Filipino professional boxer and politician, Manny Pacquiao, is showing his interest in mixed martial arts with his purchase of a huge stake in Asian MMA promotion, One Fighting Championship.
The news was revealed on Sunday by Victor Cui, CEO of One FC, the biggest MMA promotion in Asia today, according to Bleacher Report. Cui did not mention the number of shares that Pacquiao acquired, or if he will play a role in the company's operational activities, but he did say that Pacquiao would be "promoting One FC and promoting the sport."
"Manny has been looking for some opportunities outside of boxing, and he and his team have kept an eye on the sport of MMA," Cui said. "It made a lot of sense to him."
Cui added that he was "pretty pumped" about the deal, and said there were "tons" of reasons for his excitement, Yahoo Sports reported.
"Obviously, Manny Pacquiao is a global sports icon, and having him as a part of our organization as a shareholder and promoting One FC and promoting the sport is huge for the sport in the region," he said. "It promotes awareness and growth."
Pacquiao is the most respected sports hero of the Philippines, where MMA is already extremely popular, according to Cui.
While Pacquiao has been observing MMA, he is not looking to fight in the sport or take time out of his boxing career, Bleacher Report said. He is scheduled to defend his WBO welterweight title against challenger Chris Algieri on November 22nd in Macau, China.
One FC has a roster that features several famous MMA fighters, such as Shinya Aoki, Bibiano Fernandes, Roger Huerta, and Ben Askren, who is arguably the best MMA fighter in the welterweight division. Askren joined the company last year after leaving Bellator and the UFC decided not to try to sign him.
One FC has been able to help in the increasing awareness of MMA in the Philippines with its recent signings of Brandon Vera, former fighter in the UFC, and Ana Julaton, a star in women's boxing, Yahoo Sports reported. Both fighters are Filipino-Americans.
