By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
IT will be the same opponent but new date and venue for ONE Championship interim flyweight champion Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio of the Philippines when he gets back to mixed martial arts action after ONE made changes to his much-awaited unification bout with reigning champion Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes of Brazil.
Original set for June 16 in Beijing, China, the event was moved a week later to June 23 and is now happening in Macau at the Studio City Event Center.
The unification bout will be played with the ONE world women’s strawweight title fight between reigning champion “The Panda” Xiong Jing Nan of China and challenger Laura “La Gladiadora” Balin of Argentina as the headlining feature.
“I am thrilled to announce the two title bouts that will headline ONE: Pinnacle of Power on June 23. China’s top female strawweight, ‘The Panda’ Xiong Jing Nan is back and ready to defend her ONE Women’s Strawweight World Championship for the very first time against newcomer Laura Balin. Then in the co-main event is a rematch fans have been waiting for. Adriano Moraes and Geje Eustaquio, two respected world champions will face off against each other to unify the flyweight world titles. With both men looking to settle the score, only one will leave the undisputed ONE Flyweight World Champion,” said Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, as he set the stage for their next offering.
Having his chance to stamp his class, Mr. Eustaquio has made his intentions clear that he is out to become the undisputed ONE flyweight champion at Pinnacle of Power.
“There can only be one champion, and I believe I have what it takes to unify the flyweight titles. It’s an honor and privilege to be facing Adriano Moraes again, and I am eager to show him how much I have improved since the last time we met,” said Mr. Eustaquio (10-6), who is part of Team Lakay from Baguio City.
“I know he has evolved as a martial artist, but so have I. I am entering this bout more confident of victory than ever before,” he added.
Mr. Eustaquio, 29, is coming off a unanimous decision win over former champion Kairat Akhmetov in his last fight here in Manila in January where he captured the interim title.
Champion Moraes (17-2), meanwhile, last fought in November also here in Manila where defeated Eustaquio teammate Danny Kingad by first-round submission to retain his championship belt.
