One FC hope to tap UAE’s MMA boom with Dubai event

Vice president says organisation hopes to establish long-term presence in UAE, writes Ali Khaled

Filipina MMA fighter Ana Julaton is expected to draw a large crowd for her bout against Ann Osman at the World Trade Centre in Dubai. Courtesy Hanz Lustre

Dubai // The Singapore-based mixed martial arts organisation One Fighting Championship (One FC) may be breaking new ground on Friday, but vice president Rich Franklin is confident that the "Reign of Champions" event in Dubai is the first of many this region will host.

Franklin is a UFC middleweight champion, but he is now experiencing the workings of the MMA industry from outside the cage.

“This is the first time I have been on the executive side of the organisation, so it’s difficult to compare [to UFC],” he said.

“We have a much more difficult job at One FC. Every time we put on a show, we are in a different country with different cultures and consolidating this into one organisation.”

The American, 39, says that despite the huge popularity of MMA in the Middle East, it may take more for the sport to reach the level of popularity it enjoys in the United States. “The fans in Asia and the Middle East are similar to the fans in the US 10 or 15 years ago,” he said. “One FC will have to go through the process of educating the fans.”

While there is scope for improvement across the region, there is one area where the Emirates already compare with the best.

“There are some amazing facilities in the UAE, but I am not surprised because there has always been an interest in grappling and wrestling here,” Franklin said. “MMA is a natural transition from these sports.

“The exposure One FC is creating is effective. We took Ana Julaton to a restaurant to eat, and she was nearly mobbed by fans.”

The Filipina fighter is expected to have a huge following among a crowd expected to reach 5,000 at the World Trade Centre tonight.

Other card highlights include the lightweight world championship bout between Kamal Shaorus of Iran and Shinya Aoki of Japan, as well as the welterweight world championship match-up between the American Ben Askren and the Japanese champion Nobutatsu Suzuki.

A successful event, helped by a stellar fight card, will likely mean a return for One FC to Dubai in the near future. “We are excited to be here, and our business plan is long-term,” Franklin said.

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