Friday, June 23, was an eventful night in Bangkok, Thailand, as ONE Championship’s highlight reel was topped up with seven knockouts, while two world titles found new homes at ONE Friday Fights 22.
It was callouts galore inside the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium ring, with several of the show’s biggest winners laying down gauntlets to potential future rivals in their post-fight interviews with ONE commentator Mitch Chilson.
As the dust settles, we look back at some of the best quotes from the huge night of martial arts action that went down in the Thai capital this past Friday.
Anatoly Malykhin
Anatoly Malykhin became the undisputed ONE heavyweight world champion with a third-round TKO finish of returning divisional king Arjan Bhullar in the evening’s main event.
Malykhin entered the ring as the interim titleholder and proved too strong for Bhullar throughout their world title unification battle.
His dominant victory earned him a $50,000 performance bonus courtesy of ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong, and his post-fight remarks garnered much respect from fans and fighters alike.
“Sladkiy” chose to observe a moment of silence for late ONE athlete Victoria Lee and referee Paopom Watcharin directly after his resounding win. He then turned his attention to former foe Reinier de Ridder and announced he plans to go after the Dutchman’s ONE middleweight world title, which would be the Russian star’s third belt.
“De Ridder. October, come. Three belt time. You tell me that my belts are fake. Hey, my brother, I have two belts that are not fake – your belt is fake. Your belt is my belt. Let’s go in October at 93 kilograms. Three belts. It’s history time, Mr. Chatri (Sityodtong),” Malykhin said.
“It’s history time. ONE Championship is the No. 1 league in the world.”
Nico Carrillo
Nico Carrillo pulled of the biggest win of his career when he finished Thai striking sensation Muangthai PK.Saenchai at ONE Friday Fights 22.
“King of the North” dropped his foe with a crushing elbow in the second round, then swarmed to close the show in stunning fashion.
The rising Scottish bantamweight scored a six-figure ONE contract for the win, which took him to 2-0 in the promotion, and he put the bantamweight muay Thai division on notice when he asked what he wanted next.
“I know Muangthai was highly ranked. So now, where does that put me? There’s a new king at bantamweight,” Carrillo said.
“ONE Championship, you’re looking at your new bantamweight king.”
Prajanchai PK.Saenchai
Prajanchai PK.Saenchai scored his second win in a row against Sam-A Gaiyanghadao last Friday evening, and he claimed the ONE interim strawweight muay Thai world title in the process.
After earning a majority decision victory in their first meeting in 2021, the Thai striker ensured the judges weren’t needed in the rematch by finishing his legendary compatriot with devastating punches in the second frame.
Prajanchai was awarded a $50,000 performance bonus for the knockout, and the former undisputed strawweight muay Thai king quickly delivered a message to reigning world champion Joseph Lasiri, who is out with an injury, after the action ended.
“I’m only asking for one thing. Joseph, don’t run away from me. I’m ready. I’m ready to get that belt back,” he said.
Superlek Kiatmoo9
ONE flyweight kickboxing world champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 wasn’t shy about revealing where he wants to go next, after his successful return to muay Thai at ONE Friday Fights 22.
“The Kicking Machine” finished teenage striking prodigy Nabil Anane in the opening round of their tussle to continue his unbeaten streak in ONE’s flyweight muay Thai ranks and earn himself a $50,000 performance bonus.
Superlek has been hunting for a second world title for some time, and he had only one name in mind in his post-fight interview – ONE bantamweight muay Thai world champion Jonathan Haggerty.
“What’s next is, I want my muay Thai belt. I want to fight Jonathan Haggerty,” he declared.
