Geje Eustaquio (left). Photo from ONE CHAMPIONSHIP
Team Lakay’s Geje Eustaquio has been given a shot at redemption against Kazakh Kairat Akhmetov, and this time it’s for the interim ONE flyweight championship.
The two title contenders headline ONE Championship’s Global Superheroes card at Mall of Asia Arena on Jan. 26, the first of four events the fighting promotion has set in Manila.
ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong is aware of Eustaquio and Akhmetov’s shared history and he expressed his excitement to bring the two once more with a title at stake.
“Mall of Asia Arena will be pulsating with excitement,” said Sityodtong. “Fans of martial arts in the Philippines are among the most passionate in the world, and it is our honor to present the best in local and global martial arts talent.”
This fight marks an immediate rematch after Akhmetov (21-1) scored a split decision over Eustaquio (9-6) in September of 2017.
Akhmetov’s lone loss of his career was against ONE World flyweight champion Adriano Moraes back in August 2017 when he lost the strap to the Brazilian.
Eustaquio’s Lakay teammate Joshua Pacio (10-2) looks to get back in the ONE World strawweight title conversation as he faces Thailand’s Pongsiri Mitsatit (9-0) in the undercard.
Eric Kelly (10-4), often considered as one of the best homegrown Filipino fighters, is fighting to end his three-fight losing streak when he matches up against Brazil’s Rafael Nunes (10-1).