ONE FC bantamweight champion Bibiano Fernandes will make his next title defense on December 5th at ONE FC 23 in Manila as he will be challenged by Dae Hwan Kim. Also on the card, Brandon Vera will make his promotional debut against Igor Subora in the co-main event.
Both fight bookings were announced by ONE FC in a press release on Thursday.
ONE FC 23 will come from Mall of Asia Arena in Manila on December 5th and the event will be streamed live on the promotions website.
Fernandes (16-3) is currently on an eight fight winning streak and four of those wins have come in ONE FC. His most recent title defense came in May as he defeated Masakatsu Ueda by unanimous decision. Kim (10-0-1) entered ONE FC last year and both of his wins in the promotion have come by submission. His last victory came in March as he submitted Kevin Belingon by rear-naked choke in the first round.
Vera (12-7, 1NC) has dropped back to back fights and this will be his ONE FC debut. He only has one win in his last six fights (1-4, 1NC) and that win came in 2011 against Eliot Marshall. Subora (5-1) has won five straight since losing his pro debut in 2009. This will also be his ONE FC debut and all of his wins have come by stoppage in the first round.
“ONE Fighting Championship will hold nothing back as it returns for another night to remember at the state-of-the-art Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines,” ONE FC CEO Victor Cui said. “Brandon Vera is a global Filipino mixed martial arts superstar, and ONE FC will finally give fans in the Philippines the opportunity to see him in action live for the first time! He’ll be tested against heavyweight standout Igor Subora. Also, bantamweight champ Bibiano Fernandes will have his hands full against the unbeaten and dangerous Dae Hwan Kim. We have some awesome fights lined up for fans in Manila as Warrior’s Way promises to be the biggest fight card of 2014!”