5 Reasons To Watch ONE: REVOLUTION On 24 September
ONE: REVOLUTION looks set to be a standout night in 2021’s martial arts calendar.
The 11-bout card on Friday, 24 September, is bursting at the seams with world-class athletes in the MMA, kickboxing, and Muay Thai ranks.
With so many riveting matchups, here are five big reasons why you must tune in to see the action unfold live.
#1 A Trio Of Massive World Title Fights
Three incredible World Championship contests top the bill and feature some of the most exciting titleholders on the global stage.
In the main event, Christian “The Warrior” Lee will defend his ONE Lightweight World Title against #3-ranked contender Ok Rae Yoon.
Ok is the only athlete remaining in the lightweight top five that Lee has yet to defeat, and the reigning king will have cleared out the current crop of contenders if he beats the surging South Korean juggernaut.
However, the challenger has already used his slick striking to defeat Marat “Cobra” Gafurov and Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez in ONE, proving that he’ll be no pushover for “The Warrior.”
Earlier in the night, Capitan Petchyindee Academy will put his ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Championship on the line against Mehdi “Diamond Heart” Zatout, and the latter has redemption in his sights.
The Thai dynamo took the crown from Zatout’s student and teammate, Alaverdi “Baby Face Killer” Ramazanov, in his last outing, and the French-Algerian striker is eager to get revenge.
Hard-hitting Capitan has the power to put anybody away, but Zatout’s experience and firepower will put him to the test.
The final battle for gold is a long-awaited trilogy match between Joshua “The Passion” Pacio and Yosuke “The Ninja” Saruta.
Since reclaiming the ONE Strawweight World Title from his Japanese rival, Pacio has added two more successful defenses to his slate, while “The Ninja” has posted impressive back-to-back wins.
With their series tied 1-1, it all comes down to the rubber match between two exciting strawweight warriors.
#2 Top Featherweights With KO Power
Former ONE Featherweight World Champion Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen is desperate for the chance to earn back the belt, and he could potentially get that chance with a win over “The Fighting God” Kim Jae Woong.
Kim’s latest victory over Tetsuya “MMA Fantasista” Yamada earned him a spot in the featherweight top five, and he has his own World Title ambitions in ONE Championship.
But even more compelling than their shared quest for a shot at featherweight king Thanh Le is the stylistic matchup between “The Situ-Asian” and “The Fighting God.”
Both men are concussive strikers who have a penchant for emphatic knockouts, and they know that the best way to make a statement on Friday would be with a finish, so this World Title eliminator is guaranteed to be a thriller.
- Christian Lee Vows To Not Look Past Ok Rae Yoon At ONE: REVOLUTION
- Breaking Down ‘Buchecha’: What Fans Can Expect From The BJJ Legend
- Aliakbari Vs. Malykhin: 4 Keys To Victory In Heavyweight Showdown
#3 Heavyweight Stars Settle Brewing Rivalry
The prospect of two giants meeting in the middle of the Circle is always exciting, and the feeling is amplified when there’s some bad blood between them.
Anatoly “Spartak” Malykhin was seen celebrating when “Mighty Warrior” Kang Ji Won knocked out Amir Aliakbari earlier this year – which the latter would not have appreciated.
Following that loss, the Iranian wrestling sensation was forced out of his originally slated bout with Malykhin, but he can make “Spartak” put his money where his mouth is at ONE: REVOLUTION.
The 9-0 Russian is in fine form and surely feels confident about his ability to hand Aliakbari another defeat in The Home of Martial Arts. By doing so, he can bolster his own run toward the ONE Heavyweight World Championship.
Still, the AAA Team representative can’t be written off. Aliakbari is a former Greco-Roman Wrestling World Champion with the skills and physicality to trouble anyone in the division, and he will be hungrier than ever to prove he belongs among the elite names in ONE.
#4 The MMA Debut Of ‘Buchecha’
Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida has won the most IBJJF Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championships in history. And now, the storied grappler is ready to begin on his journey toward mixed martial arts glory.
“Buchecha” has been working on his MMA game since 2015, first at American Kickboxing Academy and now at American Top Team. With his enormous list of accomplishments in BJJ, fans can’t wait to witness his debut in the all-encompassing sport.
However, the Brazilian won’t have it easy in his inaugural match, as he’ll face off against compatriot Anderson “Braddock” Silva in a heavyweight clash.
Silva is a world-class striker and ONE Super Series veteran who’s recorded impressive victories in the promotion, and he knows the combat sports world will be watching.
This could be a huge chance for the kickboxer to show that he can be a massive force in mixed martial arts, but that all depends on whether he can stay out of Almeida’s clutches for long enough to work his stand-up game.
#5 Teen ‘Prodigy’ Returns
As far as nicknames go, “The Prodigy” could not be more apt for Victoria Lee.
She’s taken out two older, more experienced opponents in her first two professional encounters, and at just 17 years old, she has almost unlimited potential.
However, the young phenom will face her toughest test to date at ONE: REVOLUTION when she squares off against a fellow unbeaten rising star in Victoria “Vick” Souza.
The 5-0 Brazilian possesses a well-rounded skill set that will pose problems for “The Prodigy.” She’s likely the most formidable BJJ threat that Lee has faced yet, which could lead to an interesting battle on the ground.
Both athletes have a bright future, but whoever comes out on top here will take the next big step forward in their career.
Read more: Pacio Talks Trilogy Bout With Saruta, Team Lakay Dreams, And More
