Mixed Martial Arts

Robson De Oliveira Soares of Brazil (right) takes on Phan Huy Hoàng of Việt Nam in the LION Championship last month in Hà Nội. Soares will take part in the AFC 28 event next week in Vũng Tàu City. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI Thrilling bouts between top competitors are promised at the Angel's Fighting Championship (AFC) 28, a famed mixed martial arts event, on September 16 in Vũng Tàu City.

There are seven fights with the main card featuring Việt Nam-lover Robson De Oliveira Soares of Brazil and South Korean Kim Jin Min in the fly weight (56kg) category at the Grand Hồ Tràm Strip.

Soares is well known nationwide after featuring in prestigious MMA tournaments such as the AFC and LION Championship.

Most recently, the Brazilian jujitsu champion knocked out experienced Phan Huy Hoàng of Việt Nam in the first round in the LION Championship with a rear choke.

Earlier, he technically knocked out Rene Catalan Jr in the main card of the AFC 25 on June 10.

Despite being a foreigner, Soares won local support after many years living and fighting here. No matter the result, he always wears the Việt Nam national flag over his shoulders at the end of fights.

The black-belt martial artist is a master of grappling skills. He has three wins and one loss in his career.

His opponent Kim is more experienced with 11 pro bouts. He recorded five wins and six losses but his has made four wins in a row prior to the Hồ Tràm Strip event.

A poster of the Angel's Fighting Championship 28. The Extreme Fights night features seven competitive bouts featuring international fighters.

In the bantam (61,2kg) weight, Vietnamese potential Mùi Trọng Vinh (11 wins, three losses) will fight talented Jia Yangin of China (four wins, four losses).

Lưu Đức Mạnh (nine wins, two losses) will face South Korean Park Seong Hyun (two wins, one draw and one loss).

Both Vinh and Mạnh are from No 1 Muay Club. They are managed and trained by seven-time world champion Nguyễn Trần Duy Nhất, also a MMA fighter who is current champion of the LION Championship in the men's 60kg.

Vinh was confident with the powerful combined use of fists, elbows, knees and shins of muay thai and posted on his Facebook page that he was ready for the fight whoever his rival was.

Also in this category, Pablo Eduardo from Brazil is expected to lengthen his winning streak to five when facing Japanese Hiromu Ueni who has a record of 10 wins and 10 defeats.

Other matches will see Brazilian Felipe Negochadle vs South Korean Byeon Jae Woong in the bantam weight; Russian Kim Igor vs South Korean Kim Siwon in the feather weight (57kg); and Song Yeong Jae vs Oh Su Hwan in an all-South Korean 57kg bout

The AFC 28 is jointly organised by Cocky Buffalo, a leading company in Việt Nam in managing and training fighters and organising tournaments, and AFC, a South Korean mixed martial arts promotion. All matches will be broadcast live and executively on VTVcab channels, apps and platforms. VNS