5 Reasons To Watch ONE: BAD BLOOD
ONE: BAD BLOOD will bring some serious heat to the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Friday, 11 February.
With two massive World Title bouts topping the bill and a supporting card packed with exciting athletes, the entire show promises to deliver nonstop action.
Here are five of the biggest reasons to catch the spectacular 12-fight showcase in “The Lion City.”
#1 A Heated Rivalry For Bantamweight Gold
There’s been no love lost between Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes and John “Hands of Stone” Lineker ahead of their ONE Bantamweight World Title clash.
Reigning king Fernandes – the most dominant World Champion in ONE history – has been unusually vocal about his disdain for “Hands of Stone” after feeling slighted by his fellow Brazilian.
Lineker maintains that he is not making this personal, but “The Flash” is more riled up than we’ve ever seen him in. The key is whether he’ll bring that emotion into the Circle, as fighting with feelings may not be wise against the hard-hitting challenger.
Fernandes is usually measured and works diligently to find the best route to victory. His experience might allow him to do the same in this main event, but there’s always the chance he’ll go into battle with a point to prove – potentially giving Lineker an opening.
“Hands of Stone’s” fists are two of the most feared tools in all of mixed martial arts, much like Fernandes’ Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills. That clash of styles – and their heated rivalry – will make for an epic World Title tussle.
#2 Which Undefeated Heavyweight Earns The Belt?
Anatoly “Sladkiy” Malykhin and Kirill Grishenko will battle for the ONE Interim Heavyweight World Championship in the co-main event, with the belt and someone’s “0” on the line.
Malykhin will pit his 10-0 slate against Grishenko’s 5-0 record, and he’s confident in his ability to finish the Belarusian inside the distance.
The Russian star showed tremendous power with his first-round knockout of Amir Aliakbari last time out – adding to his potent wrestling game – and he wants to stand and trade with his rival from Minsk.
However, Grishenko was also an elite wrestler who’s shown a proclivity for striking in mixed martial arts, with unorthodox spinning attacks not out of the question.
He believes “Sladkiy” is underestimating him – and thinks that could lead to his opponent’s downfall.
One thing is certain: Both men have strong, well-rounded skill sets that will make this a hard-fought contest wherever it plays out.
- Lineker Thinks Fernandes Is Past His Prime: ‘His Heyday Is Over’
- Malykhin Slams Bhullar, Says Interim Winner Will Be ‘Real Champion’
- Fernandes ‘Won’t Be Intimidated’ By Lineker’s Knockout Power
#3 Muay Thai Stars Aim For A World Title Shot
Two of the top flyweight Muay Thai contenders will collide in a match that could position them to challenge reigning king Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon following the latter’s special rules super-fight with Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson at ONE X.
Former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Jonathan “The General” Haggerty lost his crown to “The Iron Man” and then suffered another defeat in their rematch, but he’s riding a two-fight winning streak and holds the #2 spot in the rankings.
Though his defeats to the current titleholder were devastating at the time, the Englishman believes he is better than ever right now – and that he’ll continue that momentum with a first-round KO.
However, #4-ranked Mongkolpetch Petchyindee is one of the sport’s top athletes, with an incredible record on the Bangkok stadium circuit and four wins in ONE Super Series.
He will try to counteract Haggerty’s style with his own powerful kicks and clinch work to book himself a match with Rodtang in the future.
#4 Mayhem At Strawweight
Talk of a World Grand Prix in the strawweight MMA division has bounced around social media recently, and ONE: BAD BLOOD will show why that would be a thrilling tournament with two all-action battles in the weight class.
Former ONE Strawweight World Champion Yosuke “The Ninja” Saruta will meet Cuban wrestler Gustavo “El Gladiador” Balart, while another one of the division’s former rulers, Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke, takes on “Mini T” Danial Williams.
Saruta and former Olympian Balart are both expert grapplers, though they also have powerful strikes in their arsenals, and their bout could be contested in any range.
Dejdamrong and Williams are stand-up specialists who are likely to duke it out on the feet. The question is whether the veteran can keep up with the younger “Mini T,” who staged an epic three-round battle with Rodtang under Muay Thai rules last year.
Victory for any of these athletes will have bigger implications for a division that is really heating up at the moment.
#5 Rising Stars Debut
There are some new faces to look out for on the lead card, with three debutants making their first promotional appearances at ONE: BAD BLOOD.
“Dynamic” Woo Sung Hoon comes from the renowned Team MAD in South Korea, and the big-hitting Busan native will meet his match in Muay Thai star turned dangerous mixed martial artist Yodkaikaew “Y2K” Fairtex.
Hugo “Silverback” Cunha is stepping up to the big leagues following a 6-0 run in his native Brazil. He’ll bring strong wrestling and grappling to this matchup with hulking Canadian Dustin Joynson in the former’s second ONE outing.
The final first-timer is American heavyweight Odie “The Witness” Delaney – a former NCAA All-American wrestler representing the world-famous American Top Team. Norwegian slugger Thomas “The Last Viking” Narmo will stand across the Circle, hoping to use his stand-up game to fend off Delaney’s offense long enough to score a finish.
Read more: 3 Rising Stars To Watch At ONE: BAD BLOOD
