5 Reasons To Watch The Stacked ONE Friday Fights 22 Card This Week
This Friday, June 23, the world-renowned Lumpinee Boxing Stadium will play host to an 11-bout card that features two highly anticipated World Title showdowns and some of the biggest stars in combat sports.
Simply put, ONE Friday Fights 22 is the most stacked edition to date in ONE Championship’s weekly Asia primetime series that airs live from Bangkok, Thailand.
There are plenty of reasons to catch all the mixed martial arts and Muay Thai action, which should deliver both drama and fireworks from start to finish.
With less than a week until event day, here are five of those reasons to tune in.
#1 A Heavyweight MMA World Title Unification Bout
After months of mounting tensions, reigning ONE Heavyweight World Champion Arjan Bhullar and interim divisional king Anatoly Malykhin will settle their heated rivalry in a World Title unification contest that’s been a long time in the making.
Canadian-Indian star “Singh” hasn’t competed since winning the gold back in May 2021, and he’ll certainly have his hands full against Malykhin.
For his part, the undefeated Russian knockout artist boasts a perfect finishing rate through 12 professional bouts, was named ONE’s 2022 MMA Fighter of the Year, and has been chomping at the bit for a chance at undisputed heavyweight gold.
Fans can look forward to tense action early and often in this colossal matchup between two of the planet’s most terrifying big men.
#2 A Muay Thai World Title Rematch
In the final matchup of ONE Friday Fights 22, two of Thailand’s most revered strikers – both former ONE World Champions – will meet in a rematch for the ONE Interim Strawweight Muay Thai World Title.
Decorated superstar Prajanchai PK Saenchai and legendary veteran Sam-A Gaiyanghadao first met in July 2021, as Prajanchai scored a thrilling decision victory to capture Sam-A’s strawweight Muay Thai crown.
With reigning titleholder Joseph Lasiri now on the sidelines, these rivals will once again throw down with 26 pounds of gold – and the bragging rights as Thailand’s best strawweight striker – on the line.
#3 Superlek And Sitthichai Return To Muay Thai
After dominating in the kickboxing ranks, Thai heroes Superlek Kiatmoo9 and Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong will each return to the smaller 4-ounce gloves and compete in Muay Thai.
As the reigning ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion, Superlek is widely regarded as one of the planet’s top pound-for-pound athletes in the sport. But “The Kicking Machine” also wants to prove he remains elite in Muay Thai when he faces 19-year-old prodigy Nabil Anane.
A win for #1-ranked Superlek could also open the door for a long-awaited World Title challenge of flyweight Muay Thai king Rodtang Jitmuangnon.
Meanwhile, eight-time Kickboxing and Muay Thai World Champion Sitthichai hopes to make a triumphant return to the venue where he first built his reputation.
On Friday, the #2-ranked contender will battle unorthodox American knockout artist Eddie Abasolo in a crucial featherweight Muay Thai bout that could earn the winner a World Title shot.
#4 UK Stars Aim For Career-Defining Wins In Enemy Territory
Elsewhere on the card, two of the United Kingdom’s finest Muay Thai athletes will look to take out Thai favorites in key matchups designed to produce fireworks.
First, Scotland’s Nico Carrillo hopes to score his second consecutive knockout in ONE when he clashes with former Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai World Champion “Elbow Zombie” Muangthai PK Saenchai.
After that, Road to ONE winner Nathan Bendon will put his ultra-aggressive, hard-hitting style to the test against legendary striker Seksan Or Kwanmuang – a man with an undefeated record in ONE and well over 250 career fights.
Look for each of these athletes to put it all on the line in what could be life-changing opportunities.
#5 Unbeaten Wrestling Phenom Makes His ONE Debut
In the opening clash of the evening, undefeated Turkish rising star Shamil Erdogan will make his big promotional debut against Chinese brawler Fan Rong in a must-watch middleweight MMA contest.
Sporting a perfect 8-0 career MMA record, Erdogan has garnered a considerable amount of hype due to his vast experience on the elite international wrestling scene.
And while he’s one of the organization’s most exciting recent signees, he’s been given a tough test in the form of “King Kong Warrior.” The Chinese athlete possesses huge power, undeniable physical gifts, and the experience of five bouts under ONE’s bright lights.
