3 Reasons You Absolutely Cannot Miss ONE: HEROES OF HONOR

On Friday, 20 April, ONE Championship returns to the Mall Of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines, with a historic card full of thrilling contests.

The promotion’s forthcoming spectacle ONE: HEROES OF HONOR will feature seven action packed mixed martial arts bouts, in addition to four historic ONE Super Series match-ups featuring superstar world champion strikers. 

What’s more, each of these world-class contests will take place for the first time ever in a ONE Championship ring. It truly is a historic night of firsts for the world’s largest martial arts organization.

Here are three huge reasons why you simply must not miss ONE: HEROES OF HONOR.

#1 A Main Event With World Title Implications

The main event will see two of the world’s very best bantamweights go head-to-head, with the winner potentially finding themselves next in line for a shot at all-conquering ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes.

Both Team Lakay’s Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon and Bali MMA’s Andrew Leone have unfinished business with reigning titleholder Fernandes, as each has previously fallen to the Brazilian. But now, the pair stand one win away from a potential return to world title contention.

Since losing to “The Flash” in January 2016, Belingon has been on a thunderous four-bout win streak, including first-round knockout victories over former world title challengers Toni “Dynamite” Tauru and Reece “Lightning” McLaren. A victory over Leone could give him the final push he needs to challenge for the belt once again.

However, if the Bali MMA co-founder can spoil Belingon’s homecoming in the Mall Of Asia Arena in decisive fashion, he would undoubtedly place himself firmly at front of the line.

#2 The Debut Of The ONE Super Series

After months of anticipation, the world’s greatest strikers will finally converge in Asia, as ONE Super Series gets underway in Manila.

A celebration of the world’s very best kickboxers and Muay Thai warriors, ONE Super Series will feature world champion superstar strikers from around the globe, and is almost guaranteed to thrill the masses. 

After all, the bouts will be contested at a shorter length of three 3-minute rounds, meaning the athletes do not need to hold back and conserve stamina, and can gun for a knockout from the opening bell.

In a pair of kickboxing contests, pound-for-pound kickboxing superstar and world champion Giorgio “The Doctor” Petrosyan will take on two-division Lion Fight World Champion “Smokin” Joe Nattawut in the co-main event, while WKBF Middleweight World Champion Brad “Quake” Riddell is set to face off against Lion Fight Super Middleweight World Champion Regian “The Immortal” Eersel.

Also, there will be a pair of Super Series Muay Thai bouts of monumental proportions. Multiple-time Lumpinee and Rajadamnern Stadium World Champion Nong-O Gaiyanghadao clashes with WBC and Rajadamnern Muay Thai World Champion Fabio Pinca, and one of the greatest Muay Thai World Champions Brazil has ever produced, Cosmo Alexandre, draws Australian Caged Muay Thai World Champion Elliot Compton.

#3 Former ONE Featherweight World Champions Return

The show will also see the return of two former ONE Featherweight World Champions, as they battle to reclaim world title gold. 

Filipino star and former ONE Featherweight World Champion Honorio “The Rock” Banario will face well-respected Australian bruiser Adrian “The Hunter” Pang, in what looks set to be an enticing battle at lightweight.

In addition to that, former ONE Featherweight World Champion Marat “Cobra” Gafurov makes his return in his first mixed martial arts contest since losing the belt to Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen last August.

The Dagestani grappling ace meets surging American contender Emilio “The Honey Badger” Urrutia, whose most recent outing saw him claim a first-round knockout over BJJ world champion Bruno Pucci.