By Jun Ray Navarres
Filipino veteran fighter Robin Catalan scheduled to lock horns with Japanese Ryuto Sawada at ONE: UNBREAKABLE III, a previously recorded event which will be broadcasted live on Friday, February 5.
“The Ilonggo” (10-6) is seeking to follow up his win against Cuban Gustavo “El Gladiator” Balart from ONE: Masters of Fate. Catalan finished off Balart with a head kick in the second round of their fight.
The 32-year-old younger brother of Rene Catalan is also eyeing to start the year right for Catalan Fighting System after Rene and Jomary “The Zamboanginian Fighter” Torres fell in their respective fights at ONE: Big Bang last December.
However, the road may be dark for Robin as “Dragon Boy” Sawada is coming off from four wins in his last five bouts.
Sawada (13-5) is a product of Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series where he scored two first round wins and later submitted Aziz “The Krauser” Calim after 69sec into his ONE debut.
The Japanese fighter fell to African standout Bokang Masunyane but finished off 2020 with a unanimous decision victory against Miao Li Tao in ONE: Reign of Dynasties II. “Dragon Boy” is a prospect from famed Evolve MMA and exceled in grappling.
Yet, with the eyes fixed on the gold, Catalan has been upping his game and improving his ground game in order to deal with Sawada.
Former ONE Atomweight Muay Thai and Kickboxing World Champion Stamp Fairtex taking on veteran Alyona Rassohyna in an atomweight mixed martial arts showdown will headline ONE: UNBREAKABLE III. Fairtex is looking to continue her momentum as she focuses on winning a world title in three sports.
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