5 Reasons To Watch ONE Fight Night 9: Nong-O Vs. Haggerty On April 21
ONE Fight Night 9: Nong-O vs. Haggerty on Prime Video is ready to deliver another action-packed lineup of martial arts at the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
A massive World Title tilt will headline the card this Friday, April 21, and the supporting cast features everything from undefeated phenoms to top contenders.
With no shortage of intriguing battles on tap, there are plenty of reasons to catch all the MMA and Muay Thai action.
Here, we look at five of the biggest storylines that are set to play out live in U.S. primetime.
#1 Can Nong-O Continue His Historic Reign Of Destruction?
ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Hama is 10-0 in ONE Championship, with eight World Title victories – the most of any competitor in the organization’s all-striking divisions.
He’s consistently beaten elite opponents, and he’s only gotten stronger along the way, finishing his last five challengers via knockout.
It’s hard to imagine anybody toppling the dominant king, but British striker Jonathan Haggerty believes he’s the right man for the job.
The former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion has overcome the odds before, and he’s not afraid to engage with the heaviest hitters. Now feeling stronger and more powerful in a higher weight class, Haggerty is confident he can hurt the seemingly unstoppable Thai legend.
Still, many others thought the same when they had their shot, and Nong-O blasted his way through all of them. The 36-year-old feels in his prime, and he expects to add another knockout to his iconic resume in front of his home fans in Thailand.
#2 Unbeaten Lightweight Finishers Throw Down
Expect #4-ranked Halil Amir and ONE newcomer Maurice Abevi to deliver fireworks in their lightweight MMA co-main event.
Unbeaten at 8-0 and 6-0, respectively, the two phenoms have finished every opponent to date – but one of them will leave the ring with a first blemish on their record.
Turkish rising star Amir has seven knockouts and one submission on his resume, including his stunning finish of Timofey Nastyukhin in his promotional debut last year.
Swiss upstart Abevi has produced an even split of three KOs and three submissions, and he’ll be motivated to announce his arrival in ONE and steal his foe’s spot in the divisional rankings.
With so much at stake between these lightweight finishers, it’s unlikely this clash will see the final bell.
#3 Top Strawweight MMA Contenders Finally Throw Down
Leading strawweight MMA contenders Bokang Masunyane and Hiroba Minowa have been on a collision course for a long time, and at ONE Fight Night 9, they’ll duke it out.
Second-ranked Masunyane is returning after his first career defeat to now-ONE Strawweight World Champion Jarred Brooks, and he’s hungry to get back on the winning track.
The relentless wrestler has shown improvements in his all-around game, but his Japanese opponent is a tough match for anyone.
Even though #3-ranked Minowa had a six-fight winning streak broken by Brooks, he pushed the American from start to finish in a three-round decision.
Both Masunyane and Minowa are eager to earn a second date with “The Monkey God” – this time for World Title gold – and a decisive victory on Friday could put them at the front of the line.
#4 Could Xiong’s Next Challenger Emerge?
A trio of victories sent Meng Bo rocketing through the women’s strawweight MMA ranks, but a two-fight skid put her World Title aspirations on hold.
With a knockout win in her latest appearance, the Chinese striker is now rebuilding her confidence, and another impressive performance against Dayane Cardoso would nudge her closer to the top.
Meanwhile, Cardoso took out Ayaka Miura in her ONE debut last April, so she’s also in the running, especially if she can vanquish Meng in Bangkok.
All of that means this matchup should pique the interest of longtime ONE Women’s Strawweight World Champion Xiong Jing Nan.
Xiong has taken care of challenger after challenger during her incredible tenure at the top. Looking ahead, either Meng or Cardoso could offer up a new and intriguing threat if they emerge victorious in Friday’s encounter.
#5 The Prince Of Team Lakay Returns
Team Lakay phenom Jhanlo Mark Sangiao will be back inside the ring for his third ONE Championship appearance, and he’ll be pitting his perfect professional record against unbeaten newcomer Matias Farinelli.
Both men boast 5-0 slates with five finishes, so someone’s “0” has got to go in this bantamweight MMA contest.
Following the recent exodus of several established veterans from Team Lakay, the famed Filipino stable needs a boost – and the prodigal son of head coach Mark Sangiao could be the man to lift those spirits.
Moreover, Jhanlo has recorded two consecutive first-round submissions, displaying a high level of grappling not normally seen from the striking specialists at Team Lakay. The 20-year-old’s ground skills will now be greatly tested against Farinelli, a BJJ ace who’s finished all five of his foes via submission.
This battle is a chance for “The Machine” to show that he’s the true future of Team Lakay 2.0 and prove that the Philippines’ most renowned MMA team is in good hands.
