In addition to Bellator and Legacy FC, this Friday will also feature an offering from ONE FC. The organization’s 21st event, titled “Roar of Tigers” features some notable prospects, but certainly won’t garner the same type of attention the promotion receives when Ben Askren, Bibiano Fernandes, or Shinya Aoki are competing. In their stead, Russian featherweight prospect Marat Gafurov takes the main event slot against aggressive Aussie Rob Lisita. Gafurov holds a victory over UFC fighter Mairbek Taisumov, and looks to continue his unbeaten ways. Lisita headlines a ONE FC card for the second time, despite his last feature spot ending in a defeat to Eric Kelly in what was a highly entertaining bout. The co-main event — also in the featherweight division — features prospects Ed Kelly and Ev Ting. Kelly looks to rebound from the lone loss of his career (to Herbert Burns), while Ting hopes to build off of the win in his ONE FC debut back in June. Lightweight Peter Davis has gone 5-1 thus far in ONE FC and looks to continue that momentum against Vaughn Donayre, who started his career 7-0 but has dropped his past two bouts. Kicking off the main card is Ann Osman, who is best known for picking up a win over boxing champion Ana Julaton. She faces Julaton’s first career MMA opponent, Aya Saeid Saber. MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas opened the betting lines for ONE FC 21 today at Several Bookmakers. Check them out: ——————– MAIN CARD (Online PPV, 7am ET) Marat Gafurov -385 Rob Lisita +265 Ev Ting -175 Ed Kelly +135 Peter Davis -270 Vaughn Donayre +190 Ann Osman -365 Aya Saeid Saber +255 ——————– Brad’s Analysis: Not much insight from me on this card, as ONE FC is probably the “large” promotion I’m least familiar with, given the rather unknown quality of many of their fighters. I’ve seen Gafurov on tape, and while his striking defense leaves some things to be desired, he’s a solid grappler and good offensively on the feet. Lisita may give him issues with his aggressive stand up, however the Aussie always fights at a pace beyond what he can maintain, and as long as Gafurov can withstand the initial onslaught he’ll likely find a sub in the second or third round. I haven’t seen enough of Kelly or Ting to pass judgement on that fight, so it will be a learning experience for me. The same goes for Davis and Donayre. Osman should be able to handle Saber rather easily. Osman just outwrestled Ana Julaton fairly easily, and Julaton was able to use her limited wrestling game against Saber. Even though MMA math doesn’t work in a lot of cases, it should hold up here given how the actual styles played out in each fight.
