Decisive Finish is in Mei Yamaguchi’s Crosshairs as She Faces Angela Lee Again

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In the sport of mixed martial arts, every athlete dreams of becoming a world champion because it signifies that they have reached the pinnacle of success.

Competitors invest blood, sweat, and tears to achieve the ultimate career-defining moment of having a gold-plated strap wrapped around their waists and hearing the announcer declare their names as champions.

Like any other professional mixed martial artist, Japanese veteran Mei “V.V. Yamaguchi has the same desire of becoming a world champion in the sport.

Yamaguchi, who has been competing in mixed martial arts for a decade with 28 bouts under her belt, seems destined to be a world champion after dominating both local and regional combat scenes.

The 35-year-old native of Tokyo, Japan carved her niche in the Japanese mixed martial arts circuit, winning three prominent tournaments.

Yamaguchi further rose to prominence when she toppled three different opponents in Dream Jewels’ 2015 grand prix tourney to capture the company’s featherweight belt.

Yamaguchi’s success in Japan led her to compete for the inaugural ONE Women’s Atomweight World Championship title in May 2016, facing Singaporean sensation Angela “Unstoppable” Lee in an epic showdown that would later win multiple “Fight of the Year” honors.

However, Yamaguchi fell short in capturing the gold-plated strap as she yielded to Lee by way of unanimous decision.

“If I had won, it would have been perfect. But still, even though I lost, a lot of people told me they cheered me and said, ‘Congratulations,’ so I did not feel bad. It was okay because I was able to make the audience excited,” she recalled.

“That is the thing — I want to keep doing that as a professional athlete,” Yamaguchi quipped.

Yamaguchi has been granted a second chance to vie for the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Championship belt as she will challenge Lee in the main event of ONE: UNSTOPPABLE DREAMS in Singapore on 18 May.

The second encounter between Lee and Yamaguchi was supposed to happen at ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT last November, but the bout was cancelled after the Singaporean champion pulled out of the contest.

Lee was involved in a car accident weeks prior to her title defense against Yamaguchi, and the injuries that she sustained in the unfortunate incident forced her to regretfully withdraw from the highly-anticipated championship rematch.

“I was told that Angela was in a car accident. I was surprised, but I was so glad that she was okay,” she shared. “Since I am next in line for a title shot, I just continued training. There was no reason for me to stop. It gave me more time to prepare.”

Ever since Yamaguchi lost to Lee for the inaugural ONE Women’s Atomweight World Championship two years ago, she has polished her strengths and built her confidence up to new heights.

In 2017, Yamaguchi won her two assignments inside the ONE Championship cage on an impressive note.

Yamaguchi submitted Jenny “Lady GoGo” Huang in June 2017, coercing her fellow former world title contender to tap via rear-naked choke in the first round.

Yamaguchi cemented her position as the top contender for Lee’s atomweight crown by scoring a dominant victory over the Philippines’ Gina “Conviction” Iniong in a November 2017 rematch at ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT in Singapore.

“My goal is to be a world champion. There were many challenges that came my way in 2017, but it did not deter me. I am destined to be in this position,” she said.

Both Lee and Yamaguchi have grown tremendously since their epic clash two years ago as they have matured and expanded their skillset.

Unlike the last time that both ladies stood opposite each other, Yamaguchi believes that she is entering the world title rematch with her morale at an all-time high.

“The most important thing about being a martial artist is having good technique and good heart. Not everyone can get this chance to compete for a world title. I’ve got this chance, so that has given me confidence as a martial artist,” she stated.

Yamaguchi revealed that she is planning to make the most of her second crack at the title as her new mission is to walk out of the Singapore Indoor Stadium with an intricately-crafted hardware around her waist and leave the decision out of the judges’ hands.

“It is going to end early. It will be a clear finish by me. It is going to be a knockout,” she guaranteed.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Alex Silva and Yoshitaka Naito Face Off at One: Grit and Glory Open Workout

Wazzup Pilipinas!

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The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), recently held an open workout for athletes competing at ONE: GRIT AND GLORY. Held at the Jakarta Muay Thai & MMA Gym on 9 May, the ONE: GRIT AND GLORY Open Workout featured main event competitors, reigning ONE Strawweight World Champion Alex “Little Rock” Silva of Brazil and opponent Yoshitaka “Nobita” Naito of Japan. Also in attendance were martial arts stars Stefer Rahardian, Himanshu Kaushik, Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol, and Rome Trinidad who will all be appearing on the supporting card.

ONE: GRIT AND GLORY is set for 12 May at the Jakarta Convention Center in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Ticket information for ONE: GRIT AND GLORY is available at www.onefc.com.

Official Photos for the ONE: GRIT AND GLORY Open Workout can be found here

Alex Silva, ONE Strawweight World Champion, stated: “I am always looking for a spectacular finish, no matter where the bout ends up -- whether on the feet or on the ground. I really feel like I can beat Naito again, no doubt. If it takes one round or five, I’m ready. I am prepared to go the duration of the contest again. My goal is to improve on the performance of the last bout. There should be no problems with me going to the end since I have prepared well, but I am definitely looking to finish this time around.”

Yoshitaka Naito, ONE Athlete, stated: “This is a really important bout for me, and I am working very hard to win this time. I think the opportunity that I have for this rematch this soon is very rare, so I’m not taking it lightly. He is the champion now, and I am the challenger. Silva is very good at everything. I underestimated his striking previously, but he is very well-rounded. I could not do what I wanted to do in the cage. This time, things will be different.”

Stefer Rahardian, ONE Athlete, stated: “I definitely learned a lot from my last match, and I know that I need to be prepared for everything. It was hard, but I earned a tough decision and that’s great. But now I want to win with a finish. I want to excite the crowd and give my best performance. There is something to be learned with every match, win or lose. I want to show that I have improved a lot since my last appearance.”

Himanshu Kaushik, ONE Athlete, stated: “With my family and friends supporting me, I want to make them proud of my performance. I am very lucky to have the team I have behind me. Stefer Rahardian is a great athlete, undefeated and experienced. He has great wrestling skills and his grappling is top notch. I am preparing to handle his strengths and by the time we both step into the cage, I’ll be ready. I know what to do and we have a great game plan in place.”

Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol, ONE Athlete, stated: “The more I compete, the more experience I get. It does not matter so much whether I win or lose, as long as there is always something to learn. I am working on all areas of my skills, both in my striking and in my ground game. I really feel like I have improved a lot, and I want to showcase this in this next match. I want to be the best. I want to get more matches and wins, and hopefully get the belt.”

Rome Trinidad, ONE Athlete, stated: “I am out to prove that every woman can do anything they put their mind to. I want to inspire the youth, young girls who look up to us martial artists and want to follow in our footsteps. I want them to be strong against any challenge in life, not only physically, but also mentally and spiritually. This is a tough game we play, but I am prepared to do what it takes to bring my best performance to the cage.”

Alex “Little Rock” Silva of Sao Paulo, Brazil, is a third-degree black belt and Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion feared for his relentless pursuit of submission finishes. He is a technical grappling specialist with a penchant for securing highlight-reel submissions. With steadily increasing confidence, five of Silva’s last six victories have all ended in spectacular fashion. In his most recent contest, Silva turned in the best performance of his career, defeating former champion Yoshitaka Naito via unanimous decision to claim the ONE Strawweight World Championship. Now, Silva is ready to return to action to defend the belt against the same man he took it from.

Former ONE Strawweight World Champion Yoshitaka “Nobita” Naito of Matsudo, Japan, owns a stellar professional record of 12-1. He owns six victories by submission and one by knockout. Naito made a name for himself at Japan’s world famous Korakuen Hall competing for Shooto as its Flyweight Champion, and captured the ONE Strawweight World Championship by submitting Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke in his ONE promotional debut in 2016. In his most recent bout, Naito succumbed to now reigning division king, Alex Silva. He returns to action looking to reclaim championship glory against Silva in a rematch.

Top Indonesian martial arts talent Stefer Rahardian impressed in his ONE Championship debut by winning the ONE: TITLES & TITANS Flyweight Tournament in August of 2016. Rahardian finished both Yotha Hutagalung and Hendrick Wijaya by first round rear-naked choke to become the tournament winner. Since then, Rahardian has blazed a trail in the ONE Championship cage in an amazing run as a professional. In his last outing, Rahardian outperformed Pakistan’s Muhammad Imran to win by unanimous decision. Still unbeaten at a perfect 8-0, Rahardian puts his unblemished record on the line against Himanshu Kaushik in a strawweight contest.

Indian bantamweight contender Himanshu Kaushik is set to make his ONE Championship debut at ONE: GRIT AND GLORY. Kaushik has competed mostly in his native India, showcasing a solid set of striking and grappling skills. A striking specialist, Kaushik also owns a wushu record of 71-7. Kaushik’s promotional debut will be anything but easy however, as he faces surging Indonesian martial arts talent Stefer Rahardian in a three-round strawweight bout.

Female martial artist Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol of Jakarta, Indonesia, is an Indonesian national wushu champion who has trained in various striking disciplines such as kickboxing and wushu. The 29-year-old made her ONE Championship debut against Singapore’s Tiffany Teo at ONE: THRONE OF TIGERS in February 2017, joining a growing list of elite female martial artists in Asia. Lumban Gaol, a striking specialist with a wushu record of 15-5, will look to extend her two-bout winning streak to three in her next appearance inside the ONE Championship cage, when she takes on Rome Trinidad.

20-year-old Rome “The Rebel” Trinidad of Manila, Philippines is set to return to action in her second appearance inside the ONE Championship cage. The atomweight competitor is a practitioner of Sikaran, an ancient martial arts discipline which originated from Rizal province in the Philippines. With no written history, Sikaran was passed on from generation to generation by succession. A former National Sikaran Champion training out of Elorde Gym, Trinidad is ready to showcase her skills to the world. She takes on rising Indonesian martial arts star Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Tugade Orders Immediate Firing of LTO Tarlac OIC for Alleged Involvement in Illegal Drugs

Wazzup Pilipinas!

“Kung involved kayo sa korapsyon, lalong-lalo na sa droga, pasensyahan tayo, sipain ko kayo.” 

This was the statement of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade right before he directed Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief Edgar Galvante to immediately fire LTO Tarlac OIC Rodel Yambao after being nabbed by the police for alleged possession of illegal drugs.

Yambao was arrested on Wednesday, 08 May 2018, in an operation conducted by the Tarlac Police together with the operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

According to the police report, nine (9) sachets of suspected shabu, a hand grenade, and bullets for an undertermined hand gun were seized in Yambao’s residence in Barangay San Roque.

Yambao, who has been listed as a high value target, is now in police custody and will have to face charges on possession of illegal drugs and illegal possession of firearms and ammunitions.

Enraged after learning the incident, Tugade said "Kung mga corrupt nga hindi natin pinalalampas, eto pa kayang sangkot sa ipinagbabawal na gamot? Ang mga anay na gaya mo, walang puwang sa departamentong ito lalo na sa lipunan na galit na galit sa droga!"

Tugade likewise ordered Galvante to look into Yambao's profile and investigate if he is involved in any form of corrupt practices during his term.

Further, the Transportation Chief warned all employees under DOTr and its attached agencies that zero tolerance is imposed to those who will get involved in corruption, much more with illegal drugs.