5 Burning Questions Ahead Of ONE 168: Denver
ONE Championship’s much-anticipated return to American soil is rapidly approaching, and fans around the globe are gearing up for an explosive night of world-class martial arts action.
Stacked from top to bottom with high-stakes matchups, ONE 168: Denver will broadcast live in U.S. primetime from Colorado’s Ball Arena on Friday, September 6.
Before the fighters take to the Circle and the action gets underway in “The Mile High City,” we dive into five key questions that will be answered at ONE 168.
#1 Can Jonathan Haggerty Get His Redemption Against Superlek?
In the main event, two-sport ONE World Champion Jonathan “The General” Haggerty will put his bantamweight Muay Thai gold on the line against flyweight kickboxing kingpin Superlek “The Kicking Machine” Kiatmoo9, in a clash between two of the greatest pound-for-pound strikers on the planet.
Notably, this won’t be the first time the two have faced off. Back in 2018, the Thai superstar ventured into enemy territory and scored a stoppage victory due to cuts over the Brit in his backyard.
Since then, both men have captured World Titles in ONE and established themselves as global superstars. But Haggerty hasn’t forgotten his loss to “The Kicking Machine” and is undoubtedly hungry to earn redemption.
“The General” wants to prove he’s the most dangerous striker in the world’s largest martial arts organization and leave Denver with his 26 pounds of gold.
Meanwhile, Superlek is looking to extend his incredible 12-bout winning streak, and the Thai is confident he can secure a second victory over Haggerty to become the latest two-division, two-sport World Champion.
#2 How Will John Lineker’s Style Translate To Muay Thai?
Elsewhere on the card, world-renowned knockout artist John “Hands of Stone” Lineker will bring his all-action, brawling style of combat to the sport of Muay Thai, as he’s set to square off with Asa “The American Ninja” Ten Pow.
A former ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion who is widely recognized as one of the hardest punchers to ever compete in MMA, Lineker seems to have a style that is tailor-made for Muay Thai, but he has yet to test himself in a striking-only contest.
For his part, Ten Pow has emerged as an elite Muay Thai fighter. With back-to-back knockout wins in his most recent outings, the Floridian certainly has the skill and technique to give Lineker problems.
However, the Brazilian’s show-stopping power has consistently proven to be the equalizer, and it could lead “Hands of Stone” to another smashing victory.
#3 Could Two MMA Stars Earn World Title Shots?
The event will also feature a pair of pivotal MMA clashes that could produce future World Title challengers.
First, surging finisher Hiroyuki “Japanese Beast” Tetsuka will battle Isi “Doxz” Fitikefu in a welterweight MMA tilt that is guaranteed to produce fireworks.
Tetsuka has won five in a row – all by stoppage – to stake his claim as the next man up to challenge reigning titleholder Christian “The Warrior” Lee. He knows that victory over the Australian-Tongan berserker would likely seal the deal on his World Title opportunity. But Fitikefu, with his crushing strength and explosive striking, has all the tools needed to put an end to his foe’s streak and jump to the front of the line.
After that, former two-division ONE MMA World Champion Aung La “The Burmese Python” N Sang wants to prove he still has plenty left in the tank when he takes on undefeated Turkish powerhouse Shamil Erdogan.
A veteran of 19 thrilling fights in the world’s largest martial arts organization, “The Burmese Python” has aged like fine wine. He will come into the bout riding a three-fight winning streak that has him very close to earning another crack at middleweight MMA gold, currently held by three-division king Anatoly “Sladkiy” Malykhin.
Erdogan, though, is a tough customer. The 34-year-old is a decorated wrestler who has displayed an ever-evolving striking game throughout his pristine MMA career.
Simply put, a win for either man could land a date with the Russian juggernaut.
#4 How Will Alyse Anderson Bounce Back After Health Scares?
ONE 168 will see the return of American standout Alyse “Lil’ Savage” Anderson, who will collide with Brazil’s Victoria “Vick” Souza in an atomweight MMA clash.
For Anderson, simply stepping foot inside the Circle is a victory in and of itself. Since her last fight, the Michigan native has been through the wringer, first with a personal health scare that forced her on the sidelines for months and nearly ended her MMA career.
After fully recovering, Anderson’s father was then diagnosed with stage four cancer, and his fight continues to this day.
Given her struggles over the past year, “Lil’ Savage” will be fighting with a heavy heart on September 6, but it could motivate her to enter “gangsta mode” and put on the performance of a lifetime.
#5 Who Can Stay Unbeaten?
Several undefeated athletes will aim to keep their unblemished records intact at ONE 168. In addition to the aforementioned Erdogan, Johan “Panda Kick” Estupinan, Adrian “The Phenom” Lee, Nico “The Steel City Kid” Cornejo, and Samat Mamedov will all put their flawless professional records on the line.
Colombian star Estupinan will open the card with his high-flying and unorthodox style of striking when he faces Road to ONE winner Sean “The One” Climaco in a flyweight Muay Thai contest.
After that, Lee – younger brother to reigning two-division ONE MMA World Champion Christian Lee and former atomweight MMA queen “Unstoppable” Angela Lee – hopes to move to 2-0 as a pro, but he’s in for a serious challenge against unbeaten Colorado native Cornejo.
A win for either rising star in this MMA showdown on the global stage would be absolutely massive.
Finally, lightweight MMA contender Mamedov could improve his record to 11-0 if he can get past Swiss scrapper Maurice Abevi.
While Mamedov will be making his promotional debut, he’s done plenty outside of ONE to cement himself as a talent to watch, having employed his ruthless finishing instincts to rack up nine first-round stoppages on the cutthroat Eastern European regional MMA scene.
