Julaton to make MMA start vs Egyptian champ

MANILA, Philippines - Fil-Am Ana “The Hurricane” Julaton, the former women’s WBO and IBA super bantamweight champions, braces for her MMA debut in ONE Fighting Championship as she slugs it out with Egyptian kickboxing champion Aya Saeid Saber in the ONE FC: Rise of Heroes tomorrow at the MOA Arena.

“All fighters want to fight on the biggest stage, Manny Pacquiao did that and I feel that ONE FC could provide that,” said the 33-year-old Julaton, who had 13 wins, four losses and a draw before hanging up her gloves to throw her hat to the MMA ring.

“(UFC chief) Victor (Cui) and I talked a couple of years back about this, so when he asked me if I want to fight in Manila, I said yes.”

“It’s like a dream, I’m a woman in a male-dominated sport. It’s not easy being a fighter and a woman. I live in the US but my heritage is here in the Phl so I’m deeply honored to be here,” she added.

Julaton, though she excelled most in boxing, isn’t a stranger to other martial arts as she is also a blackbelter in taekwondo and bok fu, an art that is a mix of kung fu, kenpo karate and shotokan.

Another fighter Filipinos should also cheer for is Eugene Toquero, who will tangle with undefeated Malaysian Gianni Subba.

They will fight in the undercard bouts of bantamweight title duel between reigning champion Bibiano Fernandes of Brazil and former Shooto champion and One FC grand prix winner Masakatsu Ueda of Japan.