MMA: GMA signs partnership with Asian MMA promotion ONE FC

ONE Fighting Championship, a Singapore-based mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company, has officially signed a partnership with GMA Network.

 

Represented by CEO Victor Cui, ONE FC forged the deal with GMA Network, Incorporated Chairman Felipe Gozon and President and COO Gilberto R. Duavit Jr. with a contract signing ceremony last Thursday at the GMA Network Complex.

“ONE FC is the most exciting promotion in the world and the number one promotion in Asia with a 90 percent market share. We only work with the best people and the best organizations. GMA is number one and that’s why we’re hoping to make our home here,” said Cui.

 

“This partnership makes perfect sense because you combine the best and the best. It’s a win for fans, it’s a win for the sport, it’s a win for ONE FC, and it’s a win for GMA,” he added.

 

“Hindi naman kaila sa atin na talagang palaki nang palaki and following ng MMA,” Duavit said. “Karangalan natin na maging partner ang ONE FC.”

 

ONE FC airs all over Asia and they hire local commentators to help the fans to understand the sport better.

“That is also our goal for the broadcast here. That’s what we do in several countries such as Cambodia,” Cui said. “The real way to reach the masses in sport is through the local language. You want to be able to deliver the message in a way they’d understand especially when you’re building local heroes.

 

“If you’re a foreign company that’s bringing your foreign fighters and you want to do it in English then that’s fine,” he added. “But we’re showcasing Asian heroes in every country that we go to and we’re trying to make new fans.”

 

ONE FC will make their second trip to the Philippines this May 31 with a card headlined by Honorio Banario, who will be defending his ONE FC featherweight title against Koji Oishi. Apart from Banario, four more Filipinos, all members of Baguio’s Team Lakay will be seeing action for ONE FC: Rise to Power.

 

Kevin Belingon will battle Japan’s Masakatsu Ueda in the final match of ONE FC’s bantamweight Grand Prix. Eduard Folayang and Rey Docyogen are out to bounce back against Kamal Shalorus and Yasuhiro Urushitani, while Geje Eustaquio will also see action against Andrew Leone. 

 

“I’m very excited about this partnership,” Cui said. “ I’d like to end by saying ONE FC has found a home with GMA.” - AMD, GMA News