All news tagged MMAWorldChampionship

Undefeated Filipino lightweight MMA fighter Ian Paul “Choco” Lora (3-0) will make his international debut at BRAVE CF 98 in Zhengzhou, China, on September 19. 

The 20-year-old from Daraga, Albay, faces India’s Owais Yaqoob (3-1) in a three-round undercard bout.

Lora, representing Lion’s Den MMA Academy, has impressed on the local MMA scene with one knockout and one submission win. 

He drew attention with a nine-second KO in May and now aims to make an impact on the global stage. Yaqoob enters with a three-fight win streak, also making his BRAVE CF debut.

Lora is the second Filipino signed to BRAVE CF this year, following Drex Zamboanga. 

The event is headlined by a featherweight interim title bout between Ukraine’s Omar Solomanov and Kazakhstan’s Rauan Bekbolat.

Filipina MMA champion Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga has withdrawn from her scheduled ONE Women’s Atomweight World Championship defense at ONE 173 on November 16 due to “medical reasons.”

Zamboanga was set to defend her title against Japan’s Ayaka Miura at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. 

"With a heavy heart, I need to share some difficult news… I was truly excited to defend my belt at ONE 173 against Ayaka. I know how strong and talented she is, and I was looking forward to testing myself against such a worthy challenger. This was a fight I have been preparing for and one I deeply wanted to give to the fans," she said.

Her withdrawal leaves former strawweight champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio as the sole Filipino representative on the card.

Zamboanga apologized to Ayaka and her sponsors in the same post, but vowed to return stronger, underscoring her love for the sport.

"This sport means everything to me, and I promise I am fully committed to coming back stronger. My passion for fighting has not changed, and I will continue to work hard so that I can once again represent ONE at the highest level when I return."

Pacio, 28, will move up in weight for a high-stakes challenge against local favorite Yuya Wakamatsu for the ONE Flyweight MMA World Championship.

Zamboanga’s absence marks a temporary setback after her recent title win and shifts the spotlight to Pacio’s quest to reclaim world title glory in Tokyo.

The long wait is over. 

After receiving a green light from his doctor, Joshua “The Passion” is now cleared and ready for some training and action to face him for the third time and close the book against Jarred Brooks in ONE Strawweight MMA World Championship unification at ONE 171 on February 20, 2025.

This third showdown between the two talented rivals is set to take place at the Lusail Sports Arena in Qatar where they once met and fought last March of this year.