What's At Stake For The Stars Of ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST?

After a couple of weeks’ breathing space, ONE Championship will return on Saturday, 15 June with a card full of exciting match-ups in Shanghai, China.

ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST features a World Title tilt, the long-awaited debut of a worldwide superstar, a series of rising stars who could be just one win away from a shot at gold, and much more.

This is what is at stake when the bell rings at the Baoshan Arena.

#1 Stamp Puts One Of Her Belts On The Line

No match-up carries more weight at ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST than the main event ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Title contest.

Two-sport World Champion Stamp Fairtex will make her first ever World Title defense against Alma Juniku in – if the two heroes’ predictions are correct – a toe-to-toe battle over five rounds.

The 21-year-old Thai superstar may be more familiar to ONE fans and more experienced, but her 18-year-old rival is already a WBC and IPCC Muay Thai World Champion, and has the skills and tenacity to cause an upset.

#2 Can Akiyama Live Up To The Hype?

Few athletes in The Home Of Martial Arts are as well-known and beloved as Yoshihiro “Sexy Yama” Akiyama.

The Japanese-Korean superstar will make his ONE debut on 15 May, and fans around the world will look forward to him bringing his all-action style to his new organization.

However, in Agilan “Alligator” Thani, he will face a young, hungry Malaysian hero who is reinvigorated, 20 years his junior, and dangerous enough to spoil the party with his ever-evolving arsenal of offense.

#3 Chinese Stars Battle For National Pride

Some of the national heroes who will compete at home at the Baoshan Arena are determined to prove that Chinese martial artists can be the best in the world.

Han Zi Hao and “Muay Thai Boy” Zhang Chenglong are Top King Muay Thai World Champions, whereas “Rock Man” Chen Lei and Niu Kang Kang are once-beaten rising stars with serious stopping power.

All four have the potential to challenge for a World Title in the ONE Super Series and mixed martial arts bantamweight divisions, and wins in their native land could go a long way to proving they deserve one.

Each of their match-ups come against dangerous opponents, but if they can get past them – and particularly if they can stop them – these national heroes will show they are worthy of consideration for a chance to compete for the gold in the future.

#4 Big Guys Can Move To The Front Of The Queue

Of all the big men in ONE Super Series, Tarik “The Tank” Khbabez has stood out above the rest.

The Moroccan has won all three of his contests in the world’s largest martial arts organization – two by knockout, and one impressive unanimous decision – to stake a firm claim for a World Title shot.

However, if Anderson “Braddock” Silva can take him out in Shanghai, he could steal his spot at the front of the queue.

The Brazilian has already shown he has one-punch knockout power, so if he can find his mark, even the teak-tough “Tank” may fall.

#5 Leading Middleweight & Featherweight Contenders Stake Their Claim

Reinier “The Dutch Knight” De Ridder has one of the most impressive undefeated records in ONE Championship.

He improved to 10-0 with his slick submission victory in his ONE debut earlier this year. If he adds another stoppage win against Gilberto Galvao to his perfect slate, he might emerge as the man to make a play for the ONE Middleweight World Title next.

Down at featherweight, Koyomi “Moushigo” Matsushima is coming off a stunning first-round knockout of former ONE Featherweight World Champion Marat “Cobra” Gafurov.

That was not quite enough to get him a date with the division’s top dog, but a win against South Korean knockout artist “Pretty Boy” Kwon Won Il on top of it could.

Of course, if either of these leading contenders’ rivals get their hand raised, they may hijack their momentum and move on to great things instead.