Former ALA boxer Omaña makes MMA debut tonight

CEBU, Philippines -  Former ALA Gym boxer Joseph ‘Jomanz Omanz’ Omaña eyes no less than a knockout win as he makes his Mixed Martial Arts debut against Thai kickboxing great Dejdamrong Sor Amnuavsirichoke in the 'ONE Fighting Championship:Era of Champions' fightcard tonight in Jakarta, Indonesia.

“This is a chance of a lifetime for me. I know I am an underdog going to this fight, but I am here to prove them wrong,” said the Mandaue City-native fighter. “I will take advantage on striking. I know he can kick, but my experience in boxing will be a key in winning this fight against the Thai.”

As a pro boxer, Omaña holds a 12-2 win-loss record spiked with six knockouts. His fistic career, however, was put to halt after he suffered a serious skin disease.

After his retirement from boxing, Omaña served as a boxing trainer at an MMA gym in Boracay where he decided to try his luck in an amateur MMA tournament, finishing with an even 1-1 record.

Omaña will have his hands full against Amnuavsirchoke, a two-time Muay Thai world champion. He fights out of Evolve Mixed Martials, the premier MMA gym in Singapore.

Aside from Omaña, two other Filipino MMA fighters are lined up for the main card of the ONE FC show. They are Team Lakay’s Gege Eustaquio and wushu artist Ruel Catalan, who will take on Kentaro Watanabe of Japan and Gianni Subba of Malaysia, respectively. (FREEMAN)