The List: 3 ONE Championship fights to look forward to in June
Following a historic month for ONE Championship, the promotion returns to more familiar grounds, but the scheduled lineup is no less intriguing.
The blockbuster fights keep on coming in ONE Championship next month.
The promotion had a historic May, as it made its U.S. on-ground debut with “ONE Fight Night 10: Johnson vs. Moraes III,” and continued to bring enthralling action to Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, with the ONE Friday Fights series.
June promises to be another thrilling month for the organization, with many other high-profile matches on the horizon. Here’s three fights we’re looking forward to seeing the most this month.
1. The ONE heavyweight world title will be unified at last
The most anticipated heavyweight fight in ONE history will finally go down next month.
ONE heavyweight world champion Arjan Bhullar (11-1) will make his long-awaited return to unify the belts with interim king Anatoly Malykhin (12-0).
A mix of injury and contractual issues have plagued “Singh” since his two-round demolition of former titleholder Brandon Vera at “ONE: Dangal” in May 2021.
Russian knockout artist Malykhin has risen to the top of the pile in his absence, claiming the interim strap during his perfect 4-0 run in ONE, which also includes capturing the ONE light heavyweight world title from Reinier de Ridder last December.
After multiple cancellations of this heated showdown, Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, will play host to this historic bout at ONE Friday Fights 22 on June 23.
2. Eersel looks to make it 22 wins in a row
Two-sport ONE world champion Regian Eersel will look to defend his ONE Lightweight Muay Thai World Title and extend his incredible winning streak against highly rated promotional newcomer Dmitry Menshikov in the ONE Fight Night 11 headliner on June 9.
“The Immortal” has racked up a staggering 21 wins in a row over the last seven years, nine of which have come during his ONE tenure.
In Menshikov, Eersel will have a real fight on his hands, however.
The fearsome striker brings an impressive 27-2 professional record to ONE, and he is riding an 11-fight winning streak of his own after a distinguished career in Europe.
But if Eersel can overcome his latest foe, he will continue rising through rarified air and surely begin to be spoken about in GOAT conversations.
3. A legend bids to return to the throne
Along with the ONE heavyweight world title unification bout on the ONE Friday Fights 22 card, a legend will also look to strike gold – but he’ll have to do it against the man who originally dethroned him two years ago.
In the absence of divisional king Joseph Lasiri, the ONE interim strawweight muay Thai world title will be on the line in a battle between Sam-A Gaiyanghadao and Prajanchai PK.Saenchai.
Sam-A is a veteran of over 400 fights, and he claimed inaugural belts in two sports and as many weight divisions in his first promotional stint. The 39-year-old icon returned this past March, knocking out Ireland’s Ryan Sheehan in highlight-reel fashion. Now, he shifts his attention to an old foe.
After besting Sam-A for the belt in 2021, Prajanchai lost the strap to Lasiri in his first defense. He rebounded with an impressive performance against Kompetch Sitsarawatsuer in January, however, and he will be looking to go 2-0 in his series with his legendary compatriot on June 23.