3 Bouts That Could Steal The Show At ONE: IMMORTAL TRIUMPH
Fans of Muay Thai and kickboxing are in for a treat when ONE Championship travels to Ho Chi Minh City for the first time on Friday, 6 September.
ONE: IMMORTAL TRIUMPH will be groundbreaking because it will be the first time in the history of The Home Of Martial Arts to feature nothing but ONE Super Series bouts – which means an evening of stand-up action.
Any martial arts fan who has seen Nong-O Gaiyanghadao compete will be sure to catch the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion’s second defense of his belt against Brice “The Truck” Delval, but there is much more to look forward to besides that main event match-up.
The onefc.com editorial team has taken a deep dive into the undercard to select three more bouts that stand out among more than a dozen top-class contests at the Phu Tho Indoor Stadium.
Beybulat Isaev Vs. Anderson Silva
Most of the match-ups at ONE: IMMORTAL TRIUMPH promise fast-paced battles between athletes who weigh in on the lower end of the scales, but there is one that will match two kickboxing giants.
Raw power will be the name of the game when Brazil’s Anderson “Braddock” Silva squares off against Russia’s Beybulat Isaev in a light heavyweight contest on the main card.
These men can move, too, but keen-eyed fans will have already identified this as a contest that is most likely to see a pair of kickboxers sit down on their punches and go for the knockout.
Both athletes will enter the ring with a combined weight of more than 200 kilograms, and the 4-ounce gloves they will wear should only increase the likelihood of a highlight-reel finish.
Kulabdam Sor. Jor. Piek Uthai Vs. Bobo Sacko
The skills of “Left Meteorite” Kulabdam Sor. Jor. Piek Uthai and Bobo “The Panther” Sacko should make for a mouthwatering clash of styles in their bantamweight Muay Thai match.
Kulabdam is one of the fiercest punchers in “the art of eight limbs,” and he blasted his way through the Bangkok stadium circuit with his relentless forward pressure and knockout power.
In contrast, Sacko is a rangy and dynamic striker who has lightning-fast speed and a variety of tools in all ranges that could help him to overcome his rival’s concussive fists.
“Left Meteorite” likes to close the distance and land his crunching straight left, but he will give up a 16-centimeter height advantage, which means he will have to have to navigate the Frenchman’s rapid high kicks and stabbing push kicks.
On the inside, it will be anyone’s game, as “The Panther” has a dangerous elbow game that could counter his rival’s devastating power at close range.
This should be a non-stop war of attrition for as long as it lasts.
Bi Nguyen Vs. Puja Tomar
An extra level of intrigue will be brought to a Muay Thai match-up when two of The Home Of Martial Arts’ talented women’s atomweight mixed martial artists switch sports to clash on this all-ONE Super Series card.
However, that does not mean you should expect a lower standard of action from Bi “Killer Bee” Nguyen and Puja “The Cyclone” Tomar because both began their careers in striking disciplines.
Nguyen began her martial arts journey in “the art of eight limbs” and went on to become a US National Muay Thai Champion with a record of 12-3. She was also born in Vietnam, so should have the full support of the crowd in the Phu Tho Indoor Stadium behind her.
Tomar is new to Muay Thai, but her 67-5 wushu record and history as a national champion proves she has the kicking game to cause problems in a stand-up battle.
However, her knee and elbow strikes – as well as her defensive skills – will only be put to the test when the first bell rings.
