"Sapo" battles former One champ as road to Askren rematch continues

One Championship (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Luis Santos will headline One's latest chapter in Jakarta on Aug. 27 as the promotion announced on Tuesday.

Santos, who is aching to finally settle the score with reigning One welterweight champion Ben Askren after their fight in Pasay was cut short due to a poking incident and their supposed rematch in Singapore was called off due to weight issues, will first test the mettle of former middleweight belt holder Igor Svirid in the main event of One: Titles & Titans at the Jakarta Convention Center.

Svirid, who claimed the inaugural middleweight belt on Nov. 7, 2014 but relinquished it to Vitaly Bigdash on Oct. 9, 2015, will try his luck in an uncharted territory as slides down from the 185-pound level to the 170-pound division.

Also dropping one weight level is Jake Butler, who will join Bigdash and the rest of the middleweights from the light heavyweights, as he takes on Marcin Prachnio in the co-main event.

Meanwhile, two Filipinos are also booked for One's upcoming fight card.

Edward Kelly, who was fresh from a stunning submission win against Jordan Lucas, battles Dutch veteran Vincent Latoel, while Burn Soriano takes on Indonesian foe Mario Wirawan.

"As One Championship continues to push the envelope in sports entertainment across the region, delivering to fans world-class mixed martial arts action, Jakarta is once again set for another explosive evening of fights," said One president Victor Cui.

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