3 Bouts That Could Steal The Show At ONE: DAWN OF VALOR
Fresh off its greatest event in history, ONE Championship will be back on Friday with more high-stakes martial arts action.
Though there will just be one bout card on this occasion, ONE: DAWN OF VALOR still promises to bring a packed evening of entertaining battles – not least because of two incredible World Title match-ups at the top of the bill.
However, do not think that the undercard will not be filled with entertaining contests, as some of the most explosive finishers on the global stage – as well as some exciting new faces – enter the Circle on Friday, 25 October.
These are three bouts, in particular, you will not want to miss in Jakarta, Indonesia.
#1 Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol Vs. Bozhena Antoniyar
The local fans at the Istora Senayan are certain to be in their feet when national hero Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol enters the Circle.
The 31-year-old never fails to bring excitement in her hometown, and whether she strikes with her top-class wushu skills, or goes to the ground with her ever-improving grappling ability, she is always on the hunt for a finish.
At ONE: DAWN OF VALOR, she will face someone who is even more aggressive. Bozhena “Toto” Antoniyar loves nothing better than to throw hands in search of a finish, and so far, that approach has worked well on the global stage.
The Myanmar national boxing champion earned her first two professional wins via knockout – one was the fastest in ONE women’s history – but also proved she can sustain her attack over 15 minutes when she got past Bi Nguyen in August.
#2 John Lineker Vs. Muin Gafurov
ONE Championship snapped up one of the world’s hottest free agents this summer when John “Hands Of Stone” Lineker inked a deal with The Home Of Martial Arts.
Lineker’s nickname comes from his incredible knockout power, and he pursues the finish with all of his energy. The Brazilian’s game plan usually involves charging his opponents down with crushing hooks to the head and body, and it only takes one well-placed strike for him to end the match.
In his promotional debut in Jakarta, he will face the perfect foil for his style, as Muin “Tajik” Gafurov should have no problem standing toe-to-toe to trade blows.
Like Lineker, the 23-year-old from Tajikistan is a fearless, powerful striker with hooks and an overhand right strong enough to meet “Hands Of Stone” head-on. He also has a dynamic kicking game that could offer him more options in the clash of heavy-hitters.
Both men are extremely durable too, and have never been knocked out, but with 22 KOs between them, that may change when they meet on 25 October.
#3 Adrian Mattheis Vs. Stefer Rahardian
There are four all-Indonesian clashes set for ONE: DAWN OF VALOR, and arguably, none have more potential to thrill than this one.
The most compelling reason is the involvement of Adrian ”Papua Badboy” Mattheis. The 26-year-old from Jakarta has improved by leaps and bounds over the past two years to build one of the most impressive résumés in the strawweight division.
He has won seven bouts in that time, and his calling card has been finishes – all but one of his victories have come via stoppage. The ONE Strawweight Indonesia Tournament Champion has also diversified his attack, and he now has as many submissions as he does knockouts, but you can still expect him to throw heavy leather.
However, Stefer “The Lion” Rahardian has all the tools to navigate Mattheis’ most dangerous weapons and momentum to a crashing halt.
The Bali MMA representative does his best work on the ground, so he will likely go all out for the takedown and a quick submission, but he will have to be on his guard to avoid “Papua Badboy’s” thunderous fists on his way in.
Read more: Top 5 Submissions From The Stars Of ONE: DAWN OF VALOR
