History was made once again by ONE Championship this past month.
On September 22, the most-anticipated muay Thai bout ever was put on by the Singapore-based martial arts giant when Rodtang Jitmuangnon finally squared off with Superlek Kiatmoo9 in the main event of ONE Friday Fights 34. The latter took the win by unanimous decision after an intense brawl, but fans were left hoping that an epic rivalry had emerged.
ONE broke the mold again a week later, on September 29, with “ONE Fight Night 14: Stamp vs. Ham,” which featured five thrilling bouts at the top of the card – all featuring female athletes.
As we move into October, there is no slowing down for the world’s largest martial arts organization, and here are three things we’re looking forward to most from it.
The featherweight division moves full steam ahead
The world witnessed an epic ONE featherweight MMA world title battle in August last year, but the division has been stuck in somewhat of a holding pattern ever since.
Tang Kai defeated Thanh Le by unanimous decision after a five-round war at ONE 160 to claim the top prize, but a knee injury has kept the Chinese superstar on the sidelines for the last few months.
Wanting to keep the stacked weight bracket active, ONE has introduced an interim world title, and it will be contested by former king Le (13-3) and Russian powerhouse Ilya Freymanov (12-2) in the ONE Fight Night 15 main event on October 6.
Freymanov has made a huge splash since joining the promotion in 2022, taking out former two-division world champion Martin Nguyen on debut before submitting the ultra-tough Shinechagtga Zoltsetseg in a whirlwind one-round slugfest.
Now he looks to further prove that he belongs at the pinnacle of the sport when he locks horns with one of ONE’s best knockout artists in Le, who is gung-ho on getting the featherweight MMA crown back.
A second-generation world champion returns
Another big star that fans have been eagerly awaiting to see in action again is Jonathan Di Bella.
It will be almost a full year since the second-generation kickboxing king became the ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion after a pulsating five rounds with Chinese prodigy Zhang Peimian at ONE 162.
Di Bella returns to the ring for the first time since last October when he defends his strap against ultra-tough Aussie-Thai contender Danial Williams at ONE Fight Night 15.
“Mini T” counts Superlek and Rodtang among his list of former foes, but the chance to fight for a world title in his natural strawweight division is the biggest of the 30-year-old’s career to date.
On paper, the fight is a fascinating clash of styles.
Will it be the speed and crisp technique of Di Bella or the raw power and grit of “Mini T” that prevails? Either way, it’s guaranteed fireworks when the pair lock horns at the historic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The run home takes shape
There is still plenty left to look forward to for the rest of 2023, and there will, no doubt, be more news in the pipeline this month.
ONE Fight Night 16 is headlined by the vacant ONE bantamweight kickboxing world title battle between bantamweight muay Thai king Jonathan Haggerty and bantamweight MMA titleholder Fabricio “Wonder Boy” Andrade on November 4, and there promises to be more exciting announcements for the card throughout October.
ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong also revealed in September that the promotion will make its Middle East debut in Qatar before the end of the year, as ONE 165 ushers back the promotion’s numbered events.
The details are still to be confirmed, and we’re hoping all will be revealed this month.
ONE Fight Night 15 airs live on Prime Video on Friday, October 6. The action begins at 8 p.m. ET and is free for all Amazon Prime members based in the U.S. and Canada.
