FILIPINO MMA prospects Carlos Alvarez and Justin Matoto are seeing action Friday, March 21, 2025, in ONE Friday Fights 101 at the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Alvarez faces unbeaten Japanese fighter Seiya Matsuda in a featherweight bout.
The 25-year-old Alvarez has already fought five times in the ONE Championship cage. After just one pro fight in the Philippines, Alvarez immediately earned a spot in the ONE Championship roster. He was impressive in his first fight in Asia’s biggest MMA organization with a second-round stoppage of Iranian Reza Abasi.
Alvarez also won his next two bouts before suffering his first career defeat, a second-round technical knockout at the hands of Mongolian Nachyn Sat. He bounced back impressively after stopping previously undefeated Mirza Aliev.
The 29-year-old Matsuda has been impressive thus far in his career. He has already fought in ONE Championship twice, winning both contests by unanimous decision against Rusi Hadzhiev and Mikhail Gritsanenko.
Alvarez is 5-1 with all his wins coming from either a knockout or submission, while Matsuda is 5-0 with three wins by stoppage.
Meanwhile, Matoto makes his ONE Championship debut against fellow undefeated fighter Monjit Yein.
Matoto, just 22 years old, fought all of his fights in the Philippines. He’s coming off a long layoff from the cage after winning over Deo Anthony Bacelonia via second-round keylock submission in 2023.
Yein is also a rookie in the ONE Championship and is also making his debut in the organization. He fought all of his fights in his native India under the Bidang Fighting Championship banner.
Yein’s last fight was against a Filipino, Jansent Taladtad, whom he choked out in the first round.
Matoto is 3-0, while Yein is 5-0. / EKA