Malaysian mixed martial arts (MMA) rising star Keanu Subba has been confirmed to be included in ONE Championship's latest fight in Yangon, Myanmar next month.
The former Malaysian amateur MMA champion will be taking on top Singaporean prospect, Christian Lee, who is the younger brother of 'Unstoppable' Angela Lee.
Subba, 21, is on a three-fight win streak that saw him stop countryman Rayner Kinsiong by technical knockout in his last bout, while 17-year-old Lee is riding the momentum of two stoppage wins inside the ONE Cage.
In a recent interview with Rappler, the younger brother of Malaysian sensation, Gianni Subba, described fighting as "food for his soul".
With an impressive amateur MMA background, Subba built a local fan base with his time in the Malaysian Invasion Mixed Martial Arts (MIMMA), emerging as champion in the featherweight category in 2013.
“As a fighter inside the cage, I study my opponent’s movement and reactions, and I go from there,” said Subba.
“It’s hard to describe in words the excitement I feel everytime I step in the cage and fight. It’s electrifying. It’s food for my soul,” he told Rappler.
In his first bout for ONE Championship, Subba dsiplayed an impressive technical knockout (TKO) victory over France's Florian Garel using his elbows, forcing the referee to halt the contest in the first round.
Since his first debut, he has been constantly improving his skills as a mixed martial artist.
“In every aspect of my game, from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, to striking be it Muay Thai, boxing or MMA. That’s why I am in the gym everyday, in the constant process of improving, evolving and learning to be better,” he said.
ONE: Union of Warriors is scheduled to be held at the Thuwanna Indoor Stadium in Yangon this 18 March.
The card will be headlined by Myanmar's hometown hero, 'The Burmese Python' Aung La N Sang, as he takes on Mohamed Ali of Alexandria, Egypt.
Aung is arguably one of the world’s most renowned fighters from Myanmar, with a constricting style of fighting that has earned him the moniker of the 'Burmese Python'.
Born in Myitkyina in the mountainous Kachin State, Aung belonged to an ethnic minority known as the Kachin.
He sought asylum in the United States when he was 18 years old but was always proud of his heritage.
Victorious in his ONE Championship debut, Aung now returns to the ONE Cage to headline against Mohamed Ali.
His opponent, Ali, is an MMA veteran with a 10-7 record. Though unsuccessful in his ONE Championship debut against Jake Butler in 2014, being stopped within three rounds, Ali showed true grit and determination in a tough bout.
He now looks for redemption as he makes his way back to the spotlight in a main event battle against Aung.
Meanwhile, two exciting 'Brazil vs Philippines' bout will be featured in the card as well.
Brazilian Adriano Moraes will be taking on Filipino flyweight Eugene Toquero, while Robin 'The Rock' Catalan of the Philippines, will be making his ONE Championship debut against 33-year-old Alex 'Little Rock' Silva of Brazil.
Haider Yutim
Fri Feb 19 2016
Keanu Subba (right) pronounced winner after beating countryman Rayner Kinsiong (left) in his last bout, at ONE: Clash of Heroes. - ONE photo
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