ONE Championship delivered another month of explosive martial arts action in July, and we won’t have to wait long for another helping.
“ONE Fight Night 13: Allazov vs. Grigorian” headlines the global martial arts giant’s schedule next month, taking center stage at the historic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on August 4.
But there is a long list of things to look forward in ONE over the next 30 days, and here are our picks for most exciting.
1. Chingiz Allazov Returns
Chingiz Allazov shocked the world this past January, when he uprooted ONE featherweight kickboxing world champion Superbon Singha Mawynn with a crushing second-round knockout to snatch the coveted divisional crown.
“Chinga” will make his much-anticipated return when he steps in for his first world title defense against Marat Grigorian at ONE Fight Night 13.
The heated rematch has been in the making for 10 years, after the pair faced off on two occasions in 2013.
Their first meeting ended in a no-contest ruling, and Grigorian took the second by decision, so all eyes will be on this third battle to see if Allazov can score some revenge and cement his position as king of the featherweight kickboxing division.
2. Epic heavyweight showdown
An inriguing heavyweight tussle will also go down on August 4, as Brazilian grappling superstar Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida (4-0) locks horns with Senegalese wrestling sensation “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane (5-1).
Almeida is a 17-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion whose submission skills have translated perfectly into mixed martial arts so far, with all four of his fights ending in first-round finishes.
Kane, for his part, became a social media sensation in 2019 when he reeled off two breathtaking first round knockouts to open his ONE career with a bang.
It will be wrestling vs. BJJ when these two behemoths collide, and fans will be wise to keep their eyes open, because this one could end in an instant.
3. World champions collide
Almeida taking on Kane won’t be the only submission grappling battle at ONE Fight Night 13.
Strawweight MMA king Jarred Brooks will put his college wrestling pedigree to the ultimate test in the evening’s co-main event as he moves up a weight class to challenge ONE flyweight submission grappling world champion Mikey Musumeci for the divisional throne.
“The Monkey God” is normally a brash and outspoken character ahead of his fights, but he has cut a far more mild-mannered figure this time while he prepares to step into his American compatriot’s world.
Two-sport glory looms for Brooks if he can get the job done against Musumeci, but the Brazilian jiu-jitsu superstar’s 4-0 record in ONE hint that it could be a difficult night for the Michigan native.
4. Exciting Action At ONE Fight Night 14
This past week, ONE announced four huge fights in its women’s ranks that are set to add fireworks to ONE Fight Night 14 on September 29.
Three world title fights will top the blockbuster card as Stamp Fairtex (10-2) and Seo Hee Ham (26-8) battle it out for the interim atomweight strap, ONE strawweight muay Thai world champion Smilla Sundell defends the gold in a rematch against Jackie Buntan, and Danielle Kelly faces her former foe Jessa Khan for the inaugural ONE atomweight submission grappling world title.
Away from championship action but just as exciting, strawweight MMA queen Xiong Jing Nan will face Thai superstar Nat “Wondergirl” Jaroonsak in a special rules striking bout that will see only punches permitted.
With the lineup already looking stacked, ONE Fight Night 14 may be quickly become the biggest cards of the year, and the night’s full card will be revealed throughout the month of August.
