Young Pinoy fighter wins in Singapore MMA reality show

FILE: Nineteen-year-old Rockie Bactol was among three upstart MMA fighters who won a guaranteed One Championship contract plus USD100,000 (around PHP5.2 million) during the season finale on March 31 in Singapore. (Photo: Rockie Bactol/Facebook)

MANILA — A young Filipino got a chance of a lifetime to compete in one of the world’s leading MMA promotions as he won in the first One Warrior Series.

Nineteen-year-old Rockie Bactol was among three upstart MMA fighters who won a guaranteed One Championship contract plus USD100,000 (around PHP5.2 million) during the season finale on March 31 in Singapore.

Bactol secured the contract and the huge prize pot after defeating Mark Cuizon via Americana submission.

Two Korean fighters, Kim Woon-Kyum and Park Dae-Song, joined Bactol as the latest additions to the One Championship family.

“Congratulations to all three for earning their contracts in our first event,” said Rich Franklin, One Championship’s vice president and the host of the One Warrior Series. “Our first season was an incredible success and was a terrific experience for myself and the entire One Warrior Series team. Looking forward to doing it all again in the coming months.”

The One Warrior Series is a reality show in which Franklin and Jonathan Fong are touring across MMA gyms around Asia to find the fighters they think deserve a shot at One Championship glory.

A second season of the said reality show will commence later this year.