While the talk in MMA is about the UFC vs. Bellator, the USA is not the world. Asia’s ONE Championship is making huge strides.
ONE 42 saw the league’s first women’s title fight, and it was one for the ages. On Friday night in Singapore, undefeated Angela Lee, 19, took everything veteran Mei Yamaguchi had and emerged with a unanimous decision win, the ONE atomweight belt, and a $50,000 bonus.
Owner Chatri Sityodtong made the bonus announcement via Facebook.
“Due to her extraordinary display of martial arts skill and warrior spirit in the main event of ONE Championship: Ascent to Power, ONE Atomweight World Champion Angela Lee has been awarded a ONE Warrior Bonus of US$50,000,” wrote Sityodtong. “Mei Yamaguchi has also been awarded her fight win bonus for her valiant effort. Without a doubt, these two phenomenal martial artists put on one of the greatest WMMA world title fights in history. RESPECT!!!
“I am almost certain these two will meet again in the future.”
Afterwards Lee offered the respectful Singapore equivalent of “I’m not surprised mother f@$%ers.”
“I told you guys, I was born for this,” said Lee post fight in the cage. “This moment right here, I worked really hard for it. I couldn’t do this by myself. It takes a whole army to build a champion, and I’m really lucky to be surrounded by such amazing people.”
In the co-main Jiu-jitsu master Roger Gracie crushed previously unbeaten Michal Pasternak to take the inaugural ONE light heavyweight championship.
ONE Championship 43 card now includes:
Champion Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke vs. Yoshitaka Naito – for strawweight title on May 27 at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani, Thailand is now complete:
Marat Gafurov (c) vs. Kazunori Yokota for featherweight title
Rob Lisita vs. Timofey Nastyukhin
Leandro Ataides vs. Marcin Prachnio
Anatpong Bunrad vs. Eugene Toquero
Chrech Kosal vs. Yodsanan Sityodtong
Kyal Linn Aung vs. Shannon Wiratchai
Pongsiri Mitsatit vs. Ye Thway Ne
Kev Hemmorlor vs. Kritsada Konsrichai
You can watch it via live stream, worldwide.
