4 Outstanding Performances From The Stars Of ONE: BEYOND THE HORIZON

ONE Championship’s highly anticipated return to Shanghai, China is just around the corner.

The world’s largest martial arts organization will take over the Baoshan Arena on Saturday, 8 September, for ONE: BEYOND THE HORIZON.

In the main event, ONE Women’s Strawweight World Champion “The Panda” Xiong Jing Nan (15-1) will defend her belt against fearsome Brazilian challenger Samara Santos (12-5-1).

The headline attraction will be supported by a stacked card featuring mixed martial arts, kickboxing, and Muay Thai contests.

Whether it is knockouts, submissions, or strategic battles that go all the way to the final bell, fans are in store for a night of incredible action.

As event night draws near, relive four of the most impressive performances from the stars competing at ONE: BEYOND THE HORIZON.

Xiong Jing Nan’s Dominant Showing

In June, “The Panda” Xiong Jing Nan defended the ONE Women’s Strawweight World Title for the very first time.

She faced Argentinian challenger Laura “La Gladiadora” Balin in the co-main event of ONE: PINNACLE OF POWER in Macau, and displayed her dominance.

Entering this bout, the Chinese superstar had developed a reputation as a dangerous finisher who had ended most of her contests with her ferocious fists.

However, in this particular outing, she faced a durable adversary who refused to stay down.

Xiong had to adjust to ensure she could maintain her offense across 25 long minutes. She battered “La Gladiadora” with punches and smothered her on the ground to earn a unanimous decision.

This victory showed “The Panda” has the cardio, durability, and the heart to go five hard rounds when a challenger refuses to buckle.

Amir Khan Goes The Distance

Singapore’s Amir Khan (10-3) currently holds the record for most knockout victories in ONE Championship history, with eight stoppages via strikes.

However, even for a knockout artist as prolific as the Singaporean Muay Thai Champion, the finish is not always possible. Sometimes, an athlete needs to dig deep and compete to the final bell when faced with a battle-tested veteran.

In November 2017, at ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT, Khan showed the world that he is capable of doing just that when he faced Adrian “The Hunter” Pang.

The Evolve athlete had to utilize the full breadth of his arsenal to out-point the Australian warrior. He kept his nerve to connect with an assortment of punches and kicks when faced with return fire, all while keeping himself away from danger.

It was a technical performance from the young lion, who earned the first decision win of his career. The match also took the runner-up slot in ONE’s list of the best bouts of 2017.

He will look to put on another masterful showing against Honorio “The Rock” Banario (13-6) in Shanghai.

Christian Lee Wins A Thriller In Malaysia

If Christian “The Warrior” Lee (9-2) has proved one thing, it is his ability to finish.

All of the former ONE Featherweight World Title challenger’s victories have come by way of knockout or submission, including a dazzling win at ONE: QUEST FOR GREATNESS in August 2017. In fact, he is tied for the most finishes in ONE history. 

Lee met local hero Keanu Subba in his rival’s hometown of Kuala Lumpur, and the pair gave the crowd inside the Stadium Negara one of the best bouts of 2017.

In the opening stanza, the Malaysian started to out-strike Lee on the feet, which prompted the Singaporean to turn to his grappling in the second frame. On the mat, he wore down his rival with top pressure, ground strikes, and submission attempts.

After coming close to submitting his foe in the second round, Lee threatened with a triangle choke early in the third. Just when it looked like he might get the tap, he quickly switched positions, and attacked with an armbar instead. This time, Subba had no choice but to tap out.

“The Warrior” will attempt to win and keep his 100 percent finishing rate intact when he battles Edward “The Ferocious” Kelly at ONE: BEYOND THE HORIZON.

Tukkatatong Petpayathai’s Impressive Debut

Two-time Muay Thai World Champion Tukkatatong Petpayathai (241-33-2) is one of the most experienced stand-up practitioners in ONE Super Series.

In June, at ONE: SPIRIT OF A WARRIOR, the Singapore-based Thai showcased his valuable experience against France’s Mehdi Zatout.

The Frenchman found some real success with his boxing, but Tukkatatong stuck to his game plan, as he held his aggressive foe back with a steady stream of kicks to the head, body, and legs.

By the time the final round arrived, the success of his game plan was evident. Zatout’s mobility had been greatly diminished, which provided the Evolve representative with the opportunity to finish strongly with his boxing.

Though it was a competitive contest, the judges scored this one in favor of the two-time Muay Thai World Champion.

It was a marvelous display of veteran poise, and one he will look to replicate when he battles Lion Fight World Champion Ognjen Topic (32-20-2) at ONE: BEYOND THE HORIZON.

Shanghai | 8 September | LIVE and FREE on the ONE Super App: http://bit.ly/ONESuperApp | TV: Check local listings for global broadcast