Gina Iniong Views Rematch with Mei Yamaguchi as Gateway to World Title Shot

Wazzup Pilipinas!
Gina “Conviction” Iniong has been a professional martial artist for the greater part of the last seven years as the six-time Philippines national Wushu champion’s extensive experience has brought her from the boxing ring to the Muay Thai circuit and eventually to the ONE Championship cage, where she has chosen to pursue her dreams of becoming a world champion.

Soft-spoken and generally reserved, Iniong admitted that it has been difficult adjusting to the spotlight.

While the biggest stars relish their time in front of the cameras, Iniong prefers to do her talking on the battlefield.

“Although I have been in this game long, I am still very shy. I do not think I will ever get used to talking to a large group of people. Speaking my mind and sharing my thoughts is a lot scarier than being inside that cage, that is for sure. It is better to let my fists do the talking,” she said.

Ever since she directed her career path to ONE Championship, Iniong has let her actions speak louder than her words as she looked absolutely dominant on the global stage.

The 28-year-old Team Lakay product battered Natalie Gonzales Hill en route to a unanimous decision this past April.

In front of a hometown crowd last 10 November at ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD, Iniong extended her winning streak inside the ONE Championship cage to two matches with an outstanding second-round finish of Indonesia’s Priscilla Hertati Lumbangaol.

Exactly fourteen days after her remarkable conquest of Lumbangaol, Iniong will make an immediate return to action to face Mei “V.V” Yamaguchi in a three-round atomweight encounter at ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT, which takes place at the state-of-the-art Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore on Friday, 24 November.

Iniong accepted the offer to fill in for ONE Atomweight World Lee Angela Lee, who withdrew from her title defense against Yamaguchi after suffering injuries from an unfortunate car accident nearly two weeks ago.

The aforementioned atomweight collision on the main card of ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT is a rematch from their first encounter three and a half years ago under a regional show in the Philippines, where Iniong pulled away with a razor-thin split decision victory over Yamaguchi.

Iniong believes that her second meeting with Yamaguchi could be seen as a stepping stone to a future shot at the world title.

“That is my ultimate motivation, to become world champion. That is why I joined this organization, to showcase my skills and to prove to the world that I have what it takes to be the best. My opponent is a good striker, so I have no doubt that this will be an entertaining contest,” she stated.

Iniong would have no qualms about going into an instantaneous title shot against Lee should she be victorious over Yamaguchi on Friday.

“I will face whoever ONE Championship wants me to face. I am ready, anytime. But I have my eye on the champion, and I want that belt,” she declared.

As Iniong is set to step inside the ONE Championship cage for the third time this 2017, she has a clear vision in her mind.

Iniong knows that she will be locked inside the steel structure opposite a familiar foe like Yamaguchi, but she also recognizes what she has to do to get the job done.

“I will try to finish my fight in with a first-round knockout or submission. This is an opportunity to put me closer to my dream. I am giving everything that I have to get my hand raised this Friday,” she ended.

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Palace Backs DOTr; Assures Gov't Pursuing Solutions Amid MRT Woes

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Malacanang expressed its support for Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade amid resignation calls due to recent unfortunate incidents involving MRT-3, citing that the government is doing its best to address MRT-3 problems that have accumulated for decades.

According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, while the palace understands public dismay over the MRT-3 system, calling for Tugade to resign will not solve the problem.

"He [Tugade] enjoys the full trust and confidence of the President. The President has said he will back up Secretary Tugade in whatever he may need to effect immediate reform to the MRT” Roque said in a press conference today.

Roque also assured train commuters that President Duterte is not indifferent to the suffering of commuters, and that he will carry his brand of political will to improve the country’s public transportation system.

“With the President assuming that he will be responsible for the MRT, let us give the President the opportunity to rectify the many problems that his administration inherited from the past. We will show the same political will that the President has shown in his fight against illegal drugs, in his fight against corruption, in bringing this vital service of transportation to the people as well,” he added.

While the ills of the MRT-3 system are the result of cumulative errors in policy and operational decisions made across previous administrations, Roque was quick to clarify that finger-pointing is not the practice of the Duterte administration.

“Hindi tayo naghuhugas ng kamay. Tinatanggap po natin ang paghamon diyan sa MRT na ‘yan at ang Presidente na mismo ang humingi ng paumanhin dahil nga dun sa palaging pagsira ng ating MRT,” Roque said.

“We are not resorting to finger-pointing. Sinasabi lang po namin lahat nung mga naging problema, ‘yung pagpapalit ng maintenance provider at pagtatalaga ng BURI, ‘yan po ay ginawa sa nakaraang administrasyon. Hindi naman po pupwedeng overnight na mapawalang-bisa ‘yan,” he added.

The DOTr has already terminated the contract of Busan Universal Rail, Inc. (BURI), the system's maintenance contractor, citing poor performance and inefficiency, among others. Charges against officials responsible for the current state of the MRT-3 system have already been filed, demonstrating that failure to deliver on the responsibilities of public office carries consequences, and that those accountable will be held liable.

On an operational level, the entire Philippines railway sector — DOTr, MRT-3, LRTA, PNR — have been called on to form the MRT-3’s Maintenance Transition Team (MTT) upon BURI's contract termination. Since the team took over, fewer incidences of unloading have been recorded and more train sets have been rolled out during peak hours.

The DOTr is also currently pursuing multiple options for getting a competent, qualified, and experienced maintenance service provider for the MRT-3 in the short- to medium-term.

And, finally, the DOTr already granted Original Proponent Status to the proponent of an Unsolicited Proposal for the rehabilitation, operations and maintenance of MRT-3. This is expected to solve the historical fragmented approach of running MRT-3 (separate owner, different maintenance provider, and different operator), which has contributed to the system’s current condition. The proposal, once implemented, is expected to restore MRT-3’s reliability and double its capacity in the medium- to long-term.

The DOTr reassures the public that it is determined in its commitment to restore convenience and reliability for the 500,000 daily riders of MRT-3, and that it will leave no rock unturned, until it has delivered on that promise.

Ben Askren Has No Intention of Giving Up Welterweight Gold in Career’s Final Bout

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Ben “Funky” Askren isn’t just the reigning ONE Welterweight World Champion, but he is also universally recognized as one of the best welterweights in the entire world.

Askren is highly regarded for his outstanding wrestling background that earned him two NCAA Division I national championship trophies and the privilege to represent the United States at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Growing up in the Midwestern United States, a region traditionally known as a hotbed for amateur wrestling, Askren was motivated by the spirit of competition and wanted to participate in a sport where he could be the master of his own fate.

Askren had long planned switch to mixed martial arts and conquer that sport once he hung up his wrestling boots.

Following his 2008 Olympic campaign, Askren made the transition and has flawlessly translated his exemplary grappling skills into his growing skillset.

In his eight-year run as a professional martial artist, Askren holds an immaculate standing of 17-0, 1 No Contest, owning five submission victories and five knockout triumphs.

The 33-year-old American will step into the cage for the very last time on Friday, 24 November as he defends his coveted title against former ONE Lightweight World Champion Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki in the main event of ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT, which takes place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore.

Coming off masterful performance against talented challengers such as Agilan Thani and Zebaztian Kadestam in 2017, Askren looks to cap off a momentous year and an illustrious career with one last title defense versus a tough opponent like Aoki.

“Shinya is a really good final opponent. Obviously, he is a legend of the sport, and he is a really big challenge on the ground, which is where I like to compete, personally. I am excited for this bout,” he said about his marquee match-up with Aoki.

Askren revealed that he did not think a match with Aoki was an option, considering the 34-year-old Tokyo, Japan native is an Evolve MMA teammate.

However, Askren admitted that the more he thought about it, the more he loved the idea of sharing a martial arts platform with Aoki.

“He is a grappler and has a great skill set that I respect, so I think it will be a great battle,” Askren quipped.

Known by his cage moniker “Tobikan Judan” or “The Grandmaster of Flying Submissions” due to his spectacular submission victories, Aoki is widely regarded as the most dominant lightweight in Asia for the better part of the last decade as he has had 47 professional bouts and strutted his wares in various promotions.

In addition, Aoki proudly owns black belts in both Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and has won an astonishing 25 of his 39 matches via submission.

Even with Aoki’s accomplishments and his dynamic grappling pedigree, which vastly contrasts from the American’s approach in the cage, Askren guaranteed that he will continue to employ his signature game plan of wrestling his opponent to the ground and using an impeccable top game to finish off his opposition.

“I said from day one that I am the best in the world at what I do, and this is what I am going to do every single time. I have been saying that since I started in 2009, and I believe it more strongly than ever because I have proved it 17 times now, and I am pumped to prove it again,” he stated.

Askren maintained that he has no intentions of giving up his gold-plated strap to Aoki as he collides with the Japanese submission wizard at ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT.

“He’s going to stick around until I put him out,” the undefeated ONE Welterweight World Champion declared with confidence.
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