5 Lessons We Learned From ONE: WARRIORS OF LIGHT

The action was fast and furious on a packed night of combat at ONE: WARRIORS OF LIGHT when new and established martial arts superstars stepped up and delivered in Bangkok, Thailand.

A World Champion reigned supreme, a new World Title was awarded, and some athletes got their first taste of ONE Championship success inside the Impact Arena on Friday, 10 May.

Now that the dust has settled on The Home Of Martial Arts’ latest visit to “The Land of Smiles,” these are our five key takeaways.

#1 Nong-O’s Kick Is Simply Unstoppable

Nong-O Gaiyanghadao successfully defended his ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Championship with consummate ease in the main event as he picked apart Shoot Boxing World Champion Hiroaki “Kaibutsukun” Suzuki over five full rounds.

The Muay Thai superstar controlled the range perfectly as he punished Suzuki every time he stepped into striking distance. His right roundhouse kick, in particular, proved to be his biggest weapon on the night as he claimed a unanimous decision.

Muay Thai and kickboxing athletes are used to taking powerful kicks from their opponents, and are well-drilled in blocking techniques, but such was the power and accuracy of Nong-O’s roundhouse strikes, they pierced Suzuki’s guard to deal tremendous damage to his arms and shoulder.

Whether they are blocked or not, Nong-O’s kicks are powerful enough to score and make a serious impact on his opponent, as the thumping sounds that reverberated around the Impact Arena proved.

#2 We Want To See Petchdam And Mahmoudi Go At It Again

The co-main event produced some of the best ONE Super Series action of 2019 as Thailand’s Petchdam “The Baby Shark” Petchyindee Academy and Elias “The Sniper” Mahmoudi went toe-to-toe in a breathtaking battle under kickboxing rules.

Petchdam’s powerful left kick scored for him over and over again, but his Algerian opponent had a lot of success with his forward pressure, creative kicking, and rapid-fire punching combinations.

It was impossible to take your eyes off the action for a little more than four rounds before another accidental foul – a potent strike to Mahmoudi’s groin – brought the contest to a premature close.

That meant the contest went to the scorecards, and “The Baby Shark” took the inaugural ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Title via a technical decision.

However, no martial artist or fan wants to see such a thrilling match with such high stakes end like that. If “The Sniper” was physically capable there is no doubt he would have given everything he could in the remaining moments to claim glory for himself.

Nothing should take away from the Thai hero’s achievement, but surely not even his biggest fans would complain if he has the chance to put on another show like that one more time?

#3 Shoko Sato Is A Serious Contender At Bantamweight

Shoko Sato made an impressive debut on the global stage for martial arts when he snapped the five-bout win streak of Kiwi contender Mark “Tyson” Fairtex Abelardo with a stunning TKO.

After battling on even terms with his in-form opponent in the first round, the Shooto Bantamweight World Champion took over in the second. He rocked his rival with a right elbow, pounced to take the contest to the mat, and finished with powerful ground strikes.

His composure throughout early pressure and clinical finishing instinct proved that the 51-bout veteran has the experience and the skill to be a serious contender for the ONE Bantamweight World Title.

The Japanese competitor may need to keep busy while the world waits for Kevin Belingon and Bibiano Fernandes to finish their rivalry, but if the 31-year-old can maintain or extend his three-bout winning streak, he could be next in line to face the winner.

#4 Savvas Michael Proved He Belongs With The Best

Thailand-based Cypriot Savvas “The Baby Face Killer” Michael claimed the biggest win of his martial arts career with a unanimous decision victory over Lumpinee Stadium and WMC Muay Thai World Champion Singtongnoi Por Telakun in their ONE Super Series Muay Thai match-up.

The 20-year-old flyweight conceded 18 years and 271 bouts worth of experience to his opponent at ONE: WARRIORS OF LIGHT, but he produced an outstanding display of composure and striking skill against a legend of “the art of eight limbs.”

After this performance in the flyweight division, combined with his 31-1 record and WMC Muay Thai World Championship credentials, the Muay Thai world now knows that Michael is a serious World Title threat in arguably the most talent-stacked division in ONE.

#5 Superlek Is More Than Just A “Kicking Machine”

Flyweight Muay Thai superstar Superlek Kiatmoo9 is known as “The Kicking Machine” but the 23-year-old from Buriram showed he has many more weapons in his arsenal in his comprehensive victory over Portugal’s Rui Botelho in Bangkok.

Superlek led with his powerful kicks, of course, but mixed in accurate elbows and sharp punches as he dominated Botelho across all facets of “the art of eight limbs” to earn a unanimous decision.

In a weight class packed with world-class contenders, the two-time Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai World Champion proved that he is a factor in the World Title contenders’ conversation as he claimed the 121st victory of his decorated career.