5 Reasons To Watch ONE 170 On January 24
This Friday, January 24, the sold-out Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand, will play host to a blockbuster fight card featuring the planet’s most talented martial artists.
Topped by a trio of monumental World Title bouts, ONE 170 promises drama and action from start to finish.
With 12 intriguing matchups across four different combat sports disciplines, the event gives fans around the globe plenty of reasons to tune in.
Before the Circle Door closes and the first bell rings, we look at why ONE 170 is a true can’t-miss showcase.
#1 Three World Title Showdowns
Gold, gold, and more gold will be on the line in Bangkok.
First, Scottish knockout artist Nico “King of the North” Carrillo will look to make it five straight finishes in ONE when he battles 20-year-old Thai-Algerian phenom Nabil Anane for the ONE Interim Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title.
Stylistically, this bout has all the makings of a barnburner, and the winner will secure a World Title unification clash against reigning divisional kingpin Superlek Kiatmoo9.
Next, ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion Fabrico “Wonder Boy” Andrade will defend his gold against all-action scrapper “Pretty Boy” Kwon Won Il in a rematch between two of MMA’s most prolific finishers.
Andrade defeated Kwon back in 2022, but the hard-hitting South Korean has since rattled off three straight knockout victories to earn his chance at redemption.
In the main event, current ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai defends his belt against reigning ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon in a World Title rematch that has fans anxious with anticipation.
Both athletes are recognized among the planet’s top pound-for-pound strikers, and if their unforgettable 2023 battle is any indication, we can expect a firefight on January 24.
#2 The Return Of BJJ GOAT Marcelo Garcia
The greatest competitor in the history of BJJ will make his wildly anticipated return to action after nearly 15 years on the sidelines, as Brazilian legend Marcelo Garcia locks horns with Japanese martial arts star Masakazu Imanari in an openweight submission grappling tilt.
With five IBJJF World Titles and four ADCC World Titles to his name, “Marcelinho” is perhaps the most beloved figure in all of grappling. He stepped away from competition while at the very top, fresh off winning gold with a near-perfect submission rate at the 2011 ADCC World Championships.
Since then, Garcia has grown his world-class BJJ academies, focused on being a good father to his two children, and survived a year-long battle with stomach cancer.
A true icon of the grappling arts, the 42-year-old will test his skills against veteran leg-lock specialist Imanari.
#3 An Epic Battle Of The Johans
Two of Muay Thai’s most electrifying young athletes will square off in a flyweight contest, as teenage prodigy Johan “Jojo” Ghazali takes on undefeated Colombian dynamo Johan “Panda Kick” Estupinan.
Both men have garnered legions of fans thanks to their ruthless finishing instincts and fearless approaches to combat.
Still just 18 years old, Ghazali already boasts six thrilling victories in the world’s largest martial arts organization, including five spectacular knockouts.
The Malaysian-American will test his forward-marching, brawling style against the unorthodox and high-flying Estupinan. After four fights and four entertaining wins in ONE, “Panda Kick” has cemented himself as a bona fide contender well on his way to global superstardom.
Given each young star’s propensity for finding the knockout, fans shouldn’t blink when Ghazali and Estupinan share the Circle.
#4 Thailand Versus The World
ONE 170 will see four Thai athletes take on foreign fighters in their national sport of Muay Thai – and they’ll do so in front of a partisan crowd in Bangkok. The Thais are undoubtedly motivated to defend their home turf and turn in memorable performances for their supporters.
In 134-pound catchweight action, battle-tested sensation Suriyanlek Por Yenying will aim to bolster his impressive highlight reel when he goes toe-to-toe with Myanmar brawler Thant Zin.
Former two-time ONE World Title challenger Sinsamut “Aquaman” Klinmee hopes to snap his two-fight losing skid and get back to winning ways against Spanish standout Nauzet Trujillo. Both athletes are devastating punchers known for engaging in all-out wars.
After that, #2-ranked featherweight Muay Thai contender “Smokin” Jo Nattawut will battle #4-ranked Bampara Kouyate. Nattawut is an established fan favorite in Thailand, and he knows that an impressive performance against the ultra-talented Frenchman could secure him a coveted World Title shot.
Fearless Thai veteran Seksan “The Man Who Yields To No One” Or Kwanmuang doesn’t know what it’s like to be in a boring fight – and neither does his opponent, decorated lethwei star “Man of Steel” Soe Lin Oo.
The two brawlers will trade strikes until one man falls in their 142-pound catchweight Muay Thai showdown that has Fight of the Year potential.
#5 Samat Mamedov Debuts On The Global Stage
Undefeated Kazakh destroyer Samat Mamedov has all the makings of a future ONE World Champion, but he’s being thrown into the deep end of the talent-laden lightweight MMA division against Swiss standout Maurice Abevi.
A National Pankration Champion who possesses no shortage of physical gifts to match his elite skills, Mamedov has finished all but one of his opponents in the first round, earning the reputation as one of MMA’s next big stars.
To keep his hype train going, he’ll first have to get past the always-dangerous Abevi.
Like Mamedov, the Swiss fighter arrived in ONE with an unblemished professional record. While he would suffer a defeat in his promotional debut, he has since reeled off a pair of dominant wins against top-flight competition.
A triumph for either young athlete would do wonders toward establishing him as a serious threat to the ONE Lightweight MMA World Title.
