4 Reasons Why You Can't Miss ONE: BATTLE FOR THE HEAVENS

The heroes of ONE Championship are ready to battle in China this weekend.

On Saturday, 7 July, 20 of the world’s best martial artists will descend upon the Guangzhou Tianhe Gymnasium for the promotion’s latest spectacle, ONE: BATTLE FOR THE HEAVENS.

The 10-bout card will feature a historic contest, as well as a slew of Muay Thai, kickboxing, and mixed martial arts match-ups.

There is always a multitude of reasons to watch a ONE event, but forced to choose just a handful, these are four of the most compelling reasons to catch ONE: BATTLE FOR THE HEAVENS live.

#1 A Historic World Title Match

For the first time ever, two women will compete in ONE Super Series, and gold will be on the line.

In the evening’s headlining attraction, Yodcherry Sityodtong will challenge Kai Ting “Killer Bee” Chuang for the inaugural ONE Super Series Kickboxing Atomweight World Championship.

This pairing promises to bring fireworks to the arena.

Yodcherry, who is only 19 years old, sports a mesmerizing 81-18-1 professional record. A product of Thailand’s famed Sityodtong camp, she has captured multiple Muay Thai World Championships.

Before jumping into action in ONE, she cleaned out her division, competed successfully against heavier opponents, and even took on 30 male athletes – defeating all but one of them.

Now training out of Evolve MMA in Singapore, Yodcherry looks to make history as the first female World Champion in ONE Super Series.

In order to do that, she will need to beat Chuang.

“Killer Bee” has an impressive 16-5 professional record, and although she does not have the experience of her younger rival, she is also accomplished.

The 23-year-old is a three-time WAKO Kickboxing Champion, and she has defeated a World Champion before – multiple-time Muay Thai World Champion Ayaka “Little Tiger” Miyauchi.

It is shaping up to be an amazing showdown between two young, talented women, and this bout will undoubtedly set the standard for women’s kickboxing in ONE Super Series, and across the world.

#2 Top Flyweight Contenders Collide

Two of the world’s top flyweights will collide in the ONE ring, as Australia’s Reece “Lightning” McLaren is set to clash with Japan’s Tatsumitsu “The Sweeper” Wada.

The winner of this epic clash could be next in line for a World Title opportunity.

Just a few weeks ago, interim titleholder Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio defeated reigning World Champion Adriano Moraes to become the undisputed ONE Flyweight World Champion, and the victor of this upcoming contest in Guangzhou is likely to be his first challenger.

McLaren, a BJJ black belt, and former ONE Bantamweight World Title challenger, impressed in his first two outings since dropping down a weight class. He submitted Anatpong Bunrad in November, and then tapped out Gianni Subba in March.

In Wada, he faces his stiffest test yet in his new division.

The Tokyo native is a DEEP Flyweight Champion, and a well-rounded competitor who has more wins than “Lightning” has had mixed martial arts bouts. If he defeats the Aussie in his promotional debut, he will record his 20th career victory.

Both men have nine wins by stoppage so far in their careers, and you can expect they will be going for double figures to overcome an opponent that is likely to bring the best out of them.

#3 A Showcase Of China’s Best Talent

As always, ONE highlights the best homegrown martial arts talent, and the promotion’s second show in Guangzhou is certainly no exception.

Zhao Zhi Kang is set to take on his fellow countryman and fellow debutant Ma Xu Dong. The Chinese Sanda Champion already has one first-round submission victory under his belt in ONE, but he will have to have another impressive outing to overcome the once-beaten Ma.

Peng Xue Wen, a China Wrestling Silver Medalist, will step out under the lights of the biggest stage in martial arts again for a fascinating clash of styles against two-time SEA Games Boxing bronze medalist Eddey “The Clown” Kalai 

Also, the event marks the debut of Fu Chang Xin. The resident of Harbin is a CKF Champion who blends boxing, taekwondo, and wrestling – a mixture that has produced a plethora of highlight-reel finishes. He meets Kazakhstan’s Rustem Yensebayev on Saturday night.

#4 Exciting Debuts From International Superstars

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A post shared by Shuya Kamikubo (@shuya0412kamikubo)

Not only will some local Chinese talent make their first appearances in the promotion, some of the most respected international superstars from martial arts will also make their ONE debuts.

In addition to Yodcherry, Chuang, and Wada, ONE: BATTLE FOR THE HEAVENS marks the debut of Shuya “Stealth” Kamikubo.

Kamikubo, who hails from Kawasaki, Japan, is the 2014 DEEP Future King Tournament Champion. The 25-year-old is first and foremost a grappler, but he does have stopping power in his hands, as he has shown in a pair of knockout victories. He will face Indonesian hero “The Terminator” Sunoto in a bantamweight match-up.

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A post shared by Deividas Danyla l Muay Thai (@deividas.danyla)

There will also be four more fresh faces in two ONE Super Series bouts.

In a bantamweight Muay Thai showdown, MTGP Welterweight World Champion Saemapetch Fairtex makes his highly anticipated debut against IMC Muay Thai World Champion Deividas “The Savage Sitsongpeenong” Danyla.

Towering heavyweights round out a thrilling night of debuts, as Andre “The Giant” Meunier and Ibrahim “Mr. Cool” El Bouni are set to do battle in a kickboxing affair, which will be contested at 105 kilograms.

Both men are decorated martial artists, as Meunier is a four-time Kickboxing World Champion and El Bouni is an A1WCC Kickboxing World Champion. They also hit hard, meaning it will be no surprise if this bout ends in a knockout.