ONE FC fighters strut wares at media workout

MANILA, Philippines – Members of the media flocked to KMA Fitness & Martial Arts in Makati City to catch a glimpse of the action that will take place at ONE Championship’s “Spirit of Champions” event on Friday, December 11.

Three high-profile ONE fighters gave a preview of their current shape and conditioning, with only 3 days away from the organization’s year-end affair at the 20,000-seater SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Ex-UFC superstar Brandon Vera, who is slated to face Chi Lewis Parry for the inaugural ONE heavyweight championship in the main event, spearheaded the open workout to hype the promotion’s seventh venture on Philippine shores.

Vera worked on the punch mitts and kick pads with Muay Thai coach Billy Fonua, while he rolled on the mat with grappling trainer George Castro.

Also in attendance for the public training are Filipino-American stalwart Mark Striegl and former boxing world champion Ana Julaton.

Striegl battles late replacement Reece McLaren on the card’s co-headliner, while Julaton makes her return inside the ONE cage following a one-year hiatus as she locks horns with Irina Mazepa.

Aside from the 3 combatants, 3 other Filipino fighters are booked to be part of ONE: Spirit of Champions’ undercard.

“This fight allowed me to train harder. This allowed me to train longer. I am in great shape right now,” Vera said of the match-up.

Geje Eustaquio is set to square off with Chinese flyweight Yang Jian Bing, while Eugene Toquero meets another 125-pound Chinese competitor in Wu Ze.

Ruel Catalan, for his part, will dance with Brazilian prospect Alex Silva in a 3-round flyweight bout. – Rappler.com