$50,000 bonus await Filipino ONE fighters with stellar performances

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

All the Filipino Mixed Martial Artists (MMA) joining in the ONE Championship will have to give their all and put on a show after CEO Chatri Sityodtong confirmed that a $50,000 (2,500,000 pesos) bonus will be given to the most outstanding fighters.

The giving of the cash incentives already started during ONE: Heavy Hitters where Sityodtong gave early gifts to Saygid Izagakhmaev, Senzo Ikeda, and Ekaterina Vandaryeva.

Izagakhmaev had one of the best ONE debuts after submitting former ONE world title contender James Nakashima via choke in the second round.

Meanwhile, Ikeda displayed a solid striking clinic and knocked out Elipitua Siregar with a perfectly-timed left hook to the body in the third round of their strawweight clash.

Vandaryeva on the other hand pulled off a come from behind victory against Supergirl and was able to pick up the pace in the last rounds while dissecting her with efficient strikes.

Sityodtong explained that the fighters will only receive the bonus if they meet all of the criteria set by the ONE committee.

“We look at it from two criteria: one is performance, meaning displaying martial arts technique at the highest levels in the world; and second is gameness, having that finishing, that killer instinct every second of the fight, looking for the finish and not trying to coast, not trying to play safe, to go back to the true essence of what martial arts is about,” explained Sityodtong.

Filipino fighters like Kevin Belingon, Denice Zamboanga, Eduard Folayang, Joshua Pacio, and Stephen Loman, who are eyed to have bouts this year, will have the first chance to earn the prestigious incentive.