unanimous Decision win to Kim and deservedly so.
Bout 6.
Jung Kwan Cha vs Igor Gracie
You would not know it listening to the commentators but Cha wins a lot of his fights by Submission (and also loses many that way).
Gracie of course given his breeding will be a BJJ expert.
Round 1:
A very good and even round but Gracie had to be the more aggressive and successful.
Round 2:
Much the same but with Cha taking the round especially as he twice got Gracie in a Cruicfix and ruled the round.
Round 3:
Cha looking confident moved forward early and soon caught Gracie with a great punch and he went down, Cha pounced and in a modified side mount put a beating on Gracie who turtled up quickly until the ref stepped in. A great win.
Bout 8.
Tony Bonello vs Rolles Gracie
Bonello has a great record but has not been in the cage for a couple of years will it show or is he still fresh?
Gracie of course had the misfortune to fight Bob Tap Sapp and therefore had no chance to show us how good he was.
Round 1:
Bonello was on his back within a minute and then for the next four minutes we watched Rolles hold him down and slowly try to move him into a position that he could submit him from.
Bonello had a cut eye and a very puffy face so he obviously took quite a beating out of site of the camera underneath Rolles.
Round 2:
Much the same until Gracie slips on a Rear naked Choke about 2 minutes in and it was all over, Frankly a mismatch and a boring fight. I can understand the reason for the bout on paper but Bonello really did not look like he was up to much certainly not given his recent lack of activity.
Bout 9:
Eric Kelly vs Jens Pulver
A very much anticipated fight, Eric Kelly the Philippine fighter against the ex UFC champion and old guard Jens Pulver.
Both men are real warriors who fight to improve their lives.
Round 1.
A great first round Kelly caught Pulver early and rocked him but he soon ended up on the floor under Pulver after a slip, he soon reversed Pulver and they stood up again, a great start. Kelly then got caught with a few good punches from Pulver and looked to be on wobbly legs. Kelly tried a one arm throw but ended up underneath Pulver and in trouble. A great first round and I think Pulver took it.
Round 2:
Kelly came out and immediately caught Pulver with some good punches and they seemed to be having an effect. Pulver looked shaken and Kelly just kept coming, a kick sent him to the ground, Kelly was on him took his back and lay some punchs in until the ref stopped it.
A great fight from both fighters, This was Kelly’s toughest challenge and he came through with flying colours. Pulver was gracious and said he will step down to 135 and we also heard that Eric Kelly will face Honarion Bonario for the 145 title on October 6th in Singapore. Should be a great event.
Bout 10.
Tim Sylvia vs Andre Arlovski
The fourth time these old dinosaurs meet and the least interesting fight to me. I would rather have seen three more local bouts in its place for up and coming Philippine fighters. But hey we’ll take it.
It’s the un-fit looking Sylvia against the glass chinned Arlovski who will prevail.
Round 1:
Arlovski is much the faster but Sylvia has the advantage in durability of chin.
Sylvia gets Arlovski against the cage and holds him, on the occasions when he breaks free Arlovski looks OK, but every time Sylvia lands Arlovski looks vulnerable.
I think Sylvia wons the round but it was a dull round.
Round 2:
I had no interest in this fight when it was announced and I have even less interest now. They are both well beyond their sell by dates and bring nothing to this show. It’s fairly even and terribly boring. Bring back Eric Kelly and Jens Pulver.
Arlovski downed Sylvia with a good punch and then kicked him and that I thought was that but apparently the ref had not called that he was able to kick. And the ref called a time out instead it’s a mess, this whole kick, no kick thing needs to be sorted out in ONE FC, it just leads to controversy. And with Sylvia refusing to continue it’s a complete fuck-up and the crowd are pissed. It’s a No Contest.
And Jason Chambers NOBODY wants to see that shite fight again thank you.
Bout 11:
And back to a proper fight, this could take the roof off of the building if Folayang wins.
Eduard Folayang vs Felipe Enomoto
Round 1.
A quiet first round but Folayang did the most effective work. Enomoto seems unwilling to really engage.
Round 2.
Folayang took control in this round he was much more powerful with his punches and seemed to have no real problem with Enomoto’s height advantage. His speeed was a real advantage he would catch Enomoto in a flurry of punches and just keep pushing forward. Enomoto just kept walking forward but it was not working for him. With 30 seconds left Folayang punches Enomoto to the ground and then pounds him until the bell.
Round 3.
Enomoto puts on a much better display in this round and probably takes this round but it’s too little too late I am sure.
The judges announcement confirms Eduard Folayang via Unanimous Decision.
Bout 12. The Main Event
Gustavo Falciroli vs Bibiando Fernandes
Round 1.
Fernandes allegedly turned down UFC to join ONE FC a baffling decision for a sports man, not fighting in the biggest and best organisation. But maybe Fernandes knows that were he to head to America he would be a very small cog in a big wheel. At ONE FC he should be able to shine as one of it’s brightest lights.
Fernandes is soon on top of a grounded Falciroli and using elbows to Falcirolis horrible blue hair. They return to their feet where Fernandes looks much the more able fighter and then back on the ground with Fernandes again in control even at this early stage it’s hard top see Fernands losing this fight. A future ONE FC champion? For sure. He easily contolled the first round.
Round 2.
Again Fernandes is totally in control of Falciroli and at no stage does he look to be in any danger of losing position. Sadly Fernandes is so much better than Falciroli that this is not much of a fight for the crowd it’s very technical but not full of exciting action. Two rounds down and Falciroli is not in this fight at all.
Round 3.
Attempted rear nacked choke, attempted arm bar all with in thirty seconds of the start of the round for Fernandes. Then Fernandes slows down and the rest of the round is much better for falciroli but not enough to cause Fernandes any problems.
Fernandes wins by Unanimous Decision
Summary
So in summary a very successful event from ONE FC. The Philippines is the perfect place for this show as unlike Indonesia or Malaysia MMA is already an established and very popular sport. And the Philippine people came out and made a great atmosphere.
Fight of the Night? I Think Kelly vs Pulver, A real pair of warriors who can to throw down.
Non Event of the Night? Arlovski vs Sylvia – No more please
The fights were interesting and there were a few shocks. ONE FC really did put on a good show. Now how about dropping that soccer kick, it’s either allowed or it’s not, lets take away the onus on the ref to call it.
And please ONE FC lets call it ONE FC Championship Belts not World Championship Belts, please.
