Two of the Philippines’ most promising MMA fighters will be back in action this November.
Team Lakay’s Carlos Alvarez’s postponed bout is finally rescheduled, while T-Rex MMA’s Fritz Biagtan also gets to return to Lumpinee Stadium at ONE Friday Fights 86 on November 8 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Alvarez battles Mirza Aliev in a featherweight MMA match that was supposed to be scheduled for ONE Friday Fights 82. However, a minor injury forced the Russian out of the contest. Thankfully, Aliev recovered and got back on the saddle quickly.
While some people might lose their drive after a postponement, the Team Lakay stud in Alvarez insists that it gave him more time to prepare for his opponent.
“The preparation has been well. I think it got better because my preparation has been extended. As we know, [the fight] was supposed to happen last month, but our preparation never stopped,” he said.
“I’m taking the postponement positively. I’m using the extra time to be more prepared for this fight.”
Biagtan, on the other hand, will battle Sayedali Asli in a flyweight contest as he looks for his third win on the ultimate proving ground for ONE Championship.
Fresh off a loss against Babar Ali, Biagtan will be hungry to bounce back and prove that he belongs among the best flyweights in the world with a victory over Asli.
“It’s been a while since I last competed in ONE Friday Fights. I thank God for giving me this opportunity. Certainly, I had time to improve myself in that stretch. Of course, given that I’ve waited for this fight for a long time, I’m certainly a lot hungrier in this fight,” he said.
“All I can say, I’m truly hungry to bounce back. I’ll give my 100 percent in this fight. I want to win this fight for my Pinoy fans, my family, and of course myself.”
The two men are targeting the US$100,000 contract to compete on ONE’s main roster, something they could achieve with an impressive performance in the weekly showcase.
One Filipino has already “graduated” from the program, with Carlo Bumina-ang winning a life-changing, main-roster contract after five straight victories at ONE Friday Fights.
