5 Reasons To Watch ONE 158 On 3 June
The world’s largest martial arts organization will make a quick return with the action-packed ONE 158: Tawanchai vs. Larsen fight card on Friday, 3 June.
There are 13 exciting bouts on the bill across mixed martial arts, Muay Thai, and kickboxing, with plenty of top contenders and rising stars ready to perform in front of the global fan base.
Here are five big reasons to watch the show live from the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
#1 A ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title Eliminator
The main event battle between Tawanchai PK.Saenchai and Niclas Larsen will decide the next challenger for the ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Championship.
Reigning divisional king Petchmorakot Petchyindee successfully defended his belt at ONE 157 on 20 May, and he continues to cement himself as one of the most dominant World Champions in the organization.
However, both Tawanchai and Larsen would be formidable foes. The Thai owns a slick yet powerful style, while the debuting Larsen sets a ferocious pace with his heavy hands and knees.
Knowing that a shot at the biggest prize in the sport is on the line, the two featherweights will be fired up for their contest and should bring plenty of intensity to the Circle.
Can Tawanchai’s speed and fight IQ stave off “Dreamchaser,” or will the Danish striker’s pressure be enough to score the upset?
#2 Top Bantamweight Knockout Artists Collide
Second-ranked Kwon Won Il and #4-ranked Fabricio Andrade are two of the most devastating strikers in the bantamweight MMA division, so it’ll be nothing short of fireworks when they meet in the center of the Circle.
Kwon is riding a three-fight winning streak, knocking out all three of those opponents, with the last two succumbing to wince-inducing body shots.
Meanwhile, former Kickboxing and Muay Thai Champion Andrade has gone on a stunning 4-0 run since he entered ONE Championship, taking out the likes of Shoko Sato, Li Kai Wen, and Jeremy Pacatiw.
Both men have skills and power on the feet – as well as rapidly improving ground games – so fans can expect a finish before the final bell.
And while nothing is confirmed, the winner will make a strong case to earn the next challenge of ONE Bantamweight World Champion John Lineker.
#3 Buchecha Looks To Stay Perfect In MMA
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu icon Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida is back for his third mixed martial arts contest, and he’ll aim to remain unbeaten against Australian heavyweight Simon Carson.
“Buchecha” is a 17-time World Champion in BJJ, and he’s used those skills to score dominant submission victories in his first two MMA bouts.
However, both of those contests came against striking-based opponents, whereas Carson is an experienced grappler from the notable Absolute MMA team. He likely can’t match “Buchecha” on the ground, but he should be better equipped to deal with the Brazilian’s legendary grappling.
On Friday, Almeida will aim to resume his rapid ascent in his new sport, while Carson will be motivated to use this high-profile opportunity to boost his own status.
#4 Flyweight MMA Madness
The flyweight division could experience a massive shake-up with three pivotal matchups on the ONE 158 card.
Second-ranked contender and former ONE Flyweight World Champion Kairat Akhmetov will be hoping for a rubber match with reigning king Adriano Moraes if he can get past Japanese veteran Tatsumitsu Wada on Friday.
Currently sitting at #5, Reece McLaren has been a perennial contender in the division, but following a hard-fought decision loss to Yuya Wakamatsu, he’ll be desperate for a victory over rising knockout artist Xie Wei.
Gurdarshan Mangat wants to improve his 3-1 slate in ONE and continue his climb up the ladder when he takes on Yodkaikaew Fairtex, but the Thai striker has elite stand-up skills that will threaten “Saint Lion” from the opening bell.
For the athletes already in the rankings, it’s a chance to push themselves closer to the gold, but an impressive victory for any of the others might be enough to see them feature in the next update.
#5 Elite Heavyweights Kickboxers Throw Down
The colossal heavyweight kickboxing clash between Rade Opacic and Guto Inocente has the makings of a classic.
Both men come armed with concussive power and wide-ranging skill sets that include conventional and unorthodox attacks.
However, that doesn’t mean their styles are alike. Opacic is all about forward pressure, while Inocente uses a lot more movement to keep his opponents guessing. With that in mind, the battle for control of the Circle will be crucial.
At 4-0 with four KOs in ONE, Opacic believes another win would secure his claim to a shot at the inaugural ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Title.
On the other side, Inocente could steal the Serbian star’s thunder in just his second promotional appearance and perhaps earn his own crack at the division’s gold.
