4 Superstars On The Verge Of A Breakout In Malaysia
A handful of ONE superstars are in the biggest bouts of their careers this Friday in Malaysia.
ONE Championship will make its return to Kuala Lumpur on 9 March for ONE: VISIONS OF VICTORY, where a stacked card of match-ups is set to light up the Axiata Arena.
The main event will feature a battle between two elite flyweight contenders as Australia’s Reece “Lightning” McLaren and Malaysian hero Gianni Subba go head-to-head in a ONE Flyweight World Title eliminator.
Before those warriors step into the cage, however, there are some in particular who will look to grow their respective reputations on the global stage for martial arts, and break through to the next stage of their careers.
Christian “The Warrior” Lee
Labelling Christian Lee as being only on the verge of a breakout performance may seem strange, given how familiar he is to fans, but the fact he is still only 19 years old goes to show he has barely scratched the surface in what promises to be a long and fruitful career.
The Singaporean featherweight already has a hugely impressive 8-1 record to his name, and is heading into ONE: VISIONS OF VICTORY on a three-bout win streak thanks to stoppages of “The Werewolf” Wan Jian Ping, Keanu Subba, and former ONE Lightweight World Champion Kotetsu “No Face” Boku.
Lee faces more Japanese opposition in the form of two-division DEEP Champion Kazunori Yokota in Kuala Lumpur, and another eye-catching finish would see him break the record for the most stoppage wins in ONE history. Also, it would see him catapulted to the upper echelons of the featherweight division.
Ahmed “The Wolverine” Mujtaba
ONE is committed to showcasing the best martial arts talent from across the continent, and Ahmed “The Wolverine” Mujtaba is representing his home nation with pride.
The Pakistani has a dazzling record of 9-1, and has been broadening his ever-growing skill set by training in Brazil at Renato Velame’s Fight House. Lined up to face “Cannon” Ma Jia Wen in Kuala Lumpur, he hopes to showcase his newfound skills against a tough opponent.
Known for his aggressive, come-forward approach, Mujtaba’s exciting style could see the 25-year-old solidify his status as Pakistan’s best martial arts talent if he can build upon his impressive start to life inside the cage.
“Cannon” Ma Jia Wen
Ma Jia Wen is one of a growing group of elite Chinese wrestlers who have turned their attention to the cage, and are seeking success as they bid to follow in the footsteps of their compatriot, Xiong Jing Nan.
“Cannon,” as he is called, is riding a two-bout win streak, and he looks to extend that to three by defeating Mujtaba in their catch weight contest. Also, victory would be sweeter if he could avenge his friend and training partner Li Kai Wen, who lost to the Pakistani via disqualification last November.
If he is successful, the 21-year-old Tianjin, China native will no doubt increase his stock, and keep his country’s strong year of showings intact.
“Jungle Cat” Muhammad Aiman
One man sure to get a huge ovation in Kuala Lumpur is local hero Muhammad Aiman, who returns to action against Cambodia’s Rin Saroth on home soil.
In November, the bantamweight picked up an impressive victory on short notice when he defeated China’s Yang Fei in a three-round decision. But now, the 23-year-old is looking to score a signature win after a full training camp, as he bids to make a name for himself in the bantamweight division following a move up from flyweight.
“Jungle Cat” says he will be a stronger and better athlete at bantamweight, and he cannot wait to showcase his skills in front of his fellow countrymen on Friday, 9 March.
