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| Aldrin Alejo (file photo) |
By Dugout Philippines
QUEZON CITY–World Series of Fighting-Global Championship (WSOF-GC) has officially arrived in Philippines and is bringing ten exciting fights featuring fighters from 11 countries from five continents.
The event will be held this Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, home of the "Thrilla in Manila", starting at 6 p.m.
WSOF-GC 3: PHILIPPINES will host a heavyweight championship main event. The match-up will pit WSOF Global Champion Evgeny Erokhin (14-4) and number one contender Richard “The Black Eagle” Odoms (11-2).
Evgeny Erokhin won the inaugural WSOF Global world heavyweight championship back on Feb. 7 in Tokyo, Japan, with a first round TKO victory over former Bellator contender Brandon Cash.
Evgeny brings an impressive win streak into the decagon with nine straight wins via knockout, including wins over Brett Rogers, Mike Kyle, Jeff Monson, and Tim Hague.
Richard Odoms made his debut with WSOF Global in Tokyo in February and was on hand to witness Evgeny win his championship.
Odoms had a very powerful first round KO stoppage, flattening Japan’s Yusuke Kawaguchi in the first round with a knee to the head.
Odoms has won three straight fights, with two of those wins coming by first round knockouts.
An interesting fact about each of these warriors is that when they aren’t training, they protect and serve with their respective police forces at home. Evgeny is a police officer in Khabarovsk, Russia, while Richard wears the badge in San Antonio, Texas.
Also, featured on the main card, is the first round of a 4-man tournament featuring some of the best flyweight fighters in the world.
The two winners will face each other on a future card to crown WSOF Global’s first flyweight world champion.
The first match-up features USA’s Lawrence DiGuilio (17-7-1 and winner of nine of his last ten bouts) against Brazil’s Marcel Adur (11-4 and winner of five of his last six bouts, all by knockout).
The second contest pits Japan’s Yusaku Nakamura (12-4-1 and winner of his last seven bouts) against Australia’s Tim Moore (Australia’s number one flyweight and WSOF-GC affiliate Eternal MMA Flyweight Champion; 10-5 and winner of 5 of 6 matches since dropping to 125 lbs.).
Then it’s Philippines versus the world!
Mario Sismundo (3-1) will be in the spotlight as the co-main event when he takes on China’s Keremuaili Maimaitituoheti (5-3).
Mario’s charisma and charm has captivated the Philippines’ fan base. It doesn’t hurt that he carries a striking resemblance to boxing great, Manny Pacquiao.
The relationship between Philippines and China has been toxic due to disputes over territories in West Philippine Sea. This fight will have national pride on the line.
The featured female bout of the night showcases Jujeath Nagaowa (2-0), a former professional boxer who won the WBC Asian Boxing Council Female Atomweight Title and WIBA International Light Flyweight Title.
The “Bad Girl” will be taking on Japan’s Yuko Kiryu (2-2), representing WSOF-GC affiliate, DEEP Fighting Championships.
The main card will begin with undefeated rising prospect, Neil Larano (2-0). He will be taking on Pakistan’s Ahmed “Wolverine” Mujtaba (6-0). With neither of these fighters having tasted defeat before, this is sure to be a spectacular match.
This match will be for the Underground Battle MMA (UGB-MMA) Featherweight Title. UGB-MMA is an affiliate of WSOF-GC and this marks the first time that one promotion’s title fight is featured on another event’s card.
The night’s swing bout features Jenelyn Olsim (2-0). She is coming off an impressive win against Australia’s Claire Fryer, whose only previous loss was to UFC fighter, Alex Chambers.
Her undefeated record will face a whole new test against Brazil’s Nayara Hemily (3-3), winner of her last two contests.
This fight will be headed to the main card if time allows. Otherwise, it will be seen following the main event.
Rounding out the Filipino action, and the final fight on the undercard, is local UGB-MMA matchmaker, Jessdan Dela Pena, who will welcome the pro debut of Malaysia’s Kelvin Ong.
Also on the undercard, Pakistan’s Uloomi Karim (5-3) looks to end the undefeated streak of India’s Yadwinder Singh (5-0) in a special grudge match.
Karim, who has finished all five of his professional victories, is the current, reigning UGB-MMA Bantamweight Champion, having captured the title earlier this year.
During his post-fight interview, he gave a very heartfelt speech dedicated his title to some of his fellow students that had recently been victimized by a terrorist attack in his home country.
It was an emotional affair for all. With the crowd fully behind him, he made a bold challenge by calling, “Yad Singh, I’m coming for you.”
WSOF Global veteran Yadwinder Singh, is certainly not running and answered the challenge.
Singh made his debut with the organization in Nov. 2015, with an impressive victory over a previously unbeaten American and Roger Huerta protégé Alex Schild.
Singh is currently the number one ranked flyweight in India and will be welcoming Karim to the 125-pound division.
The night’s action will begin with former Olympian May Ooi (2-1), returning to the decagon.
At the young age of 16, May competed in seven events in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, ranking in the Top 50 in the world in all seven categories.
She is currently ranked as the number two pound-for-pound female fighter in Singapore and in in the Top 10 in all of Southeast Asia.
May will face off against a United States’ military veteran Katherine Roy, looking to make a successful pro debut.
Katherine trains under UFC veteran, Pete Spratt, and holds an undefeated amateur MMA record including the Cowboys Extreme Cagefighting Strawweight Title.
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