ONE Championship

ONE Championship Flyweight World Champion Geje Eustaquio vs. Adriano Moraes on Friday is the next chapter in this fierce rivalry, and it's the first time in ONE history that two athletes are competing against each other for a third match.

Moraes won the first bout comfortably more than four years ago by guillotine choke late in the second round, but Eustaquio exacted his revenge in June 2018 when it mattered most, defeating Moraes by split decision in a thrilling contest to become the new Flyweight Champ.

Both athletes are now familiar with their differing styles and destined to put on tactical clinics, which should make for an intriguing rubber match.

But who are Eustaquio and Moraes? How did they get here? What's on the line for both men?

There's a lot to discuss heading in, and Bleacher Report Live is here to help. Here is everything you need to know about Geje Eustaquio vs. Adriano Moraes.

       

Where and How to Watch Geje Eustaquio vs. Adriano Moraes

Geje Eustaquio vs. Adriano Moraes will take place at ONE: Hero's Ascent on Jan. 25. The event will be held at Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines.

Those in the U.S. can watch the contest for free on B/R Live.

The main card starts at approximately 7:30 a.m. ET, but before it is a four-match preliminary card that begins at 6 a.m. ET.

The full card order stands as follows:

         

Main Card

• Geje Eustaquio vs. Adriano Moraes (Flyweight World Championship)

• Honorio Banario vs. Lowen Tynanes (Lightweight World Grand Prix Quarter-Final)

• Danny Kingad vs. Tatsumitsu Wada

• Fahdi Khaled vs. Rodtang Jitmuangnon (Muay Thai)

• Reinier De Ridder vs. Fan Rong

• Josh Tonna vs. Hiroki Akimoto (Kickboxing)

• Brown Pinas vs. Bangpleenoi Petchyindee Academy (Muay Thai)

      

Preliminary Card

• Elias Mahmoudi vs. Yukinori Ogasawara (Muay Thai)

• Sung Jong Lee vs. Tang Kai

• Mohammed Bin Mahmoud vs. Hiroaki Suzuki (Muay Thai)

• Egi Rozten vs. Himanshu Kaushik

          

Geje Eustaquio

Age: 29

Height: 5'5"

Weight: 125 pounds

Stance: Orthodox

Record: 11-6 (2 KO, 2 Submission)

ONE Record: 8-5

Geje Eustaquio will be the people's champion on Friday as he defends his belt in front of over 15,000 of his fellow countrymen in a raucous Mall of Asia Arena.

And although his record is nothing to write home about, his knack for vengeance (3-0 in rematches, one of which came against Moraes) is quite a feat. 

The Filipino has impressed with his precise striking and defense. He doesn't often finish an opponent, as his last four matches have all ended in a decision, but when your two best qualities are striking and defense, you're going to win a decision more often than not.

Eustaquio has talked a big game in the week leading up to this historic match, all while keeping his cards close to his chest.

"I am 101 percent ready," Eustaquio said. "I believe I became hungrier, became a better fighter compared to the last time we went at it. That's the thing I'm looking forward to, and I'm ready. The camp prepared for this show...I'm gonna be putting up some surprises. You're gonna see it."

The big question facing Eustaquio is how he will fare against an athlete like Moraes, who is one of the best ground technicians in the world. He already outlasted him once, but that's exactly why the odds are against him this time. Can he really stop Moraes again?

        

Adriano Moraes

Age: 29

Height: 5'8"

Weight: 125 pounds

Stance: Orthodox

Record: 17-3 (3 KO, 9 Submissions)

ONE Record: 8-3

Adriano Moraes is a master of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He'll do what he can to bring the match to the canvas and remind us why we've come to know him as a submission specialist.

He will not want to stand up with Eustaquio and exchange punches. Instead, he'll look to use his grappling to take him down and search for a variety of different chokes.

Before dropping his title to Eustaquio, Moraes hadn't lost in over two years. In fact, the Brazilian has never lost two matches in a row.

However, in the three bouts Moraes did lose, it always came down to a split decision. To avoid that from happening again, Moraes said a first- or second-round finish is in the works during the ONE: Hero's Ascent press conference.

"This fight will not go to the judges," Moraes said.

He also doesn't seem too concerned about any advantage Eustaquio may have competing in his home nation.

"It doesn't affect me," the former flyweight champion said. "I guess it's going to affect him...the pressure is on him."

Moraes' biggest concern will be the effectiveness of Eustaquio's defense on the mat.

Despite successful takedowns and favorable positioning during their last match, Moraes was never able to take advantage of it due to the champion's ability to protect his neck from any choke attempts and his strength to roll both competitors over when Moraes was on Eustaquio's back.

If he wants to be the first-ever three-time ONE champion, he would prefer the match not be decided by the judges.

       

Geje Eustaquio vs. Adriano Moraes Prediction

Adriano Moraes seemed a bit out of sorts during his last match with Eustaquio. In fairness, this was an opponent he beat rather easily in their first bout. Perhaps Moraes was taken back by how much the Filipino had improved since then.

Naysayers will be quick to point out that Moraes has finally met someone that can negate his submission skills.

There's a kernel of truth to this, but we're talking about perhaps the best non-American athlete on the ONE roster.

Yes, Eustaquio has improved drastically over the past year and has beaten the best flyweights in the division. However, it seems like Moraes has a clear understanding of where he went wrong last time. He is out to prove a point on Friday, and that point is that he's the greatest Flyweight Champion in ONE history.

Eustaquio has proved he can hang with the best of the best, but the difference between him and Moraes is that the latter can turn a match on its head in a moment, and there are plenty of moments that go by in five rounds.

Eustaquio was brilliant last June with his defensive strategy against Moraes, but it's asking so much of a person to plan for everything that a competitor like Moraes throws at you for a third time.

Although Eustaquio has gotten the better of him before, Moraes will be the aggressor on Friday in order to find the submission and leave it out of the judges' hands.

Prediction: Adriano Moraes def. Geje Eustaquio by rear-naked choke in Rd. 3 to become the first three-time ONE Champion and will eventually defend his title against ONE newcomer and UFC legend Demetrious Johnson.

     

Related Links

In addition to this piece, B/R Live has also covered the rights agreement between ONE Championship and Turner Sports, as well as an in-depth look at ONE.

ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua Pacio takes on Yosuke Saruta on Saturday in a classic matchup between the young champion with loads of potential going up against the savvy veteran finally ready to rise to the top and claim the throne that has eluded him for so long.

The bout shows plenty of promise, as both athletes compete with differing styles destined to put on tactical clinics.

But who are Pacio and Saruta? How did they get here? What's on the line for both men?

There's a lot to discuss heading in, and Bleacher Report Live is here to help. Here is everything you need to know about Joshua Pacio vs. Yosuke Saruta.

       

Where and How to Watch Joshua Pacio vs. Yosuke Saruta

Joshua Pacio vs. Yosuke Saruta will be the main event at ONE: Eternal Glory on Jan. 19. The event will be held at Istora Senayan in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Those in the U.S. can watch the contest for free on B/R Live.

The main card starts at approximately 8:30 a.m. ET, but before it is a five-match preliminary card that begins at 6:30 a.m. ET.

The full card order stands as follows:

        

Main Card

• Joshua Pacio vs. Yosuke Saruta (Strawweight World Championship)

• Alexi Serepisos vs. Mongkolpetch Petchyindee Academy (Muay Thai)

• Christian Lee vs. Edward Kelly

• Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol vs. Puja Tomar

• Joseph Lasiri vs. Jonathan Haggerty (Muay Thai)

• Stefer Rahardian vs. Robin Catalan

• Bruno Pucci vs. Kotetsu Boku

 

Preliminary Card

• Anthony Engelen vs. Kwon Won Il

• Rasul Yakhyaev vs. Koji Ando

• Sunoto vs. Niu Kang Kang

• Adi Paryanto vs. Aziz Calim

• Oscar Yaqut vs. Andreas Satyawan

     

Profile: Joshua Pacio

      

Age: 23

Height: 5'4

Weight: 115

Stance: Orthodox

Record: 13-2 (4 KO, 7 Submission)

ONE Record: 7-2 

Joshua Pacio has quickly made a name for himself at ONE after becoming the youngest Strawweight World Champion in company history last September.

The Filipino has impressed with his spinning kicks, punching power and technical prowess on the canvas.

After adopting a lower stance in recent months, he's been able to stifle takedown opportunities much more efficiently when opposing competitors attempt to get him to the ground, which is a major strength of Saruta's.

Pacio is on a four-match winning streak, with the most impressive victory coming last September in his title bout against former champion Yoshitaka Naito when Pacio managed to go five rounds for the first time in his career. That endurance will be vital against Saruta.

The big question facing Pacio is how he will fare against a veteran like Saruta, who has seen it all in his 10-year career.

The defending champion has never competed against someone with as much experience as Saruta, apart from his match against Hayato Suzuki in 2017, whom he lost to in the first round.

Pacio is a much more complete athlete now, but that's the biggest doubt facing him. The youngster will be eager to quiet the doubters in what would be the biggest win of his career.

      

Profile: Yosuke Saruta

Age: 31

Height: 5'3

Weight: 115

Stance: Orthodox

Record: 18-8-3 (5 KO, 2 Submissions)

ONE Record: 1-0 

Although this will only be his second bout with ONE, don't let that fool you. Yosuke Saruta is no novice. In fact, he's a former world champion with Japanese promotion Shooto, where he spent the better part of 10 years.

Saruta will not want to stand up with Pacio and exchange punches. Instead, he'll look to use his excellent grappling to take Pacio down to the canvas and keep the champion contained.

11 of Saruta's 18 wins have come by decision, having no problem wearing out his opponent on the mat, striking when given the opportunity and allowing his physical ability and world-class stamina to dictate the bout.

Saruta hasn't shown many weaknesses as of late. In the past three years, Saruta's only loss came in his final Shooto bout last July, where a cut on his eyelid impaired his vision and forced doctors to stop the match.

Other than that, he just doesn't get finished. Saruta bouts almost always come down to a decision, and it's typically a unanimous decision in his favor. However, Pacio is one of the most creative finishers in the division. Saruta must be weary of that. He's certainly not short on confidence.

"I think I will overwhelm him in all aspects, and then finish him in the fourth round,” Saruta predicted. “I want people to know my name as the toughest Japanese athlete, and I will be the world champion."

      

Prediction

Both of Pacio's losses came by rear-naked choke from some of the best grapplers in the strawweight division. Naysayers will be quick to point out that he has already been exposed and that the blueprint to defeat him is already out there.

Pacio used to be easy pickings for elite grappling-focused competitors, and Saruta will be licking his chops to make an example out of the young champion.

There's a kernel of truth to Pacio's weakness, but one can't deny Pacio's much-improved takedown defense since adopting his low stance last year. Yes, Saruta will surely earn a few takedowns throughout the match. That's just what he does. But Pacio has proven he can hang on the ground if he needs to. He can adapt.

The same can't be said for Saruta. Pacio knows exactly what Saruta wants to do: take him down, control the positioning, strike when afforded the opportunity, and let the judges decide who won (although Saruta certainly made it sound like he's out to prove a point with a finish of his own). However, although the threat of a takedown is a legitimate equalizer in MMA striking, Saruta has shown very little creativity once the takedowns are engaged.

Meanwhile, Pacio's creativity is the reason three of his last four wins have been decided by a hammerlock, rear-naked choke and spinning back fist. He's unlike anyone Saruta's ever gone up against.

Prediction: Joshua Pacio def. Yasuke Saruta by TKO in Rd. 4 and will go on to defend his title against 20-1-2 Hayato Suzuki, who defeated Pacio in 2017.

       

Related Links

In addition to this piece, B/R Live has also covered the rights agreement between ONE Championship and Turner Sports, as well as an in-depth summary on ONE.

 

ONE Championship, the largest MMA promotion in the Asian market, is inching closer to beginning a new chapter in the United States. After reaching a three-year partnership with Turner Sports in December to distribute live coverage stateside for all events (disclosure: B/R is a division of Turner Sports), the debut broadcast of ONE in the U.S. takes place on Saturday, Jan. 19, in Jakarta’s Istora Senayan arena.

ONE, which averaged 11 million viewers per event last year, made waves in the MMA world when they signed former UFC champions Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson and Eddie "The Underground King" Alvarez, as well as up-and-coming talent "Super" Sage Northcutt.

Demetrious Johnson & Eddie Alvarez are ready to BRING IT 🔥 @MightyMouse @Ealvarezfight #WeAreONE #HeartOfTheLion #Singapore #MartialArts pic.twitter.com/yjn7I02cxd

— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) November 9, 2018

ONE has made an effort to tie in some of the most well-known American MMA figures in the world to their predominantly Asian roster as they look to expand the promotion’s reach, but what else should fans in the states know about ONE?

   
 
How to Watch

All 24 ONE events of 2019 will be shown on B/R Live, starting on Saturday, Jan. 19. All events through February will be free on the platform. You can watch here. TNT will also televise one-hour re-airs for at least 12 events per year 24-48 hours after the live stream.

    
  
What’s Up Next?

ONE: Eternal Glory on Jan. 19.

• Main Event: ONE strawweight champion Joshua Pacio vs. Yosuke Saruta
  Pacio takes on Yosuke Saruta in his first title defense since becoming champion last September. At 23, Pacio is the youngest strawweight champion in ONE history. Saruta, who is a late replacement for the injured Hayato Suzuki, is competing in just his second match with the promotion. However, he is a 10-year MMA veteran with an overall record of 18-8-3.
• Preliminary Card: 5:30 a.m. ET, Main Card: 8:30 a.m. ET
• Watch on B/R Live
• Full Card:

ONE: Hero's Ascent on Jan. 25

• Main Event: ONE flyweight champion Geje Eustaquio vs. Adriano Moraes
  For the first time in ONE's history, two athletes will be competing against one another a third time, as Geje Eustaquio and Adriano Moraes renew their rivalry. The first meeting between the two was in 2014, where Moraes submitted Eustaquio through a guillotine choke in the second round. Eustaquio got his revenge last June when he defeated Moraes by split decision to claim the Flyweight Championship.
• Preliminary Card: 4:30 a.m. ET, Main Card: approx. 7:30 a.m. ET 
• Watch on B/R Live 
• Full Card:

     

What is ONE?

• ONE promotes MMA in a different light to what is typical stateside, building ONE’s platform to showcase values such as humility, honor, self-improvement, courage, discipline and respect.
• It hosts bouts across multiple forms of martial arts—muay thai, kickboxing, karate, kung fu, silat, sanda, lethwei, MMA, taekwondo, submission grappling, and more.
• ONE was founded in 2011 by Chatri Sityodtong, former trainer to Rafael dos Anjos.

    
The Americans

Demetrious Johnson

• Former UFC flyweight champion
• Most consecutive title defenses in UFC history (11)
• Hadn't lost in almost seven years until last August
• 27-3-1 record

 
Eddie Alvarez

• Former UFC lightweight champion
• Dropped title to Conor McGregor in 2016
• 29-6 record

 
Sage Northcutt

• 11-2 MMA record
• 15-0 Kickboxing record
• Plans to compete in MMA, kickboxing and muay thai for ONE

Current Champions                                                    

Heavyweight (285 lb.): Brandon Vera, won on 5/11/15—Philippines

Light Heavyweight (225 lb.): Aung La Nsang, won on 2/23/18—Myanmar

Middleweight (205 lb.): Aung La Nsang, won on 6/30/17—Myanmar

Welterweight (185 lb.): Zebaztian Kadestam, won on 11/17/18—Sweden

Lightweight (170 lb.): Eduard Folayang, won on 11/23/18—Philippines

Featherweight (155 lb.): Martin Nguyen, won on 8/18/17—Australia

Bantamweight (145 lb.): Kevin Belingon, won on 11/9/18—Philippines

Flyweight (135 lb.): Geje Eustaquio, won on 6/23/18—Philippines

Men's Strawweight (125 lb.): Joshua Pacio, won on 9/22/18—Philippines

Women's Strawweight (125 lb.): Jing Nan Xiong, won on 1/20/18—China

Atomweight (115 lb.): Angela Lee, won on 5/6/16—Singapore

     

Future of ONE

Demetrious Johnson and Eddie Alvarez will both make their ONE debuts on March 31 at ONE: A New Era in Tokyo, Japan. Both athletes will compete in the quarterfinals of a Grand Prix tournament for their respective divisions, with Johnson taking on Yuya "The Little Piranha" Wakamatsu in a tough early bout and Alvarez facing Timofey Nastyukhin, one of ONE’s most ferocious lightweights.

ONE heavyweight champion Brandon Vera challenged light heavyweight and middleweight champion Aung La Nsang to a mega-match. Sityodtong is happy to discuss the potential of hosting the matchup for their October event in Japan. "I think we can make that happen," Sityodtong said. "Aung La is game. Aung La reached out to me and he wanted to fight in Japan, so we’ve got an opponent. I love that."