3 Bouts That Could Steal The Show At ONE: PURSUIT OF GREATNESS

This Friday, 26 October, the martial arts superstars of ONE Championship will arrive at the Thuwunna Indoor Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar for the organization’s latest blockbuster event.

All eyes will be on the ONE: PURSUIT OF GREATNESS main-event clash, which sees two-division ONE World Champion Aung La “The Burmese Python” N Sang defending his middleweight belt against unbeaten Lebanese challenger Mohammad “O Lutador” Karaki.

While those two dynamic heroes will share the spotlight in the headline attraction, the competitors on the undercard are also set to shine under the bright lights.

Here are three contests that could earn “Bout Of The Night” honors and steal the show.

Keanu Subba VS Phoe Thaw

The featherweight division is one of the most stacked weight classes in the world’s largest martial arts organization, and reigning titleholder Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen is due for a fresh new challenge.

He could possibly find his next challenger in Yangon, as Malaysian sensation Keanu Subba will collide with unbeaten local favorite Phoe “Bushido” Thaw. Both men are bonafide finishers, and they will be relentless in their pursuit of the stoppage.

Subba is a rising star who has developed a well-rounded skill set over the past several years at Monarchy MMA and Bali MMA.

The 24-year-old is known for his formidable grappling, which he has used to unleash his aggressive Brazilian jiu-jitsu and spectacular ground and pound. That has led to six finishes – three by submission and three by TKO.

Furthermore, his underappreciated striking has caused problems for his adversaries in the past, including former World Title challenger Christian “The Warrior” Lee.

In contrast, Phoe Thaw is a highly effective striker with roots in lethwei, aikido, and karate. He has beautifully utilized that blend to stop five of his opponents by first-round knockout. Also, the 33-year-old is always enhancing his grappling during his trips to train in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Both of these athletes will undoubtedly lean on their strengths in what is sure to be a high-energy affair, and whoever walks away with the victory – or better yet, the stoppage victory – will undoubtedly break into the upper echelon of the division.

Ibrahim El Bouni VS Tarik Khbabez

The prospect of ONE Super Series light heavyweight action between Tarik Khbabez and Ibrahim “Mr. Cool” El Bouni is too good to ignore.

There are few sights in martial arts greater than two big men with elite striking skills facing off – or at least for as long as both men can stay standing.

If these Moroccans’ knockout debut performances are anything to go by, then expect to see two men who throw hard for a finish in Yangon. Also, the two athletes’ contrasting styles could make for a fascinating encounter.

Khbabez looked incredible in his destruction of Alain “The Panther” Ngalani. His forward pressure was relentless, but he did not waste a single shot as he unleashed rapid-fire combinations in the Dutch kickboxing style.

That is in perfect contrast to El Bouni, who waited for the onrushing Andre “The Giant” Meunier to strike with counter shots and finish the match in the first round.

Whether this contest is decided by whose style is most successful, or these warriors stand toe-to-toe and engage in the center of the ring, some heavy leather will be thrown. Fans should be on the edge of their seats to see the outcome.

Ye Thway Ne VS Mite Yine

Given that ONE is back in Yangon, it would only be fitting for a hometown hero to steal the show.

Aung La N Sang and Phoe Thaw are the most well-known local athletes on the bill, but don’t sleep on the other warriors from Myanmar. A strawweight battle between lethwei stylists Ye Thway Ne and Mite Yine has the potential to be the night’s most exciting contest.

Both men are two-time Gold Belt Champions with nearly 150 battles between them, so they have proven their heart and tenacity in one of the world’s toughest martial arts time and time again.

The famously passionate local fans could work symbiotically with the athletes to produce a spectacular end result.

As they undoubtedly meet in the middle and exchange, the crowd should lift their performances and give them even more reason to leave every ounce of energy in the cage. The more they commit themselves to battle, the more the fans will spur them on, and so the cycle will continue. 

We may see more technical bouts inside the Thuwunna Indoor Stadium on Friday, but fans should expect to see unrivaled courage, resilience, and warrior spirit in this one.