5 Burning Questions Ahead Of ONE Fight Night 10: Johnson vs. Moraes III In Colorado
After what feels like a long wait, it’s time to see how the action unfolds at ONE Fight Night 10: Johnson vs. Moraes III on Prime Video.
The anticipation has been rising since ONE Championship announced its U.S. debut back in December, and now, the blockbuster event will finally go down this Friday, May 5.
With high stakes in every matchup, there will be plenty to unpack when all is said and done. Until then, fans can only wonder what might happen on the historic occasion at 1stBank Center in Colorado.
As we gear up for fight night, here are five of the most burning questions.
#1 Is This Demetrious Johnson’s Last Dance?
Demetrious Johnson is one of the greatest mixed martial artists to ever compete, and after an illustrious career that’s seen him reach the highest highs in both the East and West, he’s begun hinting at retirement.
“Mighty Mouse” always said he wanted to set up his family for life when he finished fighting, and ONE has certainly helped him do that.
The American legend will now resolve his biggest career rivalry against Adriano Moraes on May 5, and whichever way their match goes, he might decide to hang up the gloves.
A win would see him cement his legacy as the greatest flyweight of all time, but would the 36-year-old step away with more gas left in the tank?
While very few fighters leave at the top, Johnson is a cerebral man who will be thinking long-term. There’s every chance he could resist the urge to compete again – even if he is victorious.
#2 Can 2 Unstoppable World Champions Be Dethroned?
Rodtang Jitmuangnon and Mikey Musumeci might compete at opposites end of the martial arts spectrum, but they’ve both been unstoppable in ONE Championship.
Longtime ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang is 13-0 under ONE’s kickboxing and Muay Thai rules, with five World Title wins.
The Thai striking superstar will next defend his crown against tough Mexican Edgar Tabares, who will be looking to faze the seemingly unstoppable king.
Meanwhile, Musumeci has had fewer matchups in the organization, but the reigning ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Champion has been just as dominant.
At 3-0 and with two World Title wins, “Darth Rigatoni” has not even been threatened yet in his brief ONE tenure.
The American will face a tough test this time in BJJ rising star Osamah Almarwai as he aims to retain his belt on home soil.
#3 Can Stamp Or Anderson Earn A World Title Shot?
Stamp Fairtex and Alyse Anderson will face off in a crucial atomweight MMA battle with major implications for the division’s World Title picture.
As the #1-ranked contender, Stamp came close in her first shot at Angela Lee‘s ONE Women’s Atomweight World Title. However, the striking specialist was ultimately submitted in that contest.
The Thai has worked diligently since then to continue leveling up her overall MMA game, but Anderson thinks she can exploit her foe on the ground.
Although she’s currently unranked, the American upstart would make a massive statement if she could submit Stamp – although any victory would make her case for the next World Title challenge.
#4 How Will Sage Northcutt Look In His Big Return?
Returning from a KO defeat is never easy, but adding a four-year-layoff and a potentially career-ending battle with COVID-19 into the mix has made Sage Northcutt’s challenge even greater.
The American has seemingly been tipped for greatness since his teen years, and at 27, he’s still got plenty of time left. Still, this is a high-pressure moment for him to step back into the Circle in front of a home crowd.
While Northcutt has been on the sidelines, opponent Ahmed Mujtaba has earned back-to-back finishes, showcasing both his KO power and submission skills.
Now training at the famous American Kickboxing Academy, “Wolverine” is more confident than ever and believes he can take out the home favorite on Friday.
The Pakistani destroyer has all the momentum for this lightweight MMA clash, while Northcutt brings the name value and eyeballs. Will “Super” Sage avoid ring rust, or can Mujtaba prove he belongs among the elite?
#5 Will De Ridder’s Size Be Too Much For Ruotolo?
Tye Ruotolo’s grappling accolades show that he’s undoubtedly one of the best in the world, but weight classes exist for a reason.
The fearless BJJ phenom – who has competed at lightweight and a 179-pound catchweight so far in ONE – will move up to middleweight to face Reinier de Ridder in a submission grappling contest.
De Ridder owns the middleweight MMA gold and previously held the light heavyweight crown, so he’s clearly the bigger man. Plus, he’s a high-level submission specialist with black belts in both BJJ and judo.
Still, Ruotolo is no stranger to taking on the big guns, as the American won bronze in the absolute division of the 2022 ADCC World Championships.
Combat sports are littered with David vs. Goliath tales, and this could be one of them – but not if “The Dutch Knight” has his way.
