ONE Championship have announced the finalised card for ONE: Valor of Champions, which takes place on April 24, from the Mall of Asia Arena in Manilla, adding three featherweight fights to the card, with title hopes for the winners potentially in reach against holder and fan favourite Jadamba Narantungalag.
Ben Askren (14-0) puts his welterweight world championship up against Luis Santos in the main event, and will mark the 30 year-old American’s first defence of the belt since beating Nobutatsu Suzuki in August, 2014 at Reign of Champions. Santos (61-9-1) made his professional debut in 2000, and to date is his Roufusport opponent’s most experienced test.
There was a chance both men could have fought back in Bellator MMA in 2012 after Santos bested Dan Hornbuckle, but two straight losses to Ben Saunders and Ryan Ford derailed the Brazilian’s title hopes.
CEO OF ONE Championship, Victor Cui, said: “ONE: VALOR OF CHAMPIONS is set to be the biggest night of mixed martial arts action in the Philippines! The main event will feature two of the top welterweights in the world battling for supremacy when the best wrestler in mixed martial arts, Ben Askren, takes on 61-win veteran Luis Santos. Get ready for a night of adrenaline-pumping, heart-stopping mixed martial arts action as ONE: VALOR OF CHAMPIONS goes live around the world!“
A featherweight title eliminator between Singaporean Amir Khan and Shannon Wiratchai will also feature. Undefeated in ONE FC, the Brazilina Ju-Jitsu blue belt; under Relson Gracie faces Thailand’s Wiratchai; who will look to make it into a dog fight.
The younger sibling of Eric “The Natural” Kelly, Edward, faces undefeated Jimmy Yabo, who boasts a 100% knockout percentage in the 145lb division.
Elsewhere, Indonesian kickboxing champion Sunoto takes on Wang Ya Wei.
Full ONE: Valor of Champions Card
