Eddie Alvarez, Kazuki Tokudome (photo by Alvin Berto)

Newly signed ONE Championship athletes “The Underground King” Eddie Alvarez and Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, who are both former UFC champions, attended the “ONE: Heart of the Lion” press conference at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Center in Singapore on November 7, 2018. During the event, the promotion announced a World Grand Prix for the flyweight and lightweight divisions.

“This is where true martial arts lives,” Alvarez said of Asia. “I’ve been away from Asia so long. It’s good to be back.”

Alvarez has been competing professionally since 2003. He is the only mixed martial arts in history to hold titles in the UFC and Bellator MMA.

“It was in Asia where I made a name for myself and started my career,”  Alvarez said. “Everything has come full circle for me. I can’t say how excited and grateful I am to be part of the ONE Championship family.”

Fighting out of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States, Alvarez reigned as the  Bellator Lightweight Champion from June 19, 2009 to November 19, 2011 and from November 2, 2013 to August 19, 2014 and as the UFC Lightweight Champion from July 7, 2016 to November 12, 2016.

“I feel like I found my way again with ONE Championship,” Alvarez stated. “I can respect my opponents and I can go in and fight like a man. I know my lifelong martial arts journey will be truly appreciated here.”

ONE Championship chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong graced the “ONE: Heart of the Lion” press conference. UFC fighter Sage Northcutt was also one of the special guests.

The “ONE: Heart of the Lion” fight night will take place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore on November 9, 2018. Here is the complete fight card:

PRELIMINARY CARD

1. MMA featherweight: Anthony Engelen (Netherlands) vs Meas Meul (Cambodia)
2. MMA bantamweight: Hisyam Samsudin (Malaysia) vs Xie Bin (China)
3. MMA bantamweight: Muhammad Aiman (Malaysia) vs Shuya Kamikubo (Japan)
4. ONE Super Series sanda featherweight: Shahzaib Rindh (Pakistan) vs Feng Lei (China)
5. MMA lightweight: Adrian Pang (Australia) vs Kota Shimoishi (Japan)
6. ONE Super Series Muay Thai bantamweight: Panicos Yusuf (Cyprus) vs Muangthai P.K.Saenchai Muaythaigym (Thailand)
7. ONE Super Series Muay Thai featherweight: George Mann (United Kingdom) vs Smokin’ Jo Nattawut (Thailand)

MAIN CARD

8. MMA featherweight: Garry Tonon (United States) vs Sung Jong Lee (South Korea)
9. ONE Super Series Muay Thai bantamweight: Andrew Miller (United Kingdom) vs Yodlekpet T-Ded 99 (Thailand)
10. MMA strawweight: Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke (Thailand) vs Himanshu Kaushik (India)
11. MMA strawweight: Tiffany Teo (Singapore) vs Michelle Nicolini (Brazil)
12. ONE Super Series kickboxing catchweight 71 kg: Giorgio Petrosyan (Italy) vs Sorgraw Petchyindee Academy (Thailand)

Co-Main Event

13. MMA catchweight (73 kg): Christian Lee (Singapore) vs Kazuki Tokudome (Japan)

Main Event

14. ONE Bantamweight World Championship: Bibiano Fernandes (Brazil) vs Kevin Belingon (Philippines)

Ticket information for ONE: HEART OF THE LION is available at www.onefc.com.

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