ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong recently announced that the promotion has scheduled its second-ever mixed rules superfight.
World-class strikers Stamp Fairtex and Anissa Meksen will square off in an MMA X muay Thai mixed rules bout at ONE on Prime Video 6 on January 13, 2023. The event is set to take place at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.
This will be ONE’s second mixed-rules contest – the first was held in March 2022 at ONE X when Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson submitted ONE flyweight muay Thai world champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon in the second round of their thrilling co-main event showdown.
With rounds alternating between muay Thai and MMA, the special rules bout between Stamp and “C18” is exactly that: special. The fight is destined to be full of entertainment, not only because of the unique rule set, but also because it involves two of ONE’s most compelling, fun-to-watch athletes.
Here are three reasons to be pumped about the upcoming mixed rules super-fight at ONE on Prime Video 6.
1. Ultimate unpredictability
Because it will be just the second fight of its kind, fans tuning in to see Stamp vs. Meksen will have essentially no idea what to expect. It’s that unpredictability that creates bell-to-bell excitement.
How will each woman approach this fight? Will Stamp – the former ONE atomweight muay Thai and kickboxing world champion, and recent MMA world title challenger – be aggressive in the striking rounds? Or will she wait until the MMA rounds to attack and use her grappling advantage?
Will the legendary kickboxer and muay Thai fighter Meksen try her hand at grappling, or will she try to avoid the ground at all costs?
These unknowns make the mixed rules bout all the more interesting.
2. Two of ONE’s top pound-for-pound strikers
With each woman carrying a deep background in muay Thai and kickboxing, the table is set for a clash between two of the planet’s most technical strikers.
Few women can match the career accomplishments of Meksen. A veteran of over 100 muay Thai and kickboxing fights, the French-Algerian is a seven-time world champion who is undefeated in ONE Championship.
And in the other corner, Stamp is a former two-sport queen, becoming the first athlete to simultaneously hold the ONE muay Thai and ONE kickboxing world titles.
Simply put, this matchup is a striker’s delight between two of the best in the world.
3. A look at Meksen’s MMA game
The 34-year old Meksen has little left to achieve in kickboxing. She may, however, be interested in trying her hand at MMA, and this fight against Stamp may indicate that she’s willing to dip her toes in the water.
If “C18” is toying with the idea of a transition to MMA, then this bout serves as a sneak peak at what that would look like. Meksen is unlikely to shoot for takedowns or hunt for submissions, but extended exchanges in the clinch or short transitions on the ground would give her plenty of confidence to try a traditional MMA bout.
And while Stamp is a 10-fight MMA veteran, she is still a striker at her core, making her an ideal opponent for Meksen to test her grappling.
