Happy International Women's Month: Pinay MMA to Feature Prominenty This March

Hot on the heels of Filipina-American mixed martial artist Ana "The Hurricane" Julaton making a successful return to boxing with a dominant performance over Yolanda Segura, a victory of which possibly sets her up for a future bout with IBF super bantamweight women's champion Yulihan Alejandra Luna Ávila, Filipina competitors look to further their success during this year's International Women's Month.

April Osenio Makes Professional MMA Debut

© ONE Championship

First up is the professional mixed martial arts debut of April Osenio at ONE Championship: Age of Champions. Osenio, an accomplished Wushu and grappling champion, will face Kirstie Gannaway in a three-round atomweight bout. While Osenio has yet to gain experience in the professional ranks, and Gannaway has only one pro-fight and victory under her belt, the bout proves interesting for a number of reasons.

First are the training teams the two fight out of. Osenio has been training for years under Team Lakay, considered by many to be the best MMA team in the Philippines. Notable team members include the long-time face of Philippine MMA Eduard "The Landslide" Folayang, first ever ONE Championship Featherweight Champion Honorio "The Rock" Banario, and rising Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight Mark Eddiva.

Gannaway on the other hand, trains at Evolve MMA. Based in Singapore, it is one of Asia's most recognized gyms, and has been the sight of training camps for MMA luminaries like DREAM and ONE Lightweight World Champion Shinya Aoki, ONE Welterweight Champion Ben Askren, and former UFC Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin. Evolve is also the current home Filipino-American fighter and new ONE Championship bantamweight Mark "Mugen" Striegl.

The other intriguing aspect is how Osenio came in as a replacement for Jujeath "Bad Girl" Nagaowa. The latter was Gannaway's original opponent but had to bow out due to injury. With Nagaowa an accomplished boxer turned MMA-pro, it will be interesting how Gannaway adjusted preparing for Nagaowa to Osenio. It will be similarly intriguing how much Osenio has learned from her highly touted coaches and teammates.

For more on April Osenio's pro debut and how to watch, visit ONEFC.com.


The Veloxity Movement Hosts Veloxity FC 1: Stigma

© Veloxity Movement

The Veloxity Movement, or VMove, a women empowerment organization using sports as a catalyst for social change, hosts its first MMA-centered event with Veloxity FC 1: Stigma.

Happening on March 15th at the Fishermall Activity Center in Quezon City, Stigma is an all-female MMA event. It will have participants from many of the Philippines top training facilities, including Team Lakay, Hybrid Yaw-Yan, Team Goatlocker, and Submission Sports Philippines, just to name a few.

The day before the all-female MMA event will be the Velocity Fit Fest. Also held at the Fishermall Activity Center, it will feature a self-defense demonstration and the official weigh-ins for the competitors in Stigma.

© Veloxity Movement

Veloxity Movement describes itself as an organization whose "core advocacy is to encourage active community participation and engagement towards ending violence against women and girls while creating positive changes to existing harmful athletic gender stereotypes and fostering safe athletic environments." They look to take the first steps towards that advocacy in Veloxity FC 1: Stigma, their first of what hopes to be many successful events.

To learn more about the Veloxity Movement, visit VeloxityWoman.com.

Boxing Champions Look to Raise Pinay MMA Banner in MOA Arena Once Again

In less than a week, ONE Fighting Championship will be staging what is likely to be the biggest local mixed martial arts event of the year when it brings ONE FC: Warriors Way to the Mall of Asia Arena. 

ONE FC: Warrior's Way

December 5^th looks to be an explosive night of fights as popular Pinoy fighters Eduard Folayang, Kevin Belingon, Rene Catalan, and former ONE FC Featherweight Champion Honorio Banario will be gracing the ONE FC cage once again. Highly regarded heavyweight and Fil-Am mixed martial artist Brandon Vera will also be making his promotional debut on the card.

"The Hurricane" and "Bad Girl" at ONE FC: Rise of Heroes. Photos property of ONE FC.

Not at all to be out done, returning Pinay fighters are also looking to earn second pro-MMA wins while electrifying the MOA Arena crowd. Successful boxers turned mixed martial artists Ana “The Hurricane” Julaton and Jujeath “Bad Girl” Nagaowa are also scheduled for bouts at Warrior’s Way.

Nagaowa in action. Photo property of ONE FC.

Nagaowa, a former WBC Asia Atomweight Champion, made her pro-MMA debut during ONE FC: Rise of Heroes, held last May at the MOA Arena. “Bad Girl” began her MMA career with a win over Jeet Toshi of India, whom she stopped via TKO in the second round. Jujeath aims to make it 2-0 at MOA Arena, and in MMA over all, when she meets Tharoth Sam.

Hailing from Cambodia, Sam is also undefeated at 2-0, with the renowned Kun Khmer fighter earning her latest victory via arm bar. While the styles vary, the bout looks to be a strike fest, with the two women looking to impose their wills and respective disciplines over the other.

Julaton throwing a left hook in her pro-MMA debut. Photo property of ONE FC.

Similar to Nagaowa, Ana Julaton also made her pro MMA debut at Rise of Heroes, earning a TKO victory against Egyptian kickboxer Aya Saeid Saber. Julaton then however, came up on the wrong end of a split decision against Ann “Athena” Osman at ONE FC: Reign of Champions, which was held last August in Dubai.

On December 5th, the former WBO and IBA Super Bantamweight champion will be meeting Walaa Abbas from Egypt, and will be looking to get back to her winning ways with the help of the home crowd. Abbas (2-1) on the other hand, will try to continue her current momentum, as the former national Egyptian kickboxing champion had recently racked up two consecutive wins.

To support these Pinay fighters and catch all the high stakes action live, tickets to ONE FC: Warrior’s way can be purchased via SM Tickets. Fans around Asia can also catch the action live on Fox Sports 1, while those in other areas can watch the live online stream at ONEFC.com.