Belts and Crowns

Saturday, September 21, 2019

One Pride MMA champ Jeka Saragih defends belt at ‘One Pride Never Quit Fight Night 32’ in Jakarta, Indonesia

Jeka Saragih (©One Pride MMA)

One Pride MMA Lightweight Champion Jeka “Si Tendangan Maut” Asparido Saragih, 24, of Indonesia successfully defended his belt “One Pride Pro Never Quit Fight Night 32: Spirit of Champions” at the Tennis Indoor Senayan in Jakarta, Indonesia on September 21, 2019. His challenger was Mhar John “Magnanimous” Palalisan Manahan, 25, Philippines.

“One Pride Pro Never Quit Fight Night 32: Spirit of Champions” marked the first international fights of both Saragih and Manahan. The Filipino challenger entered the cage as an undefeated mixed martial artist.

Manahan started strong with a solid right straight that briefly stunned Saragih. The Indonesian defending champion quickly fought back, landing a left kick that knocked the Filipino challenger down that allowed the former to control the back of the latter to sink in a rear naked choke to end the fight on 3:12 of first round.

“This is my first international fight,” Manahan said. “If One Pride offers a rematch, I will not refuse, but not this year, maybe in the coming years.”

During the post-fight interview, Saragih was clear on his goal in One Pride MMA. He explained, “In the beginning, I didn’t want to put pressure on Mhar John and feel out his game.”

“I was surprised that he decided to push the pace earlier so I just answered in kind and win the fight,” Saragih continued. “I am very happy for this international fight and I see this as a proving ground for myself. Going forward, I want to have a second title on a different weight division.”

Losing to Saragih downgraded the professional MMA record to 3 wins and 1 loss. He trains under the tutelage of the wushu world champion Rene “The Challenger” Catalan, 40, of the Philippines.

Manahan is representing Catalan Fighting System and Master Gym Philippines. He was born in Carmona, Cavite, Philippines on December 1, 1993.

Saragih was born on January 1, 1995. He is training out of Satria Negara Fighting Camp Batam and Bandung.

When Saragih made his professional MMA debut in One Pride MMA on September 10, 2016, he was submitted via kimura by his countryman Kevin “Lion Heart” Sulistio, 24. Since then, the former bounced back and won all of his next bouts in the promotion.

Winning at “One Pride Pro Never Quit Fight Night 32: Spirit of Champions” improved the professional MMA record of Saragih to 8 wins and 1 loss. Watch his fight against Manahan here:

Miss World 2019 candidates: Miss Panama Agustina Ruiz

Agustina Ruiz

Agustina Ruiz, 25, will represent Panama in Miss World 2019. She is the 41st woman to represent the country in the international beauty pageant excluding Kathya Saldaña who attended the 58th edition but withdrew.

Ruiz hails from Chitré, Herrera, Panama. The city is home to Mezquita de Chitre, Playa El Aguillito, Refugio de Vida Silvestre Penon de Honda, Parque Nacional Sarigua, Catedral de San Juan Bautista and Casino Azuero.

On September 20, 2019, Ruiz competed against 13 women in Miss World Panama 2019 at the Hotel las Americas Golden Tower Panama in Esquina Marbella, Panama City, Panama. She won the top title.

Also, Ruiz won two fast track events. She won the Talent and Beauty with a Purpose challenges.
Crowning Ruiz was Miss World Panama 2018 Solaris Barba, 20, of Panama City. The latter finished in the Top 12 in Miss World 2018 on December 8, 2018 at the Sanya City Arena in Sanya, China.

The Miss World Panama 2019 coronation night was graced by Mister World Panamá Algis González. In August 2019, he competed in Miss World 2019 in the Philippines and was unplaced.

Also crowned during the event was Krysthelle Barreto Reichlin, 24, of Panama Centro, who also won the Top Model and Multimedia challenges. She will represent Panama in Miss Friendship International 2020 in China.

Ruiz is a certified marketer who is about to receive her bachelor's degree in Business Administration. She is also into dancing.

Representing Panama, Ruiz will compete against more than 120 women from around the world in Miss World 2019. Miss World 2018 Vanessa Ponce, 27, of Mexico will crown her successor at the ExCel London in London, England, United Kingdom on December 14, 2019.

If Ruiz wins, she will be the first ever Miss World from Panama. The highest placement of the country in the history of the international beauty pageant is fifth runner-up, which was achieved both by Marissa Burgos in 1983 and by Nadege Herrera in 2009.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Philippines' Brandon Vera: Myanmar's Aung La N Sang is very well-rounded in life

Brandon Vera, Chatri Sityodtong, Aung La N Sang (©ONE Championship)

For ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera, 41, of the Philippines, ONE Middleweight and Light Heavyweight World Champion Aung La N Sang, 33, of Myanmar is a good role model, a true martial artist and a person everyone can look up to and aspire to become. The two are set to headline the second part of “ONE: Century 世紀” at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan on October 13, 2019.

“Aung La is younger than me but as a whole he is a man among men, and I do put him in a different category to other people,” Vera said of Aung. “He’s very well-rounded in life. He’s an alpha male in the most respectful and polite manner. If the world was full of Aung Las, the world would be a better place.”

While Vera has much respect for Aung, the Filipino-American mixed martial arts veteran believes that he could beat Aung at “ONE: Century 世紀” past the first round. The two will compete for the ONE Middleweight World Championship.

Vera finds it hard to break down Aung’s fighting style. The Filipino-American challenger could not really pick apart the Burmese defending champion’s game.

“We’re almost related,” Vera explained. “His coach came from my coach. We train the same, we know the same hardships, we’ve been through that grind.”

Aung’s new coach Henri Hooft was training with Vera’s former head kickboxing coach Rob Kaman. Since they were 17 years old, Hooft and Kaman have been sparring with each other so Vera and Aung’s styles are almost the same, according to the contender from the Philippines.

“I think the biggest difference between us is our experience,” Vera pointed out. “During his matches, I look for those little holes he still has because of his lack of experience. I’m not going to outpace Aung La, I’m not going to outwork Aung La.”

“I’m not going to be a bully because that’s impossible,” Vera continued. “He’s been through the same system. I have to find holes in Aung La’s game and exploit them while he’s doing the same thing to me. We come from the same school, the same train of thought, so this is why I’m super excited for this match.”

Meanwhile, here is Aung’s message to Vera:

ONE Championship’s Eddie Alvarez regrets not going to college

Eddie Alvarez (© ONE Championship)

Having competed in Bellator MMA, the Ultimate Fighting Championship and ONE Championship, Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez, 35, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States is one of the most accomplished mixed martial artists who are still currently active. But if there is one thing he regrets, it is the fact that he did not finish college.

Born in Philadelphia to a Puerto Rican father and an Irish mother on January 11, 1984, Alvarez attended Northeast Catholic High School, a private all-male school in Philadelphia under the administration of the high school system of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Its sports teams participated in the Philadelphia Catholic League.

Alvarez was raised in Kensington, Philadelphia. He competed as a wrestler at Northeast Catholic High School for four years.

After graduating from Northeast Catholic High School, Alvarez continued to explore combat sports. He trained in kickboxing, boxing, Jiu-Jitsu and mixed martial arts and made his professional MMA debut when he was 19 years old.

“I always knew I wanted to be a fighter,” Alvarez told Philly Mag. “Fighting is my quest to find out who I am and challenge myself.”

After high school, the Philadelphia native was offered some athletic scholarships for wrestling but his family still could not afford the balance of tuition. He considers himself a very learned individual who loves reading.

“I’ve read about fighting, philosophy, war, psychology, success and business,” Alvarez told the UFC. “I also read a lot about family and I constantly work on becoming a better husband and father.”

In 2008, Alvarez married his fellow Philadelphia native Jamie Alvarez, 35. They have three sons and one daughter together.

On June 19, 2009, Alvarez became the Bellator Lightweight Champion when he defeated Toby Imada, 41, of Austin, Texas, USA at “Bellator 12” but lost the title to Michael Chandler, 33, of Boca Raton, Florida, USA on November 19, 2011 at “Bellator 58.” On November 2, 2013, Alvarez regained the title from Chandler in their rematch at “Bellator 106.”

On July 7, 2016, Alvarez became the first ever UFC champion from Philadelphia. He dethroned then reigning UFC Lightweight Champion Rafael “RDA” dos Anjos, 34, of Huntington Beach, California, USA in the main event of “UFC Fight Night 90.”

Alvarez earned his first victory in ONE Championship. On August 2, 2019. He submitted Eduard “Landslide” Folayang, 35, of Baguio City, Philippines at “ONE: Dawn of Heroes” in the Philippines.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Dagestani UFC champ Khabib Nurmagomedov raises $100,000 for Dustin Poirier’s foundation to help Ugandan kids

Javier Mendez, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov

Reigning UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov, 30, of Dagestan, Makhachkala, Russia stayed true to his promise to Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier, 30, of Coconut Creek, Florida, United States. The undefeated Dagestani mixed martial artist raised $100,000 for the foundation of the former interim UFC Lightweight Champion.

When Poirier challenged Nurmagomedov in the main event of “UFC 242” at The Arena in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on September 7, 2019, the Dagestani defending champion submitted his American challenger in the third round. On the champion’s corner were his father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov and AKA MMA Team head coach Javier Mendez.

Right after the bout, Khabib and Poirier swapped shirts. The undefeated Dagestani MMA fighter promised that he would sell the American fighter’s shirt and give the proceeds to the latter.

Poirier started a nonprofit called The Good Fight Foundation with his wife Jolie Poirier, 30. The foundation and another nonprofit Fight For The Forgotten (FFTF) are raising $25,000 to help the Batwa Pygmy children of Uganda.

Recently, a flood ruined the only source of clear water of the school and nearby orphanage in the Ugandan children’s village. The Good Fight Foundation and FFTF plan to build a new deep well, solar-operated pumping system and water tower for them.

Just a week after “UFC 242,” Khabib was able to sell Dustin’s shirt for US$100,00. According to the reigning UFC Lightweight Champion, the buyer wanted to remain anonymous.

Khabib was not the only one helping Dustin’s foundation. UFC president Dana White is matching the Dagestani champion’s donation.

Watch how Khabib and Dustin swapped shirts inside the UFC octagon here:

Saturday, August 31, 2019

Weili Zhang captures UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship belt, dethrones Jessica Andrade in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China

Zhang Weili

Fighting out of Beijing, China, “Magnum” Zhang Weili, 30, made history on August 31, 2019 by emerging as the winner in the main event of “UFC Fight Night 157.” She became the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s first ever champion of Chinese descent.

The UFC held “UFC Fight Night 157″ at Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre Arena in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. In the main event of the evening, Zhang challenged then reigning UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Jéssica “Bate Estaca” Andrade, 27, of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with Leon Roberts as the referee.

It only took Zhang 42 seconds to dethrone Andrade. Roberts put a stop to the title bout when the Chinese challenge knocked out the Brazilian defending champion via knees and punches in the first minute of the first round.

Winning at “UFC Fight Night 157″ improved the professional mixed martial arts record of Zhang to 20 wins and 1 loss. On the other hand, Andrade now has 20 wins and 7 losses.

Born in Hebei, China on August 13, 1989, Zhang trained Sanda, Shuai Jiao and Brazilian jiu-jitsu before transitioning to MMA. She made her professional MMA debut on November 9, 2013 in Xuchang, China where she lost to her countryman Bo Meng via unanimous decision.

Bo is the only MMA fighter to defeat Zhang in a professional bout. She competed in Kunlun Fight MMA before joining the UFC in 2018.

On August 4, 2018, Zhang made her UFC debut at “UFC 227” in Los Angeles, California, United States. She defeated Danielle “Dynamite” Taylor, 29, of the U.S. via unanimous decision.

For the second time, Zhang won in the UFC on November 24, 2018. She submitted Jessica “JAG” Aguilar,37, of the U.S. via armbar at “UFC Fight Night 141” in Beijing, China.

On March 2, 2019, Zhang earned her third UFC win. She defeated Tecia “The Tiny Tornado” Torres, 29, of the U.S. via unanimous decision at “UFC 235” in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Zhang was the first challenger of Andrade as the reigning UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion. The latter earned the title on May 11, 2019 at “UFC 237” in Rio de Janeiro by dethroning former champ Rose “Thug” Namajunas, 27, of the U.S. via knockout via slam.

Wining Performance of the Night, Zhang received a $50,000 bonus. Co-main event winner “The Leech” Li Jingliang, 31, of Xinjiang, China received the same recognition and bonus.

Check all the “UFC Fight Night 157” results on Conan Daily. Here are Zhang and Andrade in their respective post-fight interviews in the octagon:

Friday, August 23, 2019

India's Rohit Khandelwal crowns England's Jack Heslewood as Mr. World 2019 in the Philippines

Jack Heslewood, Rohit Khandelwal

On August 23, 2019, Mr. World 2016 Rohit Khandelwal, 29, of India crowned former rocket scientist Jack Heslewood, 27, of England as his successor at the Mr. World 2019 coronation night at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. The ceremony was hosted by Miss World 2013 Megan Young, 29, and her boyfriend Mikael Daez, 29.

Runner-up to Heslewood was Fezile Mkhize, 28, of South Africa while Brian Faugier, 25, of Mexico was second runner-up. Carlos Franco, 27, of Brazil and Alejandro Martinez, 26, of Dominican Republic made it to the Top 5.

Before winning the Mr. World 2019 title, Heslewood performed well in the fast track events. He made it to the Top 5 of both the Top Model challenge and the Talent and Creativity contest.

Heslewood has an IQ of 181. He is the first Mr. World from England.

Mr. World 2019 is the 10th edition of the male international beauty pageant, marking the first time it was held in the Philippines. Heslewood bested 71 other candidates from around the world.

Mr. World Organization CEO Julia Morley was the chairman of the board of judges. Her fellow judges were Miss World 2008 Ksenia Sukhinova, 31, Miss World 2016 Stephanie del Valle, 22, Miss World 2018 Vanessa Ponce de Leon, 27, Mr. World Organization head Arnold Vegafria, 49, Mr. World stylist Andrew Minarik, Mr. World musical director Mike Dixon, Mr. World choreographer and stage director Donna Derby, Bench founder and CEO Ben Chan and ABS-CBN broadcaster and journalist Korina Sanchez-Roxas, 54.

Hailing from Hertfordshire, England, Heslewood speaks English, basic French and Bahasa. He was 21 years old when he earned his degree in Aerospace Engineer from Kingston University in Kingston upon Thames, London, England.

Passionate about music and technology, the Hertfordshire native is a talented drummer and a former rocket scientist for Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group at the Cambridge International Airport in Cambridgeshire, England. He also enjoys skiing and competing in triathlons.

Crowned Mr. World England 2019 in February 2019, Heslewood succeeded Christopher Bramell, 25, of Liverpool, England. The latter made it to the Top 5 in Mr. World 2016 in Southport, England.

Originally, Heslewood was runner-up to Mr. England 2017 Jack Eyers. However, national director Angie Beasley appointed Heslewood as Mr. World England 2019, replacing Eyers for undisclosed reasons.

In 2018, Heslewood represented England in Manhunt International in Gold Coast, Australia. He finished in the Top 15.

In 2013, Heslewood’s sister Kirsty Heslewood, 30, represented England in Miss World 2013 in Bali, Indonesia. She finished in the Top 10.

Meanwhile, here is Jack’s crowning moment as Mr. World 2019: