5 Huge Knockouts From The Stars Of ONE 159
On 22 July, ONE 159: De Ridder vs. Bigdash will electrify the Singapore Indoor Stadium with a plethora of hard-hitting knockout artists.
As always, the Muay Thai, kickboxing, and MMA bouts on the talent-stacked bill promise to deliver highlight-reel finishes inside the Circle.
To get you hyped for the fights – including a pair of World Title showdowns – here are five of the best KOs from the stars competing at ONE 159.
Bigdash Completes Epic Comeback To Dethrone Svirid
Russian mixed martial artist Vitaly Bigdash delivered one of the greatest comebacks ever witnessed inside the Circle when he challenged Igor Svirid for the ONE Middleweight World Title at ONE: TIGERS OF ASIA in 2015.
The defending king found plenty of success early on, dropping Bigdash twice with stinging right hands and almost ending the bout with hammerfists on the second occasion.
None of that, however, was enough to dampen the challenger’s confidence.
Instead, he turned the tide with three knees to the jaw that momentarily stunned the Kazakh. The Russian then lunged into a rear-naked choke attempt, but time expired before he could force the tap.
With momentum on his side, Bigdash started the second frame with a look of determination. And just 36 seconds later, the finish arrived.
Another knee to the jaw put Svirid on wobbly legs, and the challenger followed up with a solid right hand and a barrage of hammerfists to seal the deal and claim the ONE Middleweight World Title.
Now seven years later, Bigdash can regain the throne if he earns another spectacular knockout of two-division king Reinier de Ridder in the main event of ONE 159.
Masunyane Turns Off Catalan’s Lights With Head Kick
Current #2-ranked strawweight contender Bokang “Little Giant” Masunyane closed out his contest versus Rene “The Challenger” Catalan at ONE: BIG BANG in December 2020 with the most epic finish of his MMA career.
The wrestling specialist entered with an undefeated record and took out the multiple-time Wushu World Champion with a remarkable left kick just 37 seconds into the fight.
Catalan attempted to put his striking tools on display against the South African athlete, but “Little Giant” showed he could be a force in the stand-up department, too.
Masunyane connected with more power and volume, narrowly missing the mark with his first head kick attempt when the competitors got entangled in close quarters.
He then unloaded a knee that forced Catalan to switch levels and shoot for a takedown – but that proved to be a bad decision.
“Little Giant” easily defended Catalan’s attempt, created some distance, and hit the Filipino square on the jaw with a left kick that immediately ended the proceedings.
Now, the 27-year-old would love to score another quick finish against #3-ranked strawweight contender Hiroba Minowa at ONE 159.
Teen Phenom Zhang Annihilates Tonna With Flurry Of Strikes
“Fighting Roster” Zhang Peimian dished out a masterful performance that earned him a fantastic debut win over Josh “Timebomb” Tonna at ONE: LIGHTS OUT in March this year.
The 18-year-old Chinese kickboxing phenom began the fight by tagging Tonna’s legs with thumping kicks. When he was done there, Zhang switched targets and broke down the Australian’s body and face with hook-cross combinations.
By the end of the opening stanza, “Timebomb” – quite literally – was a ticking time bomb. He was sent to the canvas twice, barely answering the referee’s eight-count the second time.
Zhang, on the other hand, looked like he’d hardly broken a sweat. And he upped a gear in the second round, making it impossible for Tonna to mount a comeback.
“Fighting Rooster’s” left hook to the body floored the 34-year-old twice, and a third left hook eventually earned him the TKO win at 2:11 of the second round.
Next up, the strawweight sensation will face Aslanbek Zikreev at ONE 159.
Williams’ One-Punch Power Crumbles Dejdamrong
“Mini T” Danial Williams is another strawweight slugger who packs plenty of heat in his striking artillery.
At ONE: BAD BLOOD in February this year, he showcased that firepower by scoring an second-round KO of Muay Thai legend Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke in their MMA battle.
The Australian-Thai athlete repeatedly cracked the former ONE Strawweight World Champion’s defense with chopping leg kicks, jabs, overhands, and elbows in the opening frame.
As the fight progressed, it was clear that Dejdamrong could not keep up with Williams’ speed and versatility. However, the storied veteran was determined to attack anyway.
That aggression ultimately led to the finish. Williams blocked the Thai’s left roundhouse kick and unleashed a solid right hand to the midsection that crumpled the former divisional king.
Next, “Mini T” will look to stay undefeated in ONE’s strawweight MMA division when he battles Zelang Zhaxi on 22 July.
Sinsamut Stuns Holzken In ONE Debut
Sinsamut Klinmee was a clear underdog in his ONE debut, but he shocked fans around the world with a knockout of kickboxing legend Nieky “The Natural” Holzken in their Muay Thai clash at ONE X this past March.
The Thai showed tremendous courage and strength to withstand the Dutchman’s constant attacks in the first round – including a spinning kick that sent him to the Circle Wall and a couple of combinations that troubled him.
After weathering the storm, Sinsamut took control with an onslaught of his own in the second frame, and it was enough to switch the tide in his favor.
He kept the former ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title challenger at bay with front kicks and teeps, and he maintained the pressure with a pair of delightful combinations upstairs.
Then, at the 1:39 mark of the second round, the finish arrived.
Sinsamut connected with a jab to set up an overhand right that instantly floored Holzken. Though the Dutch striker returned to his feet, referee Elias Dolaptsis deemed him unfit to continue.
Following his impressive first appearance, the Thai will attempt to keep rolling against another former ONE World Title challenger in Islam Murtazaev at ONE 159.
