Mark Abelardo will be the first fighter of Filipino descent to see action following ONE’s brief hiatus triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, getting his shot at redemption on Friday against Brazilian Fabricio Andrade in the undercard of the “No Surrender” showpiece at Impact Arena in Bangkok.
The 28-year-old fighter out of the fabled Fairtex gym in Pattaya, Thailand, will compete in the event that will feature Thailand’s finest strikers as Rodtang Jitmuangnon is set to defend his flyweight belt against Petchdam Petchyindee Academy in a muay thai title clash.
Abelardo suffered a unanimous decision loss to American Troy Worthen on Feb. 28 in what was coincidentally ONE’s last event before the cancellations caused by the pandemic. Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy, meanwhile, will take on challenger Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex in a featherweight muay thai bout in the comain event.
Fan favorite Stamp Fairtex is slated to compete in the card.
The fight will be televised on ONE Sports and ONE Sports+, with two encore telecasts the next day via TV5 as the MMA circuit celebrates its newly forged partnership with the network and Cignal TV after recently agreeing to a three-year deal.
“To our Filipino fans, ONE has moved to TV5 and Cignal TV! The Home of Martial Arts will continue to inspire the beautiful country of Philippines with our exciting shows and our real-life superheroes,” founder and head honcho Chatri Sityodtong wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday afternoon.
Sityodtong expressed appreciation of ABS-CBN, the promotion’s former broadcast partner, and the embattled media giant whose franchise renewal was denied by the government.