5 Reasons To Watch ONE Friday Fights 1 On Friday, January 20
A new chapter for ONE Championship kicks off this Friday, January 20, when the promotion hosts its inaugural event at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium.
ONE Friday Fights 1 is the first installment of the organization’s new weekly offering at the iconic venue in Bangkok, Thailand, and the 12-bout card promises to set the ball rolling in style.
With Lumpinee’s reputation as the spiritual hub of world-class Muay Thai, it’s only fitting that the bill contains some top-flight matchups in “the art of eight limbs.” But ONE is also bringing a new flavor with a selection of international mixed martial arts contests.
Here are five reasons why you need to tune into the action this Friday, live in Asia primetime.
#1 Be Part Of A Historic Night
ONE Friday Fights 1 will be remembered as the start of something special, and the global fan base can say they were a part of it right from the very beginning.
The promotion’s historic collaboration with Lumpinee Boxing Stadium has come with promises of massive opportunities and investment for both native Thai athletes and fighters from around the world, and it starts here.
There are established names ready to showcase their skills on the card, but there are even more rising stars who will go on to prove themselves in the world’s largest martial arts organization, so don’t miss out on the beginning of their upward trajectory.
#2 Gold On The Line In Spectacular Main Event
In the main event, wrecking machine Nong-O Gaiyanghadao puts his ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title on the line against former ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Alaverdi Ramazanov. It’s a match that’s been three years in the making, and each man is ready to push their opposite number to the limit.
With six successful defenses of his belt, Nong-O is the most dominant World Champion in ONE’s striking divisions, and few have been able to even come close to the Thai icon. He has stopped his last four challengers inside the distance, but Ramazanov – the division’s #2-ranked contender – poses a different threat.
The lanky Russian has long limbs and attacks from a variety of angles, which could be his ticket to finding a way through the strong defense of the reigning king. He’s also no stranger to taking on the elite Thais, so he’ll be confident in his ability to bring the fight to Nong-O.
With the fierce power both men pack in their fists, there’s a high probability that someone’s night will end looking at the ceiling lights.
#3 The Return Of Prajanchai
Former ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion Prajanchai PK.Saenchai is back and hungry to return to winning ways, as he looks to challenge for the gold once again in the near future.
The Bangkok native will enjoy the support of his home crowd when he meets two-division Lumpinee Stadium World Champion Kompetch Sitsarawatsuer in a highly anticipated trilogy match.
Prajanchai and Kompetch split a pair of decisions back in 2020, and both men will be keen to move ahead in this hotly contested series.
The PK.Saenchai man is still the #1-ranked contender in the strawweight Muay Thai division, and a win would almost certainly earn him a rematch with Joseph Lasiri. But Kompetch could bulldoze his way to the top of the weight class with an emphatic victory over his old foe.
#4 Young Blood Vs. Veteran In Clash Of Heavy Hitters
The battle between Seksan Or. Kwanmuang and Tyson Harrison is guaranteed to deliver some spectacular moments.
Seksan earned his reputation as one of the most entertaining Muay Thai fighters in toe-to-toe battles with the best in the sport, and his moniker of “The Man Who Yields To No One” explains that perfectly.
However, Harrison bears the name of a ferocious boxing legend, and he’ll be keen to bring those skills to contest. With 12 KOs from 22 career wins, the burgeoning Australian star wants to rise to the occasion in their 140-pound catchweight Muay Thai clash.
That means the Bangkok crowd and broadcast viewers around the world are sure to witness some intense exchanges for as long as the match lasts.
#5 International MMA Stars Ready To Make A Splash
A pair of MMA bouts are interspersed among the Muay Thai fights, and there are athletes from four different continents in action – including three promotional newcomers.
Brazilian submission specialist Richard Godoy meets Russia’s Alexy Lyapunov in a lightweight tilt, and Japan’s Akihiro Fujisawa faces the USA’s Colton Kielbasa in a flyweight tussle.
Apart from Fujisawa, this is the first time these men have competed on such a huge platform, and they’re fired up and eager to make a good impression in their hunt for glory.
