Catalan mistake leads to Silva victory in One FC: Kings and Champions

Catalan mistake leads to Silva victory in One FC: Kings and Champions

by rick olivares

April 5, 2013

Singapore Indoor Stadium

Kallang, Singapore -- In the weeks leading up to One Fighting Championship: Kings and Champions, Filipino wushu champion Rene Catalan insisted that ring rust – he last fought in 2007 as he spent a lengthy stint in Canada working as a wushu coach – would not be a factor in his flyweight match up with Brazilian Alex Silva.

And for a while, Catalan looked like he would live up to his word as he took some great shots at the Brazilian while demonstrating terrific speed as well as great submission defense and reversals. But while attempting an elbow strike while on top of Silva, Catalan spun the wrong way giving the Brazilian an opportunity to execute a triangle armbar on him.

It was all over at the 4:34 of the first round sending the Filipino wushu champion to a loss in his Mixed Martial Arts debut.

“Gusto ko manalo para sa sarili ko at para sa bayan sa unang laban ko sa One FC,” said Catalan during the weigh in one day before the fight. “Pinagaralan ko yung style ni Silva at kung paano ako didiskarte sa kanya.

Catalan who hails from Santa Barbara, Iloilo, worked on other learning other martial arts disciplines such a Muay Thai, boxing, and striking to augment his wushu skills. “Iba yung mixed martial arts. Kailangan may ground game ka. Kapag wala medyo dehado ka sa mga wrestlers at mga magaling sa submission tulad nila (Shinya) Aoki.”

He surprised Silva who got him on the takedown but soon found the Filipino on top of him who began to rain hammer fists on his head. Catalan would later admit that it was inexperience that caused him the fight. “Disappointed ako,” he said from his hotel room the day after the fight.”

Catalan took some consolation when Matt Hume, One FC Vice President for Operations and Competitions told him “you’ll be back”. Catalan will return to Makati where he is now based and try to prepare in time for One FC: Rise to Power that will be held on May 31, 2013 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Notes: Catalan’s manager is Russian Alex Smirnov who recruited him to teach boxing, striking, and Muay Thai in Beijing, China from November of 2012 to March 2013. Catalan is a Sea Games wushu gold medalist in 2003.