5 Reasons To Watch ONE Fight Night 24: Brooks Vs. Balart On August 2
ONE Fight Night 24: Brooks vs. Balart on Prime Video promises white-knuckle action from the opening matchup all the way to the headlining World Title showdown.
Slated to air in U.S. primetime this Friday, August 2, from the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, the 12-bout card features everything from young phenoms to grizzled veterans and a pair of World Title contests – all taking place across four different combat sports disciplines.
Simply put, fans have plenty of reasons to tune in when the action gets underway. Here are five reasons why ONE Fight Night 24 is a can’t-miss event.
#1 An Interim MMA King Will Be Crowned
The main event will see former ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks battle Cuban powerhouse Gustavo “El Gladiador” Balart for the ONE Interim Strawweight MMA World Title.
Brooks claimed the undisputed gold in December 2022 with a near-flawless performance against Joshua “The Passion” Pacio.
The outspoken American would subsequently lose his gold to Pacio in a World Title rematch, suffering a disappointing disqualification loss after slamming the Filipino on his head.
With “The Passion” now sidelined due to a knee injury, #1-ranked Brooks will enjoy another crack at gold and the chance to set up a World Title unification battle.
However, #3-ranked Balart – a former Olympic wrestler from Cuba who also owns explosive punching power – has all the tools to hand “The Monkey God” his second consecutive MMA loss.
Beyond the high-stakes nature of this bout, the clash between Brooks and Balart represents an intriguing stylistic matchup, as both men are accomplished wrestlers with ever-evolving striking and some of the best cardio in all of mixed martial arts.
#2 Danielle Kelly Faces A Legendary World Title Challenger
In the co-main event, reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight Submission Grappling World Champion Danielle Kelly will defend her gold for the first time against decorated Brazilian superstar Mayssa Bastos in a match that has the BJJ world buzzing with excitement.
Kelly claimed the inaugural World Title last September with a stunning decision win over then-reigning IBJJF World Champion Jessa Khan, extending her unblemished record in ONE and cementing herself as one of the planet’s top pound-for-pound ground fighters.
Now, the American is preparing for her toughest test yet.
A nine-time IBJJF World Champion, the 26-year-old Bastos is widely recognized as the sport’s best-ever in the lightest weight classes, and she hopes to add 26 pounds of ONE gold to her jam-packed trophy case.
What’s more, grappling fans are in for a treat when Kelly and Bastos lock horns.
While the challenger is a masterful guard-player with incredible back-takes, the defending World Champion is a ruthless submission hunter and one of the best leg-lockers in the world today.
#3 Muay Thai Mayhem
Any fight card at the legendary Lumpinee Stadium would be incomplete without world-class Muay Thai, and ONE Fight Night 24 delivers in a big way.
With a total of six intriguing Muay Thai bouts, the Bangkok faithful and those watching across the globe will experience “the art of eight limbs” to the fullest.
Notably, former two-time ONE World Title challenger Felipe “Demolition Man” Lobo will put his #3 spot in the bantamweight Muay Thai rankings on the line against towering 20-year-old phenom Nabil Anane – a ruthless knockout artist who has been heralded as the future of the sport.
Also, #4-ranked flyweight Muay Thai contender Dedduanglek TDed99 will seek revenge against his Thai compatriot Nakrob Fairtex in a rematch of one of the most electrifying fights of 2024 so far.
Plus, the card will kick off with a pivotal atomweight Muay Thai clash, as Hong Kong phenom Yu Yau Pui collides with experienced promotional newcomer Amy Pirnie.
Yu has put together an incredible 6-0 run to begin her ONE tenure and is knocking on the door of a shot at divisional queen Allycia Hellen Rodrigues, but three-time UK Muay Thai Fighter of the Year Pirnie is aiming to steal her foe’s thunder and announce herself as a World Title threat in the organization.
#4 ONE Friday Fights Contract Winners Hit U.S. Primetime
ONE’s weekly ONE Friday Fights series in Asia primetime has been a proving ground for rising talents – and at ONE Fight Night 24, two breakout sensations will compete in front of a new audience.
Undefeated Filipino sensation Carlo Bumina-ang used his prodigious athleticism and terrifying finishing instincts to rack up a 5-0 record at ONE Friday Fights and earn a six-figure contract with ONE’s global roster.
He hopes to keep his meteoric rise going when he squares off with ultra-tough Mongolian scrapper Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu in a bantamweight MMA tilt.
Later on the card, 21-year-old Thai prodigy Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon – the first ONE Friday Fights athlete to earn a six-figure contract – will go toe-to-toe with Irish standout Craig Coakley in a bantamweight Muay Thai bout designed for action.
#5 Gasanov Looks To Continue Ascent
Dagestani submission ace Shamil “The Cobra” Gasanov has all the makings of a future ONE World Champion, and he’ll look to continue his ascent toward the ONE Featherweight MMA World Title when he faces well-rounded Ecuadorian Aaron “Tommy Gun” Canarte.
Currently ranked as the division’s #5 contender, Gasanov impressed in the main event of ONE Fight Night 18 earlier this year, largely dominating South Korean athlete Oh Ho Taek with his overwhelming grappling attack and punishing ground strikes.
Canarte, though, is no pushover and has been touted as one of the best fighters to come out of South America in recent years.
If he can win this matchup on August 2, Gasanov will have positioned himself for a high-stakes showdown with a top-five contender.
