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Friday, March 29, 2024

Vera defends ONE crown

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JAPANESE challenger Hideki Sekine may be bigger and heavier than ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera. But, this does not matter to the Filipino-American fighter, who is set to defend his title belt against Sekine on Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“I’m very prepared. He’s bigger than my conditioning coach. What more can I say,” said Vera during an interview at the Viking’s Restaurant inside the SM MOA complex.

The undefeated Sekine has won seven fights, and is set to face Vera  in the main event of ONE: AGE OF DOMINATION.

The 39-year-old Vera comes into the fight with a 14-7 win-loss record.

ONE Heavyweight World Championship Brandon Vera is all smiles after a first round knockout victory over Taiwanese-Canadian fighter Paul ‘Typhoon’ Cheng to capture the heavyweight title. ONE Championship

He has won his last two fights against Igor Subora and Paul Cheng, the first on a technical knockout, and the second on a knockout.

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The 205-lb. Vera won’t be intimidated by the 265 lb. Sekine, who is even heavier than his coach Billy Fonua.

For more than a year or so, Fonua has been training Vera to be faster on the ring with his 6’2” built.

There will be 10 under cards that evening, among those seeing action are Team Lakay standouts Geje Eustaquio, Honorio Banario, April Osenio and Danny Kingad.

Fights are also set for  Eugene Toquero, Mark Striegl and Filipino-Australian Reece McLaren.

Sekine has not fought over the last two years after he beat Ryuta Kono in the  Real Fight Championship by TKO in the first round.

Vera, born October 10, 1977 has been a professional competitor since 2002. He formerly competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship and the WEC. Vera is the former WEC 13 Heavyweight Grand Prix Champion.

Vera signed with Singapore-based promotion ONE Championship July, 2014. He made his ONE Championship debut on December 5 against Igor Subora at ONE Championship: Warrior’s Way. Vera won via knockout after connecting a counter straight left at 3:54 minutes in the first round.

Vera then took on Paul Cheng on December 11, 2015 in the main event at ONE Championship: Spirit of Champions. He won the fight via knockout just 26 second into the first round to win the ONE Heavyweight Championship.

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