5 Reasons To Watch ONE Fight Night 30: Kryklia Vs. Knowles
The world’s largest martial arts organization will return to the U.S. primetime airwaves with another must-see event this Friday, April 4.
ONE Fight Night 30: Kryklia vs. Knowles on Prime Video was designed with entertainment in mind, from the intriguing matchups that populate the undercard all the way up to the massive World Title clashes at the top of the bill.
The legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, will play host to the card — a fitting venue for a show that has all the makings of a thriller.
Before the action gets underway, we take a closer look at why fans won’t want to miss a second of ONE Fight Night 30.
#1 Two World Title Fights
(Update April 4: Regian Eersel has been stripped of the ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title after failing to make weight while hydrated. Only Alexis Nicolas is eligible to win the World Title at ONE Fight Night 30.)
A pair of ONE World Titles will be on the line in the final two bouts of the card, each featuring some of the planet’s most talented pound-for-pound strikers.
First, two-sport kingpin Regian “The Immortal” Eersel will defend his ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Championship against former titleholder Alexis “Barboza” Nicolas in a trilogy fight that fans have been waiting for.
Almost exactly one year ago, Nicolas shocked the world when he employed his venomous boxing attack and crippling low kicks to secure a unanimous decision victory over Eersel. In the process, he claimed the lightweight kickboxing crown and gave the Surinamese sensation his first loss in more than eight years.
Six months later, “The Immortal” would earn his revenge and reclaim his belt in an electrifying, back-and-forth war with the Frenchman. He would also hand Nicolas the only defeat of his career.
These two will now settle the score once and for all, and if their first two battles were any indication, the rubber match should deliver fireworks from start to finish.
In the main event, two-sport, two-division titleholder Roman Kryklia will defend his ONE Heavyweight Muay Thai World Championship against decorated British striker Lyndon Knowles.
The towering Ukrainian has looked nothing short of spectacular through six fights and six dominant victories in ONE, using his crispy boxing game and show-stopping power to cement himself as the baddest man on the planet.
“Knowlesy,” though, might be the one to knock Kryklia off his throne. The 38-year-old is a three-time WBC Muay Thai World Champion and supremely well-rounded striker who has spent more than two decades perfecting his craft.
With his big power and vicious clinch game, Knowles has what it takes to hand Kryklia his first loss since 2018 and leave Bangkok with 26 pounds of gold in tow.
#2 Nico Carrillo Kick-Starts His Featherweight Muay Thai Run
Lower on the card, “King of the North” Nico Carrillo will bring his immense talent and crowd-pleasing style back to the featherweight Muay Thai division. At ONE Fight Night 30, he’ll take on #4-ranked divisional contender Sitthichai “Killer Kid” Sitsongpeenong.
Carrillo used his savage finishing instincts to fuel his meteoric rise through the bantamweight Muay Thai division, rattling off four straight knockouts to earn his shot at interim gold earlier this year.
While he would suffer defeat at the hands of Thai-Algerian phenom Nabil Anane, the Scottish destroyer is now ready to take the featherweight Muay Thai division by storm — and he’s being thrown into the deep end.
Although he’s still just 33 years old, Sitthichai has enjoyed incredible success across both kickboxing and Muay Thai, and he is the only man to defeat reigning ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai in ONE under the Global Muay Thai Rule Set.
“Killer Kid” is undoubtedly motivated to defend his spot in the top-five rankings and work his way toward a rematch with his compatriot for the coveted belt.
#3 Fabricio Andrey Makes His Global Debut
ONE Championship is continuing to add the planet’s most electrifying submission grapplers to its roster, and the latest promotional newcomer is high-flying submission hunter Fabricio “Hokage” Andrey.
The Brazilian is set to square off against ultra-skilled Welshman Ashley Williams in a featherweight submission grappling tilt that fans won’t want to miss.
An IBJJF World Champion renowned for his absurd athleticism, high-amplitude takedowns, and flashy submission game, Andrey is the epitome of an entertainer — and there’s no doubt he has the all-around talent to become a ONE World Champion.
Williams, though, is no pushover. The 32-year-old has long been regarded as the UK’s top male BJJ black-belt competitor, and his gritty, high-paced style of grappling should make for excitement against “Hokage.”
#4 Sanzhar Zakirov Looks To Remain Perfect
Undefeated Uzbek prodigy Sanzhar “Tornado” Zakirov has all the makings of a global MMA superstar. He hopes to keep his momentum going and continue his climb toward ONE Championship gold when he battles Bokang “Little Giant” Masunyane in a flyweight MMA scrap.
At just 21 years old, Zakirov already boasts an impressive 13-0 professional record that includes five thrilling wins (and three stoppages) in ONE, earning himself the #5 spot in the strawweight MMA rankings.
“Tornado’s” preternatural athleticism and well-rounded skills have set him apart as one of the most promising rising stars in recent years. A win over a powerhouse grappler like Masunyane would erase any doubt that he belongs among the very best mixed martial artists on the planet.
Indeed, “Little Giant” is always a difficult puzzle to solve. With his explosive takedowns and endless gas tank, he’s sure to give the young phenom all that he can handle.
#5 A Muay Thai Showcase
Finally, fans of “the art of eight limbs” are in for a treat at ONE Fight Night 30, as half of the card is made up of small-gloved Muay Thai contests.
In addition to the pair of previously mentioned high-stakes Muay Thai bouts, the card will feature the return of beloved Thai brawler Seksan “The Man Who Yields To No One” Or Kwanmuang, who takes on Asa “The American Ninja” Ten Pow in a 142-pound tilt that is guaranteed to produce white-knuckle action.
Also, surging British star George “G-Unit” Jarvis hopes to make waves in his U.S. primetime debut and extend his winning streak to four when he squares off against fearless Spanish-Moroccan striker Mouhcine Chafi in a lightweight showdown.
And in strawweight action, Thai fan-favorite Thongpoon PK Saenchai will look to exact a bit of revenge against promotional newcomer Elmehdi “The Sniper” El Jamari — the brother of the first man to defeat him in ONE, Zakaria El Jamari.
