5 Biggest Reasons To Watch ONE Fight Night 25
ONE Fight Night 25: Nicolas vs. Eersel II on Prime Video brings another thrilling fight card to the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
On Friday, October 4, the global fan base will get to witness a huge World Championship clash, potential top contender bouts, and exciting rising stars all looking to make a big impression.
Every bout has Fight of the Night potential so there will be plenty to enjoy.
Here are the top five reasons to tune in when the action gets underway live in U.S. primetime.
#1 A World Title Rematch
The main event pits Alexis “Barboza” Nicolas and Regian “The Immortal” Eersel together in a rematch for the ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title.
Nicolas shocked the division’s once-dominant king with an early knockdown and fended off a late surge to snatch the belt by decision in a fascinating five-round war in April.
Eersel showed his trademark durability and relentless pressure to make it close, but he still lost his gold and had his 10-fight winning streak snapped.
The second battle brings even more to the table. The unbeaten “Barboza” wants to prove his first victory over “The Immortal” was no fluke. Meanwhile, Eersel’s main goal is to return to the top of the division he had ruled for so long.
This should bring out the hungriest and most determined versions of both men – and that’s an enticing prospect for fight fans.
#2 John Lineker’s Second Muay Thai Fight
On the heels of a knockout win in his Muay Thai debut at ONE 168: Denver, John “Hands of Stone” Lineker returns to “the art of eight limbs” in a bantamweight clash against Alexey Balyko.
The hard-hitting Brazilian stunned the U.S. fans with a dominant stoppage over seasoned striker Asa “The American Ninja” Ten Pow, and he clearly has a taste for throwing hands without the threat of a takedown.
However, Balyko is another tough test who has proven himself in the stand-up ranks.
The Russian has picked up two knockouts in his three ONE wins to date, including a stoppage over three-division Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai World Champion Suakim Sor Jor Tongprajin.
The two explosive sluggers always enter the ring with the intention of getting the job done as emphatically as possible, and if they start swinging toe-to-toe to achieve that end, it will result in an all-out war.
#3 Unbeaten Phenom Johan Estupinan Makes Quick Turnaround
Another winner from the ONE 168 card will return to the fray as Johan “Panda Kick” Estupinan looks to extend his unbeaten record against Zakaria EI Jamari.
Estupinan enters this flyweight Muay Thai clash at 3-0 in ONE and 25-0 overall, having recently finished Sean Climaco in a fast-paced brawl in Denver.
The Colombian could make a huge statement with a fourth straight victory, though it’s been his high-octane and inventive style that has really endeared him to the fans.
El Jamari knows that “Panda Kicks’s” star is rising fast, and he’ll see this as a big chance to steal his opponent’s momentum using his heavy hands.
With crisp boxing and plenty more tools in his arsenal, the Moroccan has the skills to derail Estupinan’s stunning run. But the Colombian will bring his diverse tool kit to Lumpinee Stadium to make sure that doesn’t happen.
#4 The Strawweights Are Coming Out To Play
As the only major organization showcasing the world’s elite strawweights, ONE offers up a batch of incredible battles in the division on October 4.
In MMA, #2-ranked strawweight MMA contender Bokang “Little Giant” Masunyane is set to face #5-ranked Mansur Malachiev, while the #4 Hiroba Minowa meets rising star Sanzhar “Tornado” Zakirov.
Masunyane has promised to go all-out for the finish in order to secure himself the next shot at his division’s gold, but Malachiev will attempt to jump the queue with a victory over the South African standout.
Minowa has consistently faced the best of the best. But after three straight wins in the world’s largest martial arts organization, the 12-0 Zakirov can’t wait to tap into the strawweight upper echelon.
The Muay Thai ranks will see crowd-pleaser Thongpoon PK Saenchai duke it out with the never-ending intensity of Rui Botelho, as both men are eager to show that strawweights can pack serious power.
#5 Top Atomweights Are Ready To Make Some Noise
Fans will also be treated to crucial action in the women’s atomweight divisions.
Ayaka “Zombie” Miura goes up against Jihin “Shadow Cat” Radzuan in a matchup that pits two well-versed grapplers together.
Miura is the epitome of a specialist with a proven track record of implementing her signature move. Her Malaysian rival will have to draw on all of her ground acumen to stay out of trouble and turn the tables on the Japanese star.
In a contrasting battle, Amy Pirnie will face Shir Cohen under Muay Thai rules, with both women eager to build on their explosive starts in ONE.
Pirnie knocked out the surging Yu Yau Pui in her promotional debut, while Israel’s Cohen looks to improve on the 2-0 foundation she has set on the global stage.
