This Friday, the Singapore Indoor Stadium will host one of the biggest and most important events in ONE Championship history.
The promotion returns to North American primetime television with “ONE on Prime Video 1: Moraes vs. Johnson II.”
The 10-bout card features no shortage of compelling storylines and intriguing fights, including one of the biggest MMA rematches in recent memory.
That said, here are three big questions ahead of ONE on Prime Video 1.
1. Is Demetrious Johnson approaching the end of his career?
First things first: Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson (23-4-1) is still very much one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. But after suffering his first-ever knockout loss against Adriano Moraes (20-3) in April 2021, it’s difficult not to ask if Johnson has lost a step.
At 36 years old, Johnson has 35 professional fights to his name, with most of those fights taking place at a world-class level. With that in mind, no one would blame the American if he is indeed slowing down.
But was the loss to Moraes a sign of things to come, or did “Mighty Mouse” have a bad night? Or, what’s more likely, is the Brazilian just that dangerous?
The main event of ONE on Prime Video 1 will answer a number of questions about Johnson’s status in the sport. With a strong showing, “Might Mouse” could put to bed talks of a late-career decline.
He’ll face an uphill battle, though, as Johnson will have to avenge the only stoppage loss of his illustrious career.
2. Is Marcus ‘Buchecha’ Almeida ready for a title shot?
Still just three fights into his professional MMA career, Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida (3-0) has all the makings of a world champion. He’ll be taking on former ONE interim heavyweight world title challenger Kirill Grishenko (5-1) in his toughest test yet.
If Almeida can defeat the Belarusian, he could easily be next in line for a shot at the ONE heavyweight world title. Current champ Arjan Bhullar is set to defend his belt against interim titleholder Anatoly Malykhin at ONE 161 next month.
Almeida’s skills on the mat aren’t in question. He is an astounding 13-time IBJJF world champion and a two-time ADCC world champion. Simply put, “Buchecha” is one of the best grapplers in all of MMA, and he has shown that through his three first-round finish victories, all at ONE Championship.
Fans have yet to see Almeida fight for an extended period of time on the feet. If he is able to not only win, but show growth in his striking or even find success in that department, then “Buchecha” will have a strong case to be the next world title challenger.
Of course, the answer to this question depends on what happens once the ONE circle door closes behind Almeida and Grishenko.
3. Who will make a statement in the ONE flyweight muay Thai world grand prix?
Who doesn’t love a good tournament? Who doesn’t love muay Thai in four-ounce gloves? Fans are in luck, as ONE on Prime Video 1 will feature the semifinals of the ONE flyweight muay Thai world grand prix.
In one semifinal, current ONE flyweight muay Thai world champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon puts his unbeaten ONE Muay Thai record on the line against Savvas Michael. In the other, “The Kicking Machine” Superlek Kiatmoo9 takes on Walter Goncalves, fresh off a 35-second knockout in the opening round of the tournament.
These semifinal bouts will not only deliver plenty of action, but it will also set the stage for the tournament finale.
If Rodtang is able to get past Michael, he’ll find himself in position to capture the prestigious silver grand prix belt, further solidifying his status as one of the best pound-for-pound muay Thai fighters on the planet.
And on the other side of the bracket, Goncalves will look to follow up his spectacular knockout with a win over top-ranked contender Superlek. For his part, Superlek is undefeated across five muay Thai bouts in ONE.
