5 Burning Questions Ahead Of ONE Fight Night 15 On Prime Video
ONE Fight Night 15: Le vs. Freymanov on Prime Video is just days away, and there’s no shortage of intriguing battles on the card.
With two World Titles up for grabs and a slew of top contenders set for action in North American primetime this Friday, October 6, there could be significant changes at the top of several divisions.
There isn’t long left to see how things play out. Before they do, here are five burning questions that will be answered at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
#1 Will Le Or Freymanov Score A Highlight-Reel Knockout?
Thanh Le and Ilya Freymanov will square off for the ONE Interim Featherweight MMA World Title in the main event, and both men bring serious firepower to the ring.
Reigning king Tang Kai is still not cleared to return from injury, so both Le and Freymanov want to make a statement by claiming the interim belt with an impressive KO.
Le has a flawless finishing ratio, with 12 knockouts and one submission among his 13 career MMA victories, while Freymanov has scored nine knockouts and one submission in his 12 successful outings.
With five rounds for either of these concussive strikers to find their opponent’s chin, the odds of the match reaching the final bell are slim.
In fact, former divisional kingpin Le recently proclaimed that a finish is guaranteed as he works back toward the undisputed throne, while #3-ranked Freymanov is fired up to earn the biggest win of his career.
Their respective track records and the high stakes suggest that both men will come out firing on all cylinders.
#2 Can Williams Ruin Di Bella’s Perfect Record?
Italian-Canadian star Jonathan Di Bella will face a stern test when he puts his ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Title on the line against “Mini T” Danial Williams.
Although Di Bella is a formidable foe, Williams’ experience against the likes of superstars Rodtang Jitmuangnon and Superlek Kiatmoo9 means he won’t be fazed by anything he sees inside the ring.
The Thai-Australian striker met Rodtang in the middle and slugged it out across three wild rounds, so he’s unlikely to take a backward step no matter what Di Bella throws at him.
However, with a perfect professional kickboxing record of 11-0, the defending king has the supreme confidence that comes with never being beaten – as well as a slick style that will ask questions of “Mini T’s” aggression.
Will Williams’ attacking style and experience allow him to hand Di Bella his first loss, or will the Montreal native overcome another tough challenge?
#3 Is Tawanchai A World Title Threat In Kickboxing?
ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai took a huge scalp in his first ONE kickboxing match last time out, using his vicious left kick to break Davit Kiria’s arm.
Kiria is one of the most respected veterans in the featherweight kickboxing ranks, yet Tawanchai had no issues cruising past him to earn the division’s #5 spot.
A lone win in the new sport can’t be weighed too heavily, but if the Thai megastar can get past “Smokin” Jo Nattawut in style this Friday, he would send another stark warning to his peers.
Nattawut has shared the Circle with the likes of reigning ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Chingiz Allazov and all-time Giorgio Petrosyan, so he knows what it’s like to face the best of the best.
If Tawanchai can dominate and dispatch his experienced Thai compatriot, those above him in the top five will have to take his dream of two-sport gold extremely seriously.
#4 Will Brooks’ First World Title Challenger Emerge?
The first athlete to challenge ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks could take a big step toward that goal on Friday.
Former divisional king Joshua “The Passion” Pacio lost the belt in a five-round decision against Brooks, but a win over Mansur Malachiev would likely secure a rematch with the American.
But Malachiev, unbeaten at 11-0, burst onto the global stage with a first-round submission that snapped Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado’s four-fight knockout streak.
The Russian is a lifelong wrestler who could be the only strawweight capable of matching Brooks in that department.
However, if “The Passion” can show the necessary improvements to fend off Malachiev’s grappling offense, it would be a good sign that he’s evolved enough to threaten “The Monkey God” in a second meeting.
Either way, Brooks could get clarity on his next opponent very soon.
#5 Will The Flyweight MMA Rankings Get A New Face?
Eko Roni Saputra and “Wolf Warrior” Hu Yong are knocking on the door of the flyweight MMA division’s top five, and an impressive showing in Bangkok could be the push they need to get there.
Saputra most recently saw his dominant seven-fight winning streak snapped by #2-ranked Danny Kingad, but he found some success in their 15-minute battle. While he wasn’t quite there, the Indonesian wrestler showed that he’s not miles away from the division’s upper echelon.
Hu has also fallen short against a ranked opponent, losing a decision to #4-ranked Yuya Wakamatsu, but he’s gotten back on track with wins over former ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Geje Eustaquio and surging South Korean Woo Sung Hoon.
Both fighters are on the cusp of the official flyweight MMA top-five rankings, and a decisive victory could see them join the elite.
