The biggest names in Philippine mixed martial arts are eagerly anticipating ONE Championship’s return to the American scene next month.
The world’s largest martial arts organization is set to host its second U.S. event, ONE 168: Denver, on Sept. 7 (Philippine time), live from the 21,000-capacity Ball Arena.
For reigning ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio, this event underscores the promotion’s expanding global presence.
“I’m glad ONE is back in the U.S.,” Pacio said. “I was part of the crowd during the first event, and it was a huge success. I’m looking forward to seeing more events in the U.S.”
Former lightweight MMA titleholder Eduard “Landslide” Folayang believes ONE Championship continues to distinguish itself with its diverse offerings, making a significant impact on the discerning American market.
“The upside is that the West can now watch amazing and unique matches, especially in Muay Thai, kickboxing, and submission grappling. With that, ONE is gaining a larger and more passionate following in martial arts,” said Folayang, widely known as “The Face of Philippine MMA.”
ONE 168: Denver features a stacked lineup, including a high-profile main event where two-sport champion Jonathan “The General” Haggerty faces off against flyweight kickboxing star “The Kicking Machine” Superlek Kiatmoo9 for the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title.
The card also includes Liam “The Hitman” Harrison vs. Seksan “The Man Who Yields To No One” Or Kwanmuang in a 140-pound catchweight Muay Thai match, and a comeback bout for former two-division ONE World Champion Aung La “The Burmese Python” N Sang against Shamil Erdogan, potentially setting up a ONE Middleweight MMA World Championship shot.
Other notable fighters set to compete include John “Hands of Stone” Lineker, Adrian Lee, Johan “Jojo” Ghazali, and Filipino-American sensation Sean Climaco.
Inspired by the high caliber of talent at ONE 168, Filipino dynamo Jeremy “The Juggernaut” Pacatiw hopes to compete in the U.S. one day.
“I am thrilled that ONE is returning to the United States after a year, and I hope to compete there as well,” Pacatiw said. “ONE is becoming more well-known in America, and I hope they can sustain that in the future.”
This enthusiasm is echoed by Lions Nation MMA teammate and former ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon.
“As an athlete, this is a great opportunity for us here in Asia who dream of fighting in the U.S.,” Belingon added.
The excitement is just beginning as ONE Championship aims to establish a strong foothold in the U.S. The promotion has already announced ONE 169, scheduled for Nov. 9 (Philippine time) at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, where Filipino fan-favorite Danny “The King” Kingad will face Brazilian rival Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes in a potential Flyweight MMA World Title eliminator.
