ONE Fighting Championship™ (ONE FC) returns to Indonesia on Friday, 13 September, with a fight card headlined by the highly anticipated bout between Japanese veteran Shinichi Kojima and American wrestler Andrew Leone. Plus, fan favorite Kotetsu “No Face” Boku looks to get back to his winning ways when he takes on aggressive South African striker Vuyisile Colossa.
Also, America’s own Jake Butler will defend his reputation as the top Light Heavyweight in Asia when he battles James Kouame. All the action takes place at the 15,000-seater Istora Senayan Stadium in what is expected to be the biggest fight card the country has ever seen.
CEO of ONE Fighting Championship™ Victor Cui stated, “ONE FC will be back in Jakarta on 13 September with a stacked fight card that is sure to get the adrenaline pumping for the passionate Indonesian fight fans. Two of the top Flyweights in Asia square off in front of 15,000 screaming fans in the main event of the evening and adding fan favorites Kotetsu Boku and Jake Butler on this card is icing on the cake. The thousands of fans in attendance and the millions watching around the world are in for another evening of world class MMA featuring the best in Asia.”
Tickets for ONE FC: KOJIMA VS. LEONE are on sale now at Kiostix (www.kiostix.com). Ticket categories begin with the full Red Carpet and cage-side experience for VVIPs at IDR 2,500,000. Tickets priced at
IDR 1,500,000, IDR 750,000, IDR 500,000, and IDR 250,000 are also available. All applicable service charges apply.
Fans in Asia can catch all the action live on STAR Sports. Check your local listings. Also, fans from around the world can witness the action online via live streaming at www.onefc.livesport.tv. The first two undercard fights are available for viewing free-of-charge and the main card fights will be available for purchase at just US$9.99.
Shinichi Kojima is an MMA legend and one of the greatest flyweight fighters of all time. He was universally ranked as being the best in the world in his division for a long time. He was the Shooto Bantamweight Champion for three years and had to vacate the title only because of an injury. He is a tenacious and tough fighter who has only been stopped once. Aged 34, he knows he is still in his prime and with a decade of professional MMA experience, he is a true veteran of the sport whose only remaining challenge is to win a belt with the biggest MMA promotion in Asia. However, his opponent is no pushover, especially since he’ll be eyeing title contention too.
Andrew Leone is a Pan-Asian Grappling Champion and a tough American wrestler who has won numerous gold medals in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and submission grappling tournaments all over Asia. He has defeated several big names in Asia including Road FC Bantamweight Champion Kyung Ho Kong. He will be looking to utilize his wrestling ability and dominant ground game to finish the fight. Facing Kojima on 13 September will be the biggest test of his career to date.
Kotetsu “No Face” Boku is a fan favorite because of his desire to stand and trade with any opponent put in his way. He is the former ONE FC Lightweight World Champion and is the current Shooto Champion who made his MMA debut over a decade ago. Boku is a stand-up specialist who has never been knocked out. He has six KO wins to his name. Losing the coveted ONE FC Lightweight World Championship title at ONE FC: KINGS & CHAMPIONS has been an added motivation for him to get back to his winning formula on 13 September. His opponent will be ready to bang at ONE FC: KOJIMA VS LEONE.
Vuyisile Colossa is a Muay Thai world champion and one of the most dangerous and powerful strikers to transition into MMA. The South African is known as “The Cheetah” due to his speed. Coming from an impoverished background in Africa has given Colossa an indomitable will to win, which is why he never takes any foe lightly. Colossa is on a mission to show that Muay Thai is the most effective martial art and will seek to prove his point by punishing Boku when they meet inside the famed ONE FC cage.
American sensation Jake Butler is back in action and will be taking on his toughest test to date in Canadian striker James Kouame. Butler is a NCAA Division One wrestler who has been working tirelessly on his Muay Thai and BJJ since joining the renowned Evolve MMA fight team in Singapore. He was captain of the wrestling team at Princeton University and a wrestling champion who also finished third at the Junior National All American Championship. With some of the strongest wrestling credentials in Asia, he is probably the highest level wrestler to step into the ONE FC cage. At ONE FC: KINGS & CHAMPIONS, Butler demolished Saipan’s number one ranked Light Heavyweight quickly, proving why he is considered a top prospect in MMA the world over. His opponent Kouame isn’t fazed by the hype as he prepares to make his debut on the biggest stage in Asian MMA.
James Kouame is a Kyokushin Karate expert who has grown up competing in martial arts. He is coming off an impressive KO win in March. On 13 September he will be making his ONE FC debut in what is expected to be a fight for the ages. Kouame is the second Karate champion to step into the ONE FC cage after Nobutatsu Suzuki, who impressed in Manila on 31 May and defeated American boxer Phil Baroni. Kouame is now ready to follow in his footsteps as he looks to stop the American wrestler in his tracks with his trademark clinical striking.