3 Bouts That Could Steal The Show At ONE: FOR HONOR

There will be no shortage of action-packed bouts when ONE Championship returns to Jakarta, Indonesia next Friday, 3 May.

Above everything else, the electric ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title match between Sam-A Gaiyanghadao and Jonathan “The General” Haggerty should spark fireworks in the main event.

Beyond that, more than a dozen other bouts are set to stun the Istora Senayan. Ahead of what is sure to be a banner night of martial arts excellence, the onefc.com editorial team has taken a deep dive down the bout card to select three more match-ups that should have fans on the edge of their seats.

Fans will not want to miss these appetizing encounters.

Yushin Okami VS Kiamrian Abbasov

Few mixed martial arts stars from Japan can boast skill sets or professional records as accomplished as Yushin “Thunder” Okami’s, and he will finally make his ONE debut on 3 May.

The 37-year-old from Kanagawa is powerful, well-rounded, and has shown he has the warrior spirit to go into deep waters and mix things up with some of the best athletes in the world throughout more than 15 years as a professional.

However, he will not be able to rely on past glories when he faces a young, hungry opponent at the Istora Senayan.

Kiamrian Abbasov put on a stunning performance in his last match as he struck hard and fast on the feet, and then submitted Agilan “Alligator” Thani in the first round in his hometown of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

That win made the 25-year-old’s division sit up and take notice. Thani is a former ONE Welterweight World Title challenger, and no one had ever run over him like that – not even reigning World Champion Zebaztian “The Bandit” Kadestam.

The Kyrgyz warrior says he will chase another quick finish to make his case to challenge for the belt, so Okami will need to be on top form to fight fire with fire and turn the tables on his opponent.

Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol VS Nou Srey Pov

Indonesia’s Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol’s meeting with Cambodia’s Nou Srey Pov has the potential to deliver unmissable striking action in the women’s atomweight division.

Just a look at these two heroes’ credentials is enough to get fans’ mouths watering. Lumban Gaol is a two-time Wushu World Championship medalist and Nou is a Kun Khmer World Champion. So far in The Home Of Martial Arts, both warriors have lived up to their billing – and not just in the stand-up realm.

“Thathie” earned five victories in 2018 by every method possible – knockout, submission, and dominant decision. The Indonesian can control a match with her grappling or unleash her kicks to raise the intensity.

She is also never better than when she is backed by her home Jakarta crowd, which will support her on 3 May.

Though Nou only has one mixed martial arts bout under her belt, she showed similarly impressive ability in her debut against Rika Ishige. When she was not bombarding the Thai athlete in striking exchanges, she was putting in work on the mat.

That match also showed she will not be overawed when she steps onto her opponent’s home turf next Friday.

Keanu Subba VS Ryogo Takahashi

Malaysian star Keanu Subba will welcome Japan’s Ryogo Takahashi to the world’s largest martial arts organization on 3 May, and victory in this featherweight tilt could push one man toward top contention in the competitive division.

Subba enters the clash with back-to-back submission victories, while Takahashi debuts inside the ONE Circle riding a six-bout win streak and with seven career knockouts to his credit.

The Monarchy MMA representative is recognized for his ground offensive, but some of his most exciting battles to date have been where he has had an opponent willing to engage in the stand-up.

He will have the height and reach advantage in Jakarta, and he works well with longer tools like his jab and high kicks, but the 24-year-old is also confident in closing the distance to throw hooks.

His Japanese rival has bout-ending power with punches, kicks, and knees, but he also has a history of chopping down opponents with low kicks to accumulate damage, before he swarms on his rivals in the later stages.

If Subba remains true to his words, then there will be an intriguing clash of stand-up styles on offer. The taller, trickier Malaysian will need to call on all of his tools to fend off and damage the compact, explosive Takahashi in a bout where one perfectly-timed strike could end the action in an instant.