5 Reasons To Watch ONE 161: Petchmorakot Vs. Tawanchai On September 29
The world’s largest martial arts organization is set to return to the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Thursday, September 29, with a card that’s sure to produce fireworks from top to bottom.
ONE 161: Petchmorakot vs. Tawanchai showcases everything the organization has to offer, featuring contests in four different sports, heavyweight slugfests, and a pivotal atomweight bout with major World Title implications.
Having said that, here are five reasons to tune into ONE 161 next week.
Muay Thai World Title Fight
At the top of the card, ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Petchmorakot Petchyindee defends his belt against 23-year-old striking sensation Tawanchai PK.Saenchai.
Fans should expect a beautiful display of “the art of eight limbs” when these two aggressive technicians clash in the Circle.
Petchmorakot fought past his limits in his last fight, a hard-fought decision win over game Frenchman Jimmy Vienot in May of this year at ONE 157. Now, in his fourth title defense, he will undoubtedly look to dominant his compatriot.
He’ll face a stiff test in Tawanchai, though. The prodigiously talented PK.Saenchai Muaythaigym product is red-hot, coming into this bout off back-to-back knockouts.
Giants Collide In The Heavyweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix Semifinals
Ahead of the Muay Thai World Title bout, larger-than-life sluggers square off for a spot in the ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix Final, where the illustrious silver belt will be up for grabs.
In one fight, Iranian knockout artist Iraj Azizpour welcomes promotional newcomer Bruno Chaves to the Circle. The towering 6-foot-6 Chaves aims to make a splash against the established veteran in Azizpour.
And in the other semifinal, reigning ONE Kickboxing Light Heavyweight World Champion Roman Kryklia tests himself at heavyweight against Brazilian powerhouse Guto Inocente.
Top Talent At Lightweight
In mixed martial arts action, China’s best lightweight fighter Zhang Lipeng takes on Dagestani destroyer Saygid Izagakhmaev in a matchup that could move either man significantly closer to a World Title shot.
Zhang impressed in his August 2021 ONE debut when he earned a unanimous decision victory over former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard Folayang. “The Warrior” followed that up with a blistering 32-second knockout of Ruslan Emilbek at ONE: ONLY THE BRAVE in January 2022.
On the other side of the Circle will be Khabib Nurmagomedov’s protege, Izagakhmaev. Undefeated in his lone promotional appearance, the Russian is a terrifying takedown artist and grappler, owning 13 submission wins across 20 career victories.
Simply put, this battle is elite MMA at its finest.
High-Stakes Atomweight Clash
Lower on the card is an important atomweight battle that fans – and the entire division – will pay close attention to.
Indian Wrestling Champion Ritu Phogat looks to get back in the win column after suffering a loss to Stamp Fairtex in the final of the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix. In an attempt to do so, she’ll face two-time ONE Strawweight World Title challenger Tiffany Teo, who will be making her atomweight debut.
With Teo’s only career losses coming against current ONE Strawweight World Champion Xiong Jing Nan, she plans to quickly assert herself as a contender in her new weight division.
“No Chill” will have her hands full against Phogat, however, who will no doubt carry some extra motivation after being finished for the first time in her career.
Bantamweight Muay Thai Mayhem
The lead card of ONE 161 features not one, not two, but three bantamweight Muay Thai bangers.
First, highly touted 25-year-old Muay Thai superstar Ferrari Fairtex makes his ONE debut against unorthodox Chinese striker and former ONE Muay Thai World Title challenger Han Zi Hao.
Next, in another clash of China versus Thailand, Zhang Chenglong tests his skills in Muay Thai after competing in kickboxing for much of his professional career. He meets seven-time Muay Thai World Champion Sangmanee PK.Saenchai in what promises to be a technical war.
Finally, former ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Capitan Petchyindee returns to the Circle after losing his World Title in March at ONE X. Standing in his way is Russian marauder Aleverdi “Babyface Killer” Ramazanov.
