Sherilyn Lim and Ann Osman put women’s MMA back in spotlight

SINGAPORE – Don’t let their beauty fool you: these two ladies know a thing or two about dishing out some pain.

In fact, in October of last year, they featured in their professional MMA debuts against each other in a memorable war, one that opened the door to Women’s MMA in Asia. 

This Friday, March 14, at the Stadium Negara in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Singapore’s Sherilyn Lim (1-0) will take on Ann “Athena” Osman (0-1) once again in a highly anticipated rematch. Lim looks to nab a second victory over her cross-country rival to prove the first win was no fluke, while Osman looks to even the score at one win apiece.

As women’s MMA gains prominence with the rise of names such as Invicta FC champ Cris “Cyborg” Justino, fighter-turned-movie-star Gina Carano and the current UFC Women’s bantamweight champion “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey, Sherilyn Lim and Ann Osman bring the Women’s MMA craze over to Southeast Asia.

If their first fight is any indication of how their second fight will turn out, fans are in for an amazing evening. Lim and Osman went at it for three grueling five-minute rounds in their first meeting at the Singapore Indoor Stadium a few months ago, with each fighter exchanging periods of dominance.

This time, they take the action to the neighboring country.

The 25 year old Lim, Singapore’s fighting belle, prefers to take her opponents to the ground where she can dominate with her wrestling. Despite Lim’s solid Muay Thai base, her ground game is what’s most impressive. Her strength on the mat keeps opponents smothered in a healthy dose of punishment.

Lim, who at one point told Rappler she would love to live in Boracay, will need all the strength she can muster against the tough-as-nails Ann Osman, who, on the flipside, is more adept in the stand-up game. Osman went right at Lim and gave her a good run for her money for 15 hellacious minutes the last time the saw each other in the One FC cage.

In the end, both fighters were pushed to the point of exhaustion, with Sherilyn Lim doing just enough to get the judges’ nod, securing the hard-earned decision victory. This time however, Osman will have the home crowd on her side, fighting in front of her fans in Kuala Lumpur.

Osman trains out of Sabah, Malaysia in the Borneo Tribal Squad stable with fellow well-known Asian MMA fighters AJ “Pyro” Lias Mansor and Filipino Mark “Mugen” Striegl. Having the rematch in Malaysia gives Osman home-court advantage in a fight that can easily steal the show.

Whatever the outcome this Friday night, Sherilyn Lim and Ann Osman will put Women’s Mixed Martial Arts in the spotlight once again. As women’s fights continue to exceed expectations, more and more fights involving female MMA fighters will come to raise the profile of the fastest growing sport in the world.

Also on the card is Filipino standout, Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon who takes on undefeated Korean fighter Dae Hwan Kim. Belingon continues his quest to dominate the One FC Bantamweight division, recently coming off an impressive one-punch knockout of another previously undefeated fighter in David Aranda Santacana.

The main event features a welterweight showdown between former UFC fighter, American Brock Larson and Japanese star Nobutatsu Suzuki.

Just recently, One FC announced their May 2 event at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Philippines, dubbed “Rise of Heroes”. 

MMA fans in Southeast Asia indeed have much to look forward to this year. – Rappler.com