Source: Eustaquio’s foe fails to make weight; ONE FC scraps bout

MANILA, Philippines – A speed bump has hit ONE Championship’s “Spirit of Champions” event on Friday, December 11 as the scheduled flyweight bout between Filipino fighter Geje Eustaquio and China’s Yang Jian Bing has been scrapped from the fight card.

Both men were not seen during the official weigh-in on Thursday, December 10 at SM Mall of Asia’s Music Hall in Pasay City.

According to a Team Lakay member, who requested anonymity due to the issue’s confidentiality, Yang did not meet the allowable flyweight limit of 126 pounds, prompting ONE officials to cancel the 3-round undercard contest.

Meanwhile, Eustaquio confided to Rappler that Asia’s largest mixed martial arts organization is currently looking for a short-notice replacement, but he is unsure of ONE’s back-up plan.

Rappler tried to reach ONE officials for comments during the official weigh-in, but received no word from the concerned party as of press writing.

Eustaquio (6-4) was aiming to rebound from a two-fight losing skid and has not won a single bout since outpointing Kentaro Watanabe in June 2014 to earn the opportunity to vie for the inaugural ONE flyweight championship against Adriano Moraes. 

During that stretch, the 26-year-old Team Lakay representative yielded to Moraes via second-round submission in September 2014 before Anatpong Bunrad spoiled Eustaquio’s road back to another ONE flyweight title shot as the Thai kickboxer walked away with a split decision victory this past April. – Rappler.com