Wushu expert Catalan throws hat into MMA cage

MANILA, Philippines – Former Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Rene Catalan is bringing his act from the wushu mat to the mixed martial arts cage.

Catalan, who captured mints in wushu's sanshou event in the 2005 Manila SEAG and 2006 Doha Asiad, will make his MMA debut after making it to the ONE Fighting Championship: Kings and Champions at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore on April 5.

There, Catalan, who is fighting out Fighting Empire, will clash with Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist Alex "Little Rock" Silva of MMA Evolve, who has split his first two fights, in a flyweight bout practically fitting a world-class striker against an elite submission and ground and pound specialist.

Catalan said he's going into the ONE FC cage well-prepared.

"I am very excited to be making my professional mixed martial arts debut. I have been training in several martial arts such as boxing since I was five. I get to complement all my martial arts now and I am confident of victory on April 5," said Catalan in Filipino.

"ONE FC is the largest mixed martial arts promotion in Asia. I have fought in Wushu world competitions, SEA Games and Asian Games but my fight on April 5th will be the most-watched competition in my life.

"I embrace the opportunity and I’m confident I will have my hand raised at the end of the fight," he added.

Catalan is one of the two Filipinos fighting in Singapore with the other one being Kevin Belingon, who will take on Vietnam’s Thanh Vu in a bantamweight bout that will push the winner to an eventual title crack.

Both Catalan and Belingon are seeking to become the next Filipino champion in the most prestigious fight outfit in Asia today next to Team Lakay's Honorio Banario, who defeated countryman Eric Kelly ONE FC: Return of Warriors in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last month to become the first featherweight titlist from the Phl.

"We all know Filipinos are legitimately talented fighters and we will not be surprised if more ONE FC champions will come from the Philippines," ONE FC media director Loren Mack told The STAR.

Highlighting the ONE FC card in Singapore is the much-awaited collision between submission ace Shinya Aoki of Japan and a dangerous countryman in Kotetsu Boku, the reigning ONE FC lightweight king.

The Singapore card will also be historic as ONE FC will go live on STAR Sports for the first time across 28 countries to an estimated 500 million viewers, which ONE FC considers a huge step in its progress and its ever increasing following all across Asia.

The first fight of the night will revive the sporting rivalry between Singapore and Malaysia as Singapore’s Ronald Low faces Chen Yun Ting from Malaysia. Ronald Low is undefeated in his professional Muay Thai and MMA career.

He will make his ONE FC debut in front of his fellow countrymen against top Malaysian MMA prospect Chen Yun Ting, who trains out of the famed Muayfit gym alongside ONE FC fighters Peter Davis, Eric Kelly and Arnaud Lepont.

Also on the undercard, NCAA Division I wrestler Jake Butler returns after making a successful ONE FC debut last month in Malaysia. He will face Bengal MMA Champion Nuur Muhammad.

The main card will begin with a bout between Pakistani MMA pioneer Bashir Ahmad, who is making his ONE FC debut, and Shannon Wiratchai from Thailand. Both fighters carry undefeated professional records.

ONE FC: Kings and Champions will be available live in 28 countries to an estimated 500 million viewers.

Fans from around the world can also witness the action online via livestreaming at www.onefc.livesport.tv. The undercard fights are available for viewing free of charge. The main card fights will be available for purchase at just US$9.99.