A compelling bantamweight contest as seen by ONE Championship lead commentator and Fox Sports Presenter Steve Dawson

In the ONE Championship bantamweight division, Filipino Geje Eustaquio takes on Toni Tauru of Finland this Friday in Manila at ONE: AGE OF DOMINATION.

The contest at the Mall of Asia Arena could mark Eustaquio’s final steps towards a world title challenge in the bantamweight division. Two years ago, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the Team Lakay fighter put on a highly-focused effort against Adriano Moraes for the flyweight title, only to succumb to a second-round guillotine choke.

Since then, Eustaquio has strung impressive 2016 wins together against Saiful Merican and Gianni Subba.

Eustaquio’s opponent, Tauru, currently holds a record of 10-4-1. Three of those losses have come in his last three fights, where he has unquestionably stepped up in class, even once challenging Bibiano Fernandes for the ONE Bantamweight World Championship belt. 

For Tauru, the aim is clear: get back to winning ways against an established ONE Championship veteran who is of genuine title-challenging stock. For Eustaquio, the path seems similarly uncluttered. If he is to challenge Fernandes in 2017, the best statement he can make is to overcome Tauru in a manner similar to the way the Champion beat the Scandinavian 31-year old.

Tauru lacks the fast-twitch explosion that knocks opponents out. He relies instead on submission moves and outlasting his foes. When you consider that Eustaquio has never fallen to strikes, that seems like a fight-ending scenario that can be eliminated.

On the other hand, the Filipino has stopped two of his opponents via KO, and that is a finish to which Tauru is vulnerable. At a time when I was publicly becoming critical of Bibiano Fernandes’ striking arsenal, it was against Tauru that the Brazilian emphatically addressed the issue with his first KO win in almost four years.

Eustaquio’s wushu-based attacks are one likely way in which he can win this one. Moraes is the only man to submit Eustaquio, but that is the way Tauru has nailed 70 per cent of his wins, and this is where he will be looking for the advantage. 

While submission defense used to be an area of weakness for Team Lakay fighters, they’ve made giant steps in recent times to improve this, notably in the way Eduard Folayang fought off the legendary Shinya Aoki’s grappling assault just a few weeks ago in Singapore.

I see a number of ways for the Filipino to win in front of his home fans. Dropping his opponent with strikes or maintaining the upper hand to land a unanimous decision seem the most likely.

Steve Dawson is ONE Championship’s lead commentator, a Fox Sports presenter and an author of sporting biographies. He can be found on Twitter & Instagram as @Gulasahi and on Facebook as Steve Dawson.

Jenny Huang is planning to shock the world.

The undefeated atomweight prospect will attempt to maintain her spotless record when she battles two-time Filipino Wushu Champion April Osenio at ONE: AGE OF DOMINATION on Friday Night, 2 December, live from the Mall Of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines.

“This will be a fight of two cobras taking very careful shots at each other,” the 25-year-old states. “I am sure it will be a very intense and interesting fight. I am sure that I will surprise everyone again.”

Based out of Baguio City, the 22-year-old Osenio is a member of the highly-regarded Team Lakay. The hometown favorite is a wushu specialist who is currently riding an impressive two-fight win streak with back-to-back submission victories over fellow Filipina Natalie Gonzalez Hills and Malaysian superstar Ann Osman.

Although the Filipina is rounding out her game, Huang is not overly concerned. 

“I see many ways that this fight could go,” she says. “Fighters always need to be prepared for a variety of different outcomes. I have to get ready to beat her within three rounds. This will be a long fight, and I need to prepare for it.”

Huang may be considered the underdog, but she has always wanted to be a martial arts icon, and defeating Osenio will bring her one step closer to her lifelong dream.

Growing up in Chinese Taipei, Huang often imitated the kung fu moves of martial artists on television and movie actors including her favorite, Jackie Chan. She was so into it, her father jokingly told her to go to the Shaolin temple. But when she turned 12, she pursued judo and joined the high school team.

“I was very happy to finally learn some real martial arts. I was not just pretending anymore, I was actually doing it. I was becoming strong and awesome like the people I really admired,” she recalls.

“Whenever I trained very hard at judo, I knew that I was different. I had a goal. It is a feeling that few have, knowing what to do. Very few people get that feeling. But when I started this, I suddenly knew. I knew what I wanted to do.”

Huang received her black belt and studied the martial art for six years. After she graduated from university, she traveled the world, and stopped by America and Singapore where she learned more about Brazilian jiu-jitsu and this sport called mixed martial arts.

In 2014, when she returned to Chinese Taipei, she immediately began working on her jiujitsu game. She also participated in amateur kickboxing competitions.

Between her passion for competing, her knack for naturally picking up techniques, and her love for the martial arts, a career in MMA was inevitable.

“MMA is in my blood. I had learned so many techniques that I wanted to try it,” she says. “I enjoy every day of practice in the arena and in the gym. I love the constant challenges that this sport brings to me, so when it came to pursuing MMA professionally, I simply wanted to see how far I could go. It is an amazing experience.”

Since making her MMA debut a year and a half ago, the Martial Armour fighter has won all four of her matches, which includes consecutive submission victories over Egyptian wrestler Amira Badr and Delhi’s seven-time kickboxing champion Jeet Toshi. 

She also made an impression at September’s ONE: UNBREAKABLE WARRIORS by walking to the cage dressed as Chun-Li from Capcom’s Street Fighter.

Though Huang is becoming one of the most promising talents in the division, and is in the process of building herself as a threat to Angela Lee’s ONE Atomweight World Title, she is the first professional women’s mixed martial artist from Chinese Taipei, and finds encouragement from other women all throughout the nation.

“All the other women in my country inspire me to keep going. Every day, I get dozens and dozens of questions from other women in the country,” says Huang. “People constantly ask me how I can keep going. They want to know how they can continue to follow their own dreams in their lives. But life is not easy. It is hard.

“Any goal that you want, you need to work towards it every day. Find that goal. Find that one thing that you are passionate about and hold on to it. You do not always need to get punched to follow your dream, but you do need to take a few blows with every goal that you really care about.”

Huang may take a few blows from Osenio at ONE: AGE OF DOMINATION, but she cares about achieving victory, and is willing to eat a few punches to get the win. 

If she does indeed get the win, it will bring her a tiny bit closer to getting a title shot and cementing her status as a martial arts icon, just like her hero, Jackie Chan.

ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera will make his highly-anticipated return to the ONE Championship cage on Friday, 2 December, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines. 

Vera (14-7-0, 1 NC) will headline ONE: AGE OF DOMINATION in a five-round contest opposite unbeaten Japanese heavyweight standout Hideki Sekine (7-0).

While Vera, 39, has spent most of his life and career in the United States, he has always had the lingering feeling of wanting to represent the Philippines as a champion in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA).

Vera won the inaugural belt with a spectacular first-round knockout over Paul Cheng last December. By winning the ONE Heavyweight World Championship, Vera announced his return to the top of the world’s heavyweight ranks. He will be making the first defense of his title on fight night.

Representing the Philippines in his title run, Vera is a great champion who has made his presence known in and out of the cage. While he fully embraces his mixed heritage, Vera has made it known that he is a hundred per cent Filipino at heart.

Let’s take a look at five reasons why Brandon Vera is a great Filipino world champion.

1. He experienced a real Filipino upbringing

Vera is of both Filipino and American descent. His father is Filipino while his birth mother is Italian-American. Born in 1977 in Norfolk, Virginia, “The Truth” spent most of his years competing in various high-profile MMA promotions in the United States. Yet despite the time he spent stateside, Vera has experienced an authentic, real Filipino upbringing.

Like most Filipino-Americans in the United States, much of the traditional Filipino values have been instilled in his core being. He spoke Tagalog at home during his childhood days, he was taught to eat with his hands, and he always made sure to represent the three stars and a sun. He is also really close to his lola (grandmother).

“I am a Filipino through and through,” Vera said. “The Philippines is just as much my home as the United States is, and I am truly blessed to be able to compete here in front of all the Filipino fans.”

For someone who so fervently exudes what it is to be Filipino, Vera is truly a great representative for the country in the world of MMA.

2. Manila is His Home

Although Vera is from San Diego, California, he considers Manila just as much his home. In fact, a few months ago Vera made the decision to relocate permanently to Manila. He now resides in the metro, spending his days training for his upcoming fight while dabbling in many local PR and fan engagement activities.

He made the decision to relocate to Manila because he saw the potential of the Philippines as a new hub for Asian MMA.

“I think there’s a plethora of talents here in the Philippines, and untapped potential,” said Vera. “We could probably produce many world champions here without really trying hard.

“Back in the day they would say, ‘Ah lalaban ka. Wala namang pera doon.’ (Why will you fight there, there’s no market) But, now it’s a viable career path.”

Vera says that making the move to Manila is one of the best decisions in his life, and based on his posts on social media and the interviews he does, he appears to be truly enjoying the experience.

3. He flies the Filipino flag

As the ONE Heavyweight World Champion, Vera represents the Philippines every time he steps inside the ONE Championship cage. This is particularly significant because the Philippines loves their world champions.

The Filipino people are a nation who take pride in excellence, especially when one of their own are represented on the world stage.

World-renowned icons such boxing world champion Manny Pacquiao, chess grandmaster Wesley So, and even Journey frontman Arnel Pineda have all proudly represented the Philippines, and the Filipino people have embraced them with open arms. Vera, an MMA world champion, is equally as loved.

One big factor for Vera’s acceptance by his Filipino fans is the fact that he goes out of his way to make it known that he represents the Philippines. Vera is not shy about his heritage, and it shows.

This pride, this patriotism, is what endears him to the Filipino people every time he steps inside the cage.

4. He helps the Filipino people

An integral part of being a global icon and a public figure in the Philippines is the amount of outreach work one does. Proudly, Brandon Vera goes out of his way to help the Filipino people and the less fortunate.

Vera has been seen out and about in different parts of the Philippines, mingling with locals and helping out in local communities. He spends time away from the city and visits even the rural areas, where resources and opportunities are scarce.

Vera has also shown willingness to help other Filipino fighters improve their skills. With nearly 15 years of professional MMA experience, Vera has a lot to offer in terms of knowledge and skill. He is able to teach and guide the young fighters of today.

He even has plans to bring Alliance MMA to the Philippines very soon. Alliance MMA in Chula Vista, California, was established by Vera in 2007, and features world-class training facilities. Notable fighters who train there are Dominick Cruz, Phil Davis, and Alexander Gustafsson.

Bringing Alliance MMA to the Philippines would be huge, and a really big help in enhancing the overall skill level of local Filipino martial artists.

5. He possesses world-class talent

Last but not least, Brandon Vera is a true Filipino world champion because of his world-class skills. Vera is one of the best heavyweights in the world. He is well-versed in Muay Thai, wrestling, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. In the world of MMA, Vera is the total package.

He has had ups and downs in his career, but Vera at 39-years of age is coming into his own and just hitting his prime. He has looked the best he has ever had in his career.

Winning the ONE Heavyweight World Championship belt was a culmination of all the hard work, trials, and tribulations Vera had experienced throughout his career. Right now, he is the at the peak of his abilities as a martial artist.

Vera will be facing a tough undefeated challenger in Hideki Sekine next week, but even then, Vera is by far the favorite going into the matchup. His stand-up game is fearsome and his mat skills robust.

Brandon Vera is a real world-class talent, and the Philippines is lucky to have such a fine world champion.

Former ONE Featherweight World Champion Honorio “The Rock” Banario will step back into action to face dangerous striker Rajinder Singh “Knockout” Meena in a lightweight showdown at ONE: AGE OF DOMINATION. The event takes place on Friday Night, 2 December, at the Mall Of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines.

With both fighters showcasing predominantly stand-up skills and preferring to keep the fight on the feet, Banario, a wushu specialist, believes the contest will play out in entertaining fashion once the cage door shuts.

“I see the fight as an exciting fight because we are both strikers,” the 27-year-old Filipino says. “I also see it that I am winning this fight.”

Singh, a former Super Fight League Lightweight Champion, holds a respectable 8-2 record with three of those victories coming by TKO. Though known as a striker with an accomplished background in amateur kickboxing, boxing, and wushu, he also has a commendable ground game, with five of his wins coming by way of submission.

The Crosstrain Fight Club member lost his ONE debut against Peter Davis at ONE: AGE OF CHAMPIONS in March 2015, but after a year and a half away from the sport, he returns feeling re-energized and with a fresh perspective.

Needless to say, it will be difficult to defeat Banario. The Filipino is a durable competitor who started his career red-hot, winning eight of his first nine professional fights via stoppage and capturing the inaugural ONE Featherweight World Championship in the process.

Since that title win, however, “The Rock” has fallen on hard times. He dropped the belt to Koji Oishi and lost five straight bouts. Despite his unlucky streak, he remained loyal to the Asian organization.

“I am very grateful to be fighting in ONE because, even though I lost many times in the past, they never gave up on me,” Banario says. “I decided to stay with them as long as they are good to me.”

Banario also decided to re-create himself as a lightweight, and that is when his career turned around. He has won two in a row, claiming victory over Vaughn “The Spawn” Donayre at ONE: GLOBAL RIVALS this past April, and edging out Eddie Ng to nab a unanimous decision win at ONE: HEROES OF THE WORLD four months later.

Much of that credit is owed to his fight family, the famed Team Lakay. 

“ I am very grateful to have a team like Team Lakay,” Banario states. “I am happy to be part of it in making history. The good thing about our team is that we are like brothers. We respect each other and we help each other in so many ways. We work as a team and as a family. We are one.”

Team Lakay, which has become one of the hottest gyms in Asia, has five fighters competing on the upcoming ONE: AGE OF DOMINATION card. The Baguio City facility is running full speed ahead, fully focused on their goals of victory.

They are a well-oiled machine just waiting to get their respective hands on their future opponents, and hopefully, future gold to match Eduard Folayang’s newly-minted ONE Lightweight World Championship.

“Our gym is very full these days,” Banario admits. “Every training session is packed. If you enter the gym, you can easily see that. Everyone there is so determined. They are there to train. We are like hungry savages when it comes to training prior to every fight.”

Quite possibly, the most admired and respected trait of Banario is his perseverance, attitude, and fighting style, embodying an undying battle cry.

“It is in our blood here in the highlands of Cordillera in the Philippines,” he explains. “Since olden times, our ancestors were Igorot warriors. We inherited their ‘never say die’ mentality, and especially their will.”