Andrew Leone yearns for ONE FC Flyweight Title glory
“I'm a champion wrestler. I'm a champion jiu-jitsu fighter. My brother's a champion. We got champions in our family. I'll respect him. If he doesn't respect me, that's his fault.”
Those were the fighting words of Andrew Leone before he took on Korea's Soo Chul Kim last July of 2011. The 23-year-old son of Long Island, New York went on to win that fight via a Guillotine Choke 23 seconds into the very first round. And Kim went on to become the first One Fighting Championship Bantamweight Champion.
“I capitalized on his mistake and that earned me the victory that night” says Leone. “I don't think I'll experience another bout ending so fast. 23 seconds is hard to beat.”
If all goes according to plan, Leone (6-2 pro record), will also soon have a ONE FC belt dangling from his waist too. On September 13 he squares off against Shinichi Kojima in the main event of the ONE FC Champions and Warriors fight card in Jakarta. It's a title fight to determine ONE FC's inaugural Flyweight (125 pound) champion.
In the main undercard Japan's Kotetsu “No Face” Boku tangles with South African Vuyisille Colossa in a lightweight clash. There are no Filipinos on the card but ONE FC says that Pinoys will likely see action in their next two events.
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“He's a great fighter who has proved himself over in Shooto (a Japanese fighting discipline) for years, always fighting the best in the world. He's well rounded” says Leone of Kojima.
The 34-year-old Japanese veteran sports a 13-5-5 slate and recently took out Pinoy Rey Docyogen via Guillotine Choke last February in ONE FC Return of Warriors in Kuala Lumpur.
Leone too is fresh from vanquishing a Filipino. Last May he won the favor of the judges in his fight against Geje Eustaquio in ONE FC Rise to Power, silencing a raucous Filipino crowd in the Mall of Asia Arena.
The New Yorker's strategy was obvious from the get-go: keep the battle close to avoid giving Eustaquio room to unleash his fists, and as much as possible bring the fight to the canvas, where his wrestling superiority could be used to the full advantage. Leone was a state champion in wrestling growing up.
“I would have liked to have used my boxing more, but I was trying to win the fight and that’s where it took us” explains Leone. “I look forward to finishing more fights in the future but Geje is a very tough athlete and it was a pleasure to compete against him.”
But in spite of the win over Eustaquio, Leone has nothing but respect for Filipino MMA.
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“Filipino fighters are very tough. I would love to come over there to train for a extended period maybe with Team Lakay one day.”
Team Lakay is the legendary Baguio-based Wushu stable headed by Mark Sangiao that has produced Ed Folayang, Kevin Belingon, Honorio Banario, Docyogen, Eustaquio, and others.
Leone's affection for our shores goes beyond admiration for our pugilists.
“I love the Philippines and hope to live on a island there one day. I would love to learn and train there and even coach a little if I got the opportunity.”
Right now Leone makes his home in the resort paradise of Phuket, Thailand where his kickboxing skills are no doubt getting honed.
“I love Phuket, it’s a great island. Training a lot at Phuket Top Team has helped me a lot because we have great coaches. Love everything except the rain in the wet season.”
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Leone comes from a solid fighting pedigree. His brother Anthony is also a pro fighter who has compiled a 13-4 record as a Featherweight and Bantamweight. In spite of the dangerous nature of the sport, his parents nonetheless backed Anthony and Andrew all the way as they grew up in Center Moriches in Long Island.
“Our parents were always supporting us all throughout our athletic careers and this has been no different. We first went to an “MMA” gym in 2005. We had our first fight in 2006 at a underground show in New York city. I guess we got inspired by some of the Pride (the now-defunct Japanese MMA promotion) highlights on the Internet.”
Leone is no Long Island long shot. With an eleven year advantage in age and full of confidence, the American is expecting nothing less than victory in Jakarta.
Follow ONE FC on Twitter @ONEFCMMA. Follow Bob @bhobg333.
