3 Biggest Takeaways From ONE Friday Fights 4
ONE Championship returned to the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium with its fourth installment of the weekly ONE Friday Fights series on February 10, where fans were treated to a night of upsets, finishes, and back-and-forth bangers.
The captivating event showcased a little bit of everything over the course of 10 action-packed bouts in kickboxing, MMA, and Muay Thai. In the end, all 20 athletes who stepped through the ropes entertained those in attendance and the fans watching around the globe.
After a spectacular night inside one of martial arts’ most historic venues, here are the three biggest takeaways from ONE Friday Nights 4 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Fabio Reis Goes From Underdog To Contender
“Sensational” Fabio Reis shook up the bantamweight Muay Thai division with his explosive debut victory over Ferrari Fairtex.
Although Ferrari was smooth in the first round, the Portuguese powerhouse stormed out of his corner in the second frame and connected with a jaw-dropping left hook that crumpled the Thai star to the mat. Naturally, that shocking KO instantly thrust Reis into the top-five rankings conversation.
While Reis pumped the brakes on an immediate bid at Nong-O Hama‘s ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title in his post-fight interview, he emphasized that he would love to challenge for the gold in due time.
Both in the ring and on the mic, the “Sensational” winner showed himself to be thoughtful and dangerous. He recognizes there is still work to be done, but he made it clear that a new player has arrived on the bantamweight scene.
Is The Future Already Here At Flyweight?
While flyweight Muay Thai king Rodtang Jitmuangnon chases kickboxing glory at ONE Fight Night 8 on Friday, March 25, the division is heating up in his absence. At ONE Friday Fights 4, three flyweight Muay Thai bouts took place, and the winners of each one proved to be an exciting addition to the stacked weight class.
Chaongoh Jitmuangnon threw hammers with An Bunhour in a 67-second thriller before taking the TKO victory. Later in the evening, Petchmuangsri Tded99 and Duangsompong Jitmuangnon put in an impressive nine minutes of action each before coming away with decision wins over Mongkolkaew Sor.Sommai and Batman Or.Atchariya, respectively.
Every performance brought something unique to the table. All three men are under the age of 25 and are showing they could emerge as the future of the division sooner rather than later.
The Muay Thai talent pool at flyweight is only increasing in depth with each passing day. The aforementioned three victors at ONE Friday Fights 4 are dipping their toes into torrentuous waters, but they appear to be fully capable of swimming with the sharks.
Vera’s Comeback Win Was Inspiring
Francisca Vera decided to stay true to her nickname of “Miss Scarface” in her promotional debut.
Gusjung Fairtex peppered the Chilean with shots throughout the first round and opened up a gash with a brilliant left elbow uppercut. But that never deterred Vera, who rallied in the second stanza with a knee to the body that finished the match at the 1:43 mark of their 112-pound catchweight Muay Thai battle.
The performance was exemplary of what it takes to compete on the global stage. “Miss Scarface” looked adversity in its eye and turned it away with a stunning comeback.
Vera’s exciting debut put her on the map by displaying incredible heart and determination. Her upset victory embodied the ideals of what a martial artist truly is inside the ring.
