Recent One Championship announcements have revealed local fighters Martin Nguyen and Jordan Lucas both have fights booked for the final quarter of 2015. Nguyen will make his third promotional appearance on the November 13 “Pride of Lions” card, where the Sydney based fighter will take on Edward Kelly. Meanwhile, Melbourne’s Jordan Lucas will make his long-awaited One debut when he faces the highly touted Mark Striegl at “Spirit of Champions” on December 11.
It was just last month at “Odyssey of Champions” when we last saw Nguyen (4-1) in action. The 26 year-old stepped up against undefeated Russian Marat Gafurov for the promotion’s interim featherweight title on just a day’s notice. It was a short night for the former Brace champion, who succumbed to a rear-naked choke within the first minute of the fight. “The Situ-Asian” will now have his chance at redemption against Filipino fighter Edward Kelly. Most recently, 31 year-old Kelly (6-2) snapped a two-fight skid in April by submitting Jimmy Yabo. One championship “Pride of Lions” will be headlined by a welterweight title fight rematch between Ben Askren (14-0) and Luis Santos (61-9-1) at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Also on the card, recently signed Aussie Natalie Gonzales Hills (2-2) makes her promotional debut against Angela Lee (2-0).
Twenty-one year-old Jordan Lucas (8-0) signed with the promotion back in January after winning Brace’s 2014 bantamweight championship tournament, with victories over Richie Ivory, Edwin Arana and Stephen Reeks throughout the year. The Team Nemesis fighter, who is currently training at Phuket Top Team in Thailand, was forced to postpone what will also double as his international debut after breaking his ankle. “Showtime” faces a tough challenge in 27 year-old Filipino fighter Mark Striegl (14-1). Striegl made his One Championship debut in April where he submitted Casey Suire in the opening period. The two fighters will meet in the show’s co-main event at the Mall of Asia Arena, Manila. In the main event, Brandon Vera (13-7) meets Chi Lewis-Parry (6-0).
