Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
It s been a wild month for Alvarez.
He faced No. 2-ranked Iuri Lapicus on ONE on TNT 1 less than three weeks ago and looked to be in prime position to defeat him and earn a title shot against Christian Lee. That all came crashing down when The Underground King was controversially disqualified for punches to the back of the head. An emotional Alvarez, concerned for Lapicus health, was clearly distraught after the match.
Then earlier this week, ONE announced that the match had officially been changed to a no contest, removing the loss from Alvarez s record. ONE s statement said that a panel unanimously validated that illegal strikes to the back of the head occurred, but also ruled by majority that a procedural misstep occurred after the second strike to the back of the head.
Published April 26, 2021, 7:55 PM
Filipina-American muay thai striker Jackie Buntan (ONE Championship)
Filipino-American muay thai fighter Jackie Buntan has expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support she has been receiving from her parents and the Filipino community since marking a successful debut in the Circle.
Buntan, proud of her Filipino descent despite being born and raised in the US, will be returning to ONE Super Series on ONE on TNT IV at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on April 29 against Ekaterina Vandaryeva of Belarus.
“I’d like to thank all my fans and supporters in the Philippines for believing in me,” said Buntan, who scored a convincing unanimous decision win over Thai rising star Wondergirl Fairtex last February.
ONE on TNT IV Preview and Predictions combatpress.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from combatpress.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Published April 26, 2021, 8:31 PM
Team Lakay veteran and two-time lightweight champion Eduard Folayang (ONE Championship)
Team Lakay Eduard Folayang is firm that he has still a lot to offer on the table as far as competing in the Circle is concerned.
Though it may take another long road, Folayang, who is set to face Japanese legend Shinya Aoki on Thursday, has set sights on the belt at age 36.
Should he win against No. 4 Aoki, the chances of him racking up more points en route to the Top 5 lightweight contenders will become higher.
That said, the two-time lightweight champion believes he has nowhere to go but up.
Published April 22, 2021, 3:32 PM
Filipina-American muay thai striker Jackie Buntan (ONE Championship)
Filipino-American muay thai fighter Jackie Buntan is taking pride in her Filipino bloodline ahead of her US prime time showing against Ekaterina Vandaryeva of Belarus in ONE on TNT IV at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on April 28.
Buntan, who emerged as one of the prospects on the ONE Super Series fighters, looks to make it to the top bannering both the Philippine and American flags in the Circle.
The 23-year-old Buntan said reading articles from Philippine media outlets gave her more confidence “not only as a fighter but as a person” as well, especially after marking a victorious debut in ONE: Fists of Fury last February.