5 Reasons To Watch ONE: UNBREAKABLE III
The UNBREAKABLE series has delivered some phenomenal action so far, and there are plenty of reasons to believe its grand finale will be another smash hit.
ONE: UNBREAKABLE III, which airs this Friday, 5 February, features some of the most popular stars in The Home Of Martial Arts, and many of them will have a point to prove at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Before this previously recorded event hits the airwaves, we’ve picked out five mouthwatering storylines that make it a must-watch affair.
#1 Stamp Continues Quest For World Title In A Third Sport
Former ONE Atomweight Muay Thai and Kickboxing World Champion Stamp Fairtex has been focusing her efforts on mixed martial arts, and on Friday, she can move closer to her goal of winning World Titles in three sports.
The Thai star is currently unbeaten in mixed martial arts (5-0) and owns the #5 contender spot in the atomweight rankings, but talented Ukrainian Alyona Rassohyna will be her toughest test to date.
Rassohyna is more experienced than Stamp at 12-4, and she will bring a potent ground game to the battle against the striking specialist.
After a pair of decision wins at the start of her career, the Dnipro native’s last 10 victories all came via submission. Even more incredibly, every single one finished with a first-round armbar.
That means Stamp’s improving ground game will be pushed to the limit by a master of the grappling arts, and if the Thai can overcome this immense challenge, she will prove ready to take on the atomweight division’s big guns.
#2 Sato’s World Title Shot Is At Stake
Shoko Sato has been nothing short of brilliant in his ONE tenure to date. The #2-ranked bantamweight contender has gone 3-0 on the global stage while finishing three elite adversaries inside the distance.
The Japanese Mixed Martial Arts Champion appears ready for a World Title shot against the division’s reigning king, Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes – as long as he earns the victory in Singapore.
However, Fabricio “Wonder Boy” Andrade is not afraid to spoil a party. In his promotional debut last July, the Brazilian Muay Thai Champion showcased his massive potential by finishing tough foe Mark “Tyson” Abelardo in spectacular fashion.
“Wonder Boy” could leapfrog the other bantamweight contenders – including Sato – if he wins at ONE: UNBREAKABLE III, but with gold in his sights, the man from Tokyo will be motivated to finish the job and earn his crack at Fernandes.
- Stamp Refocused Ahead Of MMA Return Against Rassohyna
- Top 5 Stoppage Wins From The MMA Stars Of ONE: UNBREAKABLE III
- Rassohyna Vows To Submit Stamp With Famed Armbar
#3 India-Pakistan Sports Rivalry Renewed
Athletes from India and Pakistan have faced off with national pride at stake for many years, and the latest installment of that sporting competition comes in the shape of Rahul “The Kerala Krusher” Raju vs. Ahmed “Wolverine” Mujtaba.
While this matchup will feature good-hearted competition between two martial arts stars, each fan base will be eager to one-up their historic rival.
As his moniker suggests, Raju hails from the Kerala region of India. The Juggernaut Fight Club athlete is a strong grappler who’s already submitted two of his opponents on the global stage.
Meanwhile, Mujtaba is from Quetta, Pakistan, and despite also having submission finishes on his resume, he brings a strong striking game to the Circle.
This lightweight mixed martial arts clash offers up an array of possibilities, with “The Kerala Krusher” and “Wolverine” both hoping to deliver for their home nation.
#4 Can Sawada Make Good On Early Promise?
After graduating from ONE Warrior Series with a pair of submission victories, Ryuto “Dragon Boy” Sawada affirmed his status as one of the strawweight division’s most dangerous newcomers when he submitted Aziz Calim in his ONE debut.
There was plenty of talk about how he’d fare against the top dogs, but a setback versus Bokang “Little Giant” Masunyane tempered those conversations. However, a bounce-back win over Miao Li Tao put Sawada right back in the thick of things, and on Friday, he’ll hope to make good on that early promise.
Battle-hardened veteran Robin “The Ilonggo” Catalan is not willing to be anybody’s stepping stone, however.
Catalan’s last win was a Knockout of the Year contender against Gustavo Balart in November 2019, and the Filipino Muay Thai Champion has the tools to halt “Dragon Boy” in his tracks.
How Sawada navigates this dangerous adversary will be a key litmus test as he eyes Joshua “The Passion” Pacio at the top of the strawweight ranks.
#5 Aung La N Sang’s Protege Returns
Tial “The Dragon Leg” Thang is a first-rate martial artist who stands on his own merit, but having the backing of ONE Light Heavyweight World Champion Aung La “The Burmese Python” N Sang certainly bolsters his credentials.
The rising star from Myanmar sought help from his countryman and now trains alongside him at Sanford MMA in the hope of emulating his incredible success.
Following back-to-back victories in The Home Of Martial Arts, Thang will face an experienced rival in Paul “The Great King” Lumihi at ONE: UNBREAKABLE III.
Lumihi, a five-time Indonesian Mixed Martial Arts Champion, blasted his way through the domestic circuit to reach the global stage, where he needs a big win to prove that he belongs.
There are high stakes for both men in this matchup, but “The Dragon Leg” has an added weight of expectation given the quality of his company.
Read more: Full Card Revealed For ONE: UNBREAKABLE III
