3 days ago
Argentinian dynamo Hector "La Arana" Almonacid has spent years building toward his ONE Championship debut, and it has finally arrived.
The 24-year-old makes his promotional bow against Brazilian standout Pedro "Guerreiro" Dantas in a featherweight MMA battle, which opens ONE Fight Night 47: Stamp vs. Flores on Prime Video, airing live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium this Friday, September 4.
Long before any of that, though, it all began much closer to home.
Almonacid was born and raised in Rio Gallegos, Argentina, and by his own account, life among his friends in the neighborhood was a good one growing up. He practiced taekwondo as a kid during that stretch, eventually working his way up to a red belt.
At 8 years old, his parents separated, and he was raised by his mother alongside his younger brother. It was not always an easy road from there, but the structure he had already found on the mats gave him something steady to return to.
#almonacid #championship #guerreiro
The 24-year-old makes his promotional bow against Brazilian standout Pedro "Guerreiro" Dantas in a featherweight MMA battle, which opens ONE Fight Night 47: Stamp vs. Flores on Prime Video, airing live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium this Friday, September 4.
Long before any of that, though, it all began much closer to home.
Almonacid was born and raised in Rio Gallegos, Argentina, and by his own account, life among his friends in the neighborhood was a good one growing up. He practiced taekwondo as a kid during that stretch, eventually working his way up to a red belt.
At 8 years old, his parents separated, and he was raised by his mother alongside his younger brother. It was not always an easy road from there, but the structure he had already found on the mats gave him something steady to return to.
#almonacid #championship #guerreiro
1 month ago
One of Dortmund's will-they-won't-they transfers of the summer appears to be going ahead at long last. Per Fabrizio Romano, Dortmund wing-back Yan Couto is set to move to Italy this summer on loan to Como.
Couto joined Dortmund initially on loan from Manchester City in the fall of 2024, with a purchase obligation exercised in the summer of 2026. Across two seasons for BVB, Couto played 62 matches, scoring three goals and **** isting a further three.
These numbers only tell a half story. In his second season, Couto played a mere 997 minutes in the league, falling behind Julian Ryerson in the pecking order at right wing-back. One might think Couto would be perfectly suited to Niko Kovac's five-back system, but unfortunately for Couto, Ryerson's crossing prowess this season made him impossible to leave off the team sheet.
I, for one, am very disappointed to see Couto go in what will likely prove to be a permanent departure. Couto took an enormous leap of faith moving to Dortmund, a completely foreign country and league, and embraced the club with open arms. BVB repaid him, in my opinion, with limited minutes and little reward for the good moments he showed in black and yellow. It always felt as though Couto was an afterthought on the team-sheet despite his impressive CV and potential to bring a different element to the squad, with some time to settle into a role. Dortmund gave Raphaël Guerreiro seven seasons to be a poor defender with tremendous creative ability—I'm not sure why Couto couldn't be afforded just one.
Couto is only 24, and with the buy option seemingly non-obligatory, we may yet see Yan Couto in black and yellow again. Unfortunately, BVB has likely left a poor taste in the Brazilian's mouth, and I wouldn't blame him for leaving it in the past.
#summer #loan #played
Couto joined Dortmund initially on loan from Manchester City in the fall of 2024, with a purchase obligation exercised in the summer of 2026. Across two seasons for BVB, Couto played 62 matches, scoring three goals and **** isting a further three.
These numbers only tell a half story. In his second season, Couto played a mere 997 minutes in the league, falling behind Julian Ryerson in the pecking order at right wing-back. One might think Couto would be perfectly suited to Niko Kovac's five-back system, but unfortunately for Couto, Ryerson's crossing prowess this season made him impossible to leave off the team sheet.
I, for one, am very disappointed to see Couto go in what will likely prove to be a permanent departure. Couto took an enormous leap of faith moving to Dortmund, a completely foreign country and league, and embraced the club with open arms. BVB repaid him, in my opinion, with limited minutes and little reward for the good moments he showed in black and yellow. It always felt as though Couto was an afterthought on the team-sheet despite his impressive CV and potential to bring a different element to the squad, with some time to settle into a role. Dortmund gave Raphaël Guerreiro seven seasons to be a poor defender with tremendous creative ability—I'm not sure why Couto couldn't be afforded just one.
Couto is only 24, and with the buy option seemingly non-obligatory, we may yet see Yan Couto in black and yellow again. Unfortunately, BVB has likely left a poor taste in the Brazilian's mouth, and I wouldn't blame him for leaving it in the past.
#summer #loan #played
1 month ago
ONE Championship has unveiled four thrilling MMA and submission grappling contests for ONE Fight Night 47 on Prime Video, adding another layer of excitement to what promises to be a spectacular night of martial arts action.
The event takes place on Friday, September 4, live in U.S. primetime from the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Gilbert Nakatani faces Nazareth "The Northstar" Lalthazuala in strawweight MMA, Gabriela "Gabi" Fujimoto takes on Macarena Aragon in women's atomweight MMA, Hector "La Arana" Almonacid meets Pedro "Guerreiro" Dantas in featherweight MMA, and Rafael Lovato Jr. locks horns with Pawel Jaworski in a middleweight submission grappling matchup.
The strawweight MMA fight between Nakatani and Lalthazuala is a classic clash of experience against explosive momentum.
Nakatani is a 32-year-old California native from Aragon Training Academy with nine career MMA victories, seven coming via finish, who has spent his ONE Championship tenure testing himself against tough opposition.
#nakatani #lalthazuala #submission
The event takes place on Friday, September 4, live in U.S. primetime from the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Gilbert Nakatani faces Nazareth "The Northstar" Lalthazuala in strawweight MMA, Gabriela "Gabi" Fujimoto takes on Macarena Aragon in women's atomweight MMA, Hector "La Arana" Almonacid meets Pedro "Guerreiro" Dantas in featherweight MMA, and Rafael Lovato Jr. locks horns with Pawel Jaworski in a middleweight submission grappling matchup.
The strawweight MMA fight between Nakatani and Lalthazuala is a classic clash of experience against explosive momentum.
Nakatani is a 32-year-old California native from Aragon Training Academy with nine career MMA victories, seven coming via finish, who has spent his ONE Championship tenure testing himself against tough opposition.
#nakatani #lalthazuala #submission
2 months ago
According to a report from Kicker journalist Georg Holzner (as captured by iMiaSanMia), Bayern Munich is about to give fans something they were clamoring for last season — a bigger role for midfielder Tom Bischof.
Bischof, who made the move from Hoffenheim to Bayern Munich last summer, often played out of position at left-back or right-back last season for the Bavarians, as Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Aleksandar Pavlović, and even Raphaël Guerreiro ate up the majority of the midfield minutes.
Now, though, Bischof looks ready to be an important part of the group:
Tom Bischof will play a significantly bigger role under Vincent Kompany in the coming season. The German U21 captain is the player who will benefit the most from the departures of Leon Goretzka and Raphaël Guerreiro. Bischof is to take over Goretzka's role as third midfielder, while also retaining the versatility that made Guerreiro valuable, including the ability to fill in at left-back and in the attacking areas if necessary. In doing so, Bischof will effectively replace two departing players at once and receive plenty of game time.
With Noël Aséko Nkili likely headed to Eintracht Frankfurt and David Santos Daiber unproven and coming off of an injury, Bischof has a much more clear pathway to playing time than he did last season. Kimmich aging up another year and Pavlović's poor World Cup showing could present a good opportunity for Bischof to really take advantage of the situation and prove his mettle.
Bischof, who made the move from Hoffenheim to Bayern Munich last summer, often played out of position at left-back or right-back last season for the Bavarians, as Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Aleksandar Pavlović, and even Raphaël Guerreiro ate up the majority of the midfield minutes.
Now, though, Bischof looks ready to be an important part of the group:
Tom Bischof will play a significantly bigger role under Vincent Kompany in the coming season. The German U21 captain is the player who will benefit the most from the departures of Leon Goretzka and Raphaël Guerreiro. Bischof is to take over Goretzka's role as third midfielder, while also retaining the versatility that made Guerreiro valuable, including the ability to fill in at left-back and in the attacking areas if necessary. In doing so, Bischof will effectively replace two departing players at once and receive plenty of game time.
With Noël Aséko Nkili likely headed to Eintracht Frankfurt and David Santos Daiber unproven and coming off of an injury, Bischof has a much more clear pathway to playing time than he did last season. Kimmich aging up another year and Pavlović's poor World Cup showing could present a good opportunity for Bischof to really take advantage of the situation and prove his mettle.
2 months ago
With Alejandro Grimaldo reportedly on the verge of joining Atlético Madrid for a fee in the region of €25 million, Bayer Leverkusen are already moving to identify a replacement.
According to Bild, Raphael Guerreiro is among the options being considered. The versatile 32-year-old is available on a free transfer after leaving Bayern Munich and, like Grimaldo, offers a strong left foot and extensive top-level experience.
However, new Leverkusen head coach Carles Martínez is said to prefer a more pace-driven profile for the left-back position.
Arsène Kouassi of FC Lorient, who is also being monitored by VfB Stuttgart and Eintracht Frankfurt, is seen as a good fit.
Playing with Edmond Tapsoba in the Burkina Faso national team, Kouassi would likely cost around €20 million.
According to Bild, Raphael Guerreiro is among the options being considered. The versatile 32-year-old is available on a free transfer after leaving Bayern Munich and, like Grimaldo, offers a strong left foot and extensive top-level experience.
However, new Leverkusen head coach Carles Martínez is said to prefer a more pace-driven profile for the left-back position.
Arsène Kouassi of FC Lorient, who is also being monitored by VfB Stuttgart and Eintracht Frankfurt, is seen as a good fit.
Playing with Edmond Tapsoba in the Burkina Faso national team, Kouassi would likely cost around €20 million.
