ONE Championship is set to return to the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur in 2017, and that means fans will once again get to see hometown hero Ev “E.T.” Ting take center stage.
Ting (12-3) is scheduled to take on Iranian wrestler Kamal “Prince of Persia” Shalorus (9-4-2) in a three-round lightweight bout. It will be the main event of ONE: THRONE OF TIGERS, which takes place on 10 February at the Stadium Negara in Kuala Lumpur.
Ting, who lives and trains primarily in Auckland, New Zealand, is of Malaysian heritage with roots in the capital city.
The 27-year-old was previously one of the top fighters at featherweight before he made the decision to move up to lightweight for a bout against Australia’s Rob Lisita last September.
Against Lisita, Ting showcased tremendous warrior spirit, overcoming a determined performance from one of the most dangerous fighters in the division. Both Ting and Lisita emptied the tank in a grueling three-round bout that was filled with action.
Shalorus, on the other hand, has been on a two-year break from professional competition, having last fought former ONE Lightweight World Champion Shinya Aoki in August of 2014 in Dubai.
The Iranian veteran owns impressive wins over two high-quality opponents in Ariel Sexton and Eduard Folayang, as well as having competed against some of the world’s best fighters in major promotions around the world.
With Ting’s recent rise through the ranks, Shalorus serves as a real litmus test for the Malaysian-Kiwi standout.
As for ONE Championship’s first appearance in Kuala Lumpur, the promotion’s CEO Victor Cui says the city’s passionate fans keep them coming back.
“It’s always an amazing time when the team is in Kuala Lumpur, because Malaysian fans are so intensely passionate about MMA that the atmosphere in the stadium just hits a fever pitch,” said Cui.
“We can’t wait to be back in February. Ev Ting is the biggest Malaysian MMA star right now, and he is poised for another thrilling performance.”
Additional bouts for ONE: THRONE OF TIGERS will be announced at a later date.
