With three members of Team Lakay, ONE Interim Flyweight World Champion Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio, Danny Kingad, and Edward Kelly. as well as Rodian “The Redeemer” Menchavez of Catalan Fighting Systems already penciled for Pinnacle of Power next Saturday, the other bouts in the card are just as great as the fights of these Pinoys.
In the evening’s headlining bout, reigning ONE Women’s Strawweight World Champion “The Panda” Xiong Jing Nan of China makes the first defense of her world title against Laura “La Gladiadora” Balin of Argentina.
“The Panda” Xiong Jing Nan is from Shandong with a professional record of 14-1, Xiong began her career competing in professional boxing and was inspired by her father, who imparted in her values of courage and integrity. Featuring a wide array of skills, “The Panda” bagged a gold medal at the prestigious China Open Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournament in 2017.
In her last bout, Xiong figured in a gruelling championship encounter against Singapore’s Tiffany Teo, winning by technical knockout in the fourth round to claim the inaugural ONE Women’s Strawweight World Championship.
Laura “La Gladiadora” Balin is a female strawweight contender who will be making her ONE Championship. Balin, who competed in South America for most of her professional career thus far, will compete for the very first time in Asia, as well.
She owns a professional record of 10 wins and two losses. Of her 10 total victories, nine have come by spectacular finish, including five submissions and four knockouts.
This women’s strawwieght matchup should be one kind of a duel as both combatants promised to come out victorious.
Xiong Jing Nan stated: “Winning the title is one of the biggest moments of my career. I am proud to represent China on the global stage of martial arts and plan to successfully defend the belt against any opponent. Laura Balin is a worthy challenger, but the outcome of this match will be one where I am the winner.”
To which Laura Balin countered: “It is an honor to compete for the world championship in my first appearance in ONE. I am grateful that the promotion has placed trust in my skills and talent, and will do everything in my power to take the title from the champion. I’m coming in with upset on my mind, and it’s going to be a very exciting matchup.”
Eustaquio and AdrianoMoraes are also making sure that their fans will surely enjoy their own duel.
Eustaquio, the ONE Interim Flyweight World Champion, stated: “There can only be one champion, and I believe I have what it takes to unify the flyweight titles. It’s an honor and privilege to be facing Adriano Moraes again, and I am eager to show him how much I have improved since the last time we met. I know he has evolved as a martial artist, but so have I. I am entering this bout more confident of victory than ever before.”
To which his opponent Moraes, ONE Flyweight World Champion, stated: “I am the champion and I am here to do everything I can to defend my title. I have faced Geje Eustaquio before, and I am familiar with his style. I know he has improved a lot since our last meeting, so I am prepared to face a different, more complete martial artist. I am training extra hard to be ready for the challenge he will pose.”
The Complete fight card for ONE: PINNACLE OF POWER
Saturday, 23 June
Studio City Event Center, Macau, China
Main Event
ONE Women’s Strawweight World Championship
Xiong Jing Nan vs Laura Balin
Mixed Martial Arts: 56.7kg
Co-Main Event
ONE Flyweight World Championship Unification Bout
Adriano Moraes vs Geje Eustaquio
Mixed Martial Arts: 61.2kg
Li Kai Wen vs Rodian Menchavez
Mixed Martial Arts: 70.3kg
Ev Ting vs Koji Ando
Mixed Martial Arts: 77.1kg
Rui Botelho vs Yoshinori Ogasawara
ONE Super Series Muay Thai: 61.2kg
Narantungalag Jadambaa vs Edward Kelly
Mixed Martial Arts: 70.3kg
Lerdsila Phuket Top Team vs Sok Thy
ONE Super Series Muay Thai: 61.2kg
Alain Ngalani vs Tarik Khbabez
ONE Super Series Kickboxing: 120.2kg
Ma Hao Bin vs Danny Kingad
Mixed Martial Arts: 61.2kg
Mario Satya Wirawan vs Rin Saroth
Mixed Martial Arts: 65.8kg
By: ARMANDO M. BOLISLIS
