3 Rising Stars To Watch At ONE: BAD BLOOD
ONE: BAD BLOOD will feature everything from established World Champions to dangerous contenders and exciting upstarts with the potential for greatness on the global stage.
And while it’s easy to get blinded by those vying for gold in the main and co-main events, other athletes on the card have the skills and styles to quickly become fan favorites.
With that in mind, we’ve picked out three rising stars who deserve your attention when they compete at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Friday, 11 February.
Lin Heqin
“MMA Sister” Lin Heqin still has the potential to break out in the women’s atomweight mixed martial arts division.
The 28-year-old Chinese athlete entered ONE riding an impressive 10-bout winning streak, with six of those coming via T/KO. She then added to her run with a first-round submission of Jomary “The Zamboanginian Fighter” Torres.
The Hasheng MMA athlete ran into Ritu “The Indian Tigress” Phogat after that, dropping a decision loss to the #4-ranked contender. But even in defeat, Lin showed that she could hang with one of the division’s biggest superstars, who went on to reach the ONE Atomweight World Grand Prix Championship Final in 2021.
At ONE: BAD BLOOD, “MMA Sister” can kick-start another winning streak when her exciting sanda style collides with the potent Muay Thai striking of veteran Bi “Killer Bee” Nguyen. Fans can expect a fascinating tussle, while a victory could earn Lin a matchup against another contender in the bustling atomweight ranks.
Nguyen has already mixed it with the best – even beating Phogat last May – and she’ll present a stern test for “MMA Sister.” If Lin can use her sharp punches and kicks to earn the nod, she’ll be a key name to watch moving forward.
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Danial Williams
“Mini T” Danial Williams will always be remembered for his heroic showing against megastar Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon in the 2021 ONE Super Series Fight of the Year.
The Australian athlete showcased both immense skill and incredible toughness to hang with the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion for three rounds, and his return will come against another high-profile star from “the art of eight limbs.”
At ONE: BAD BLOOD, Williams will face off against Muay Thai icon and former ONE Strawweight World Champion Dejadamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke – but this time, it will be under mixed martial arts rules.
“Mini T” has shown he can duke it out with the biggest of hitters on the feet, and he’ll get a chance to display his all-around game against the veteran campaigner from Evolve MMA.
The 28-year-old Williams is 15 years Dejdamrong’s junior, and he will surely look to push the pace against his rival. He’s shown he can match one of the most relentless athletes in the world, but can Dejdamrong do the same?
Odie Delaney
Promotional newcomer Odie “The Witness” Delaney has an athletic backstory that could make him a force to be reckoned with in ONE’s heavyweight mixed martial arts division.
The 32-year-old American was an NCAA Division 1 All-American wrestler, which puts him among the elite of folkstyle wrestling – a style that’s proven effective in MMA time after time.
So far, Delaney has made a successful switch to the all-encompassing sport with an undefeated record as an amateur and a 2-0 slate as a professional.
On top of that, “The Witness” trains at American Top Team alongside some of the world’s greatest athletes – including BJJ legend and fellow ONE heavyweight Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida – which is sure to accelerate his progression.
Given that heavyweights generally have longer careers than their smaller counterparts, Delaney has plenty of time to make an impact in ONE, starting with his matchup against Thomas “The Last Viking” Narmo next Friday.
However, the hard-hitting Narmo is also on the hunt for his first promotional victory, and he’ll be sure to push “The Witness” all the way.
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