3 Bouts That Could Steal The Show At ONE: DAWN OF HEROES

ONE: DAWN OF HEROES‘ main card is stacked with high-stakes match-ups featuring some of the most exciting martial artists on the planet.

At the top of the bill next Friday, 2 August, knockout artist Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen will make his third ONE Featherweight World Title defense against his toughest challenger to date – Koyomi “Moushigo” Matsushima.

Before that, arguably the most two most exciting young martial artists in the world will go to battle as Rodtang “Iron Man” Jitmuangnon challenges Jonathan “The General” Haggerty for the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Championship.

Those incredible contests will have a tough act to follow because of the three World Grand Prix encounters before them – Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez vs. Eduard “Landslide” Folayang at lightweight, as well asDemetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson vs.Tatsumitsu “The Sweeper” Wada, and Danny “The King” Kingad vs. Reece “Lightning” McLaren at flyweight.

However, the bout of the night may have already taken place before this cavalcade of brilliant match-ups. These are three battles that could steal the show when the Home Of Martial Arts returns to The Mall Of Asia Arena.

Rodlek PK.Saenchaimuaythaigym Vs. Andrew Miller

There is only a single ONE Super Series contest on the undercard, but what a match it promises to be.

Rodlek PK.Saenchaimuaythaigym made sure no fan would forget his name in a hurry when he made a stunning debut in The Home Of Martial Arts against eight-time Muay Thai World Champion Liam “Hitman” Harrison last month.

The Thai superstar showed incredible toughness to absorb the Englishman’s power strikes and return fire with his own vigorous blows to score a knockdown on his way to a unanimous decision.

His opponent in this bantamweight bout is another man who thrives in wars of attrition, so he should be able to take Rodlek’s best shots and put him under pressure.

Andrew “Maddog Fairtex” Miller is also taller than his rival, which gives him a couple of avenues to trouble the Channel 7 Muay Thai World Champion.

The Scotsman thrives in the clinch, but his extra reach could also help him to unleash punches and kicks from range, where he can pick his rival off catch him as he comes forward. 

Geje Eustaquio Vs. Yuya Wakamatsu

There is arguably no more exciting mixed martial arts division on the global stage than flyweight, and there is another tantalizing contest between top-class contenders on the prelims to go along with the World Grand Prix match-ups on the main card.

It is always a treat to see Yuya ”Little Piranha” Wakamatsu compete. The 24-year-old from Tribe Tokyo MMA comes into the Circle to stop his opponents, and his iron firsts are as dangerous in the dying seconds as they are in the first minute of a match.

Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio should be the perfect foil for him. He is not afraid to exchange blows with anyone – whether they are seasoned strikers like Saiful Merican or grapplers like Kairat Akhmetov who are intent on taking him down.

The former ONE Flyweight World Champion is a constant moving target and a skilled counterstriker with the ability to execute a game plan to get a decision after 15 minutes – as he showed when faced with a much taller rival in his last outing – and the power to score a one-shot KO.

Whatever his approach, the Team Lakay representative will have a tough job to stay out of danger and stop his Japanese rival from capturing his 10th career knockout.

Pongsiri Mitsatit Vs. Miao Li Tao

Both Thailand’s Pongsiri “The Smiling Assassin” Mitsatit and Miao Li Tao have made no secret of their strategies for this one.

Mitsatit is intent on figuring out his opponent in the first round, and then unleashing his knees in search of a knockout from the second stanza, onward.

His Chinese rival believes the Thai is vulnerable on the ground, so he plans to defend on the feet, and then go for the takedown to get a quick finish.

Both men have 100-percent finishing ratios on the global stage for martial arts, and it does not seem like that will change after this battle of young strawweight rising stars, so expect to stay on the edge of your seat for as long as this encounter lasts.

Manila | 2 August | 7PM | DAWN OF HEROES | TV: Check local listings for global broadcast | Tickets: http://bit.ly/oneheroes19