The upcoming lightweight bout between Richard Corminal, 36, of the Philippines and Malaysia and Garry “The Lion Heart” Tonon, 26, of New Jersey, United States is one of the most interesting bouts ONE Championship has ever matched. The Filipino mixed martial artist based in Malaysia has yet to win a bout in the promotion and the American fighter is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend who is making his MMA debut.
“Garry Tonon is a legend in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and considered one of the best in submission grappling,” Corminal said of his “ONE: Iron Will” opponent. “I know what he is capable of doing on the mat.”
Following two-straight setbacks on the grandest martial arts stage, Corminal sets his sights on a colossal goal at “ONE: Iron Will.” He plans to place himself back on the winning track by spoiling the highly-anticipated professional debut of Tonon.
Before being introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the age of 14, Tonon began wrestling in primary school, competing as an amateur. Under the tutelage of coach Tom deBlass and the legendary Ricardo Almeida, Tonon would go on to win multiple IBJJF No-Gi world championships in different belts.
In September 2013, Tonon’s hard work on the mat finally paid off as deBlass and Almeida awarded him a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Shortly after, his professional grappling career began as Tonon would later win multiple titles at the Eddie Bravo Invitational and Metamoris professional grappling leagues.
Tonon made his first appearance inside the ONE Championship cage when he took on Japanese legend Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki in the promotion’s first-ever Grappling Super-Match in May 2017. The American grappling prodigy won the contest against Aoki impressively via heel hook submission.
On March 24, 2018 at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand, Corminal and Tonon will compete in the lightweight division at “ONE: Iron Will”. It will be headlined by two ONE Championship champions, Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes of Brazil and Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen of Vietnam.
CONAN Daily 