5 Reasons To Watch The Stacked ONE Friday Fights 92 On December 20
This Friday in Asia primetime, ONE Championship will return to the historic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, for one of the biggest all-striking cards in recent memory.
ONE Friday Fights 92: Sitthichai vs. Shadow features 12 intriguing Muay Thai and kickboxing matchups and will showcase both established global superstars and dangerous young talents on the rise.
From the event’s explosive opening bout all the way up to the high-stake headline attraction, the lineup is loaded with fights that are sure to draw the attention of fans around the world.
These are five reasons why ONE Friday Fights 92 is a can’t-miss event.
#1 Featherweight Striking GOATs Return
Two of the best featherweight strikers in history will be competing in Bangkok.
First, former three-time Glory Kickboxing World Champion and current #2-ranked featherweight kickboxing contender Marat Grigorian will square off with Moroccan knockout artist Abdelali “Black Diamond” Zahidi in a kickboxing tilt.
At 33 years old, the heavy-handed Grigorian is still hunting for 26 pounds of ONE Championship gold – which would be the most prestigious prize in his jam-packed trophy case.
He’ll aim to bolster his lengthy highlight reel with a strong performance against Zahidi, who will come into the contest fresh off a sensational knockout win in his promotional debut at ONE Friday Fights 88.
In the main event, decorated Thai superstar Sitthichai “Killer Kid” Sitsongpeenong will battle compatriot Shadow Singha Mawynn in a Muay Thai bout that promises fireworks.
An eight-time Muay Thai and Kickboxing World Champion – and currently a top-five contender in ONE’s featherweight Muay Thai and kickboxing divisions – Sitthichai has been a mainstay of the elite striking scene for well over a decade.
His terrifying power and veteran savvy will be tested against a master technician and hungry rising star in Shadow, who is still aiming to win a six-figure contract with ONE’s global roster.
#2 Panpayak Continues His Charge Toward The Top
After a two-year layoff, seven-time Muay Thai World Champion “The Angel Warrior” Panpayak Jitmuangon made his celebrated return to action earlier this year, earning a dominant decision win over Silviu Vitez.
The Thai striking icon hopes to keep the ball rolling and continue his climb toward a shot at the vacant ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title when he takes on undefeated Russian knockout artist Egor Bikrev.
In his last fight prior to his stay on the sidelines, Panpayak dropped a narrow split decision against current two-sport, two-division kingpin and #2-ranked flyweight Muay Thai contender Superlek Kiatmoo9.
“The Angel Warrior” knows that victory over a dangerous brawler like Bikrev would do wonders for his World Title aspirations – and could earn him a long-awaited rematch with “The Kicking Machine.”
#3 Masaaki Noiri’s Chance To Back Up The Hype
In June at ONE 167, Japanese fan favorite Masaaki Noiri made his hotly anticipated ONE debut when he went toe-to-toe with Sitthichai.
While the 31-year-old superstar came up short on the judges’ scorecards after three fast-paced rounds, he did enough to prove that he belongs with the best of the best.
Noiri, though, isn’t satisfied with simply belonging. At ONE Friday Fights 92, he’ll look to prove that the hype is justified when he battles Chinese debutant Liu Mengyang in a featherweight kickboxing scrap.
This will be Noiri’s chance to show fans around the globe what makes him so special, live up to the lofty expectations, and make his mark in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
#4 Kana Finally Faces Anissa Meksen In ONE Debut
Two of the best kickboxers the sport has ever seen will throw down in an atomweight affair, as decorated legend Anissa “C18” Meksen faces former K-1 Champion and promotional newcomer Kana “Krusher Queen” Morimoto.
Each woman is bringing a wealth of high-level experience and top-tier striking skills into this matchup, which has kickboxing enthusiasts salivating with anticipation.
Adding to the drama, both Meksen and Kana have made it clear that they’ve wanted this fight for a while, and on December 20, these striking icons will finally share the ring.
#5 Elbrus Osmanov Aims For Six-Figure Contract
In the event’s opening contest, undefeated Russian prodigy Elbrus “The Samurai” Osmanov will try to win a coveted six-figure contract and a spot on ONE’s global roster when he clashes with British scrapper Nathan Bendon.
The 23-year-old Osmanov has been on a tear since making his ONE Friday Fights debut, posting five consecutive wins in the bantamweight kickboxing division.
Those impressive victories – coupled with his all-action approach to combat – have earned him legions of fans and cemented him as a contender to watch.
If he can keep his perfect record intact and get past the tough-as-nails Bendon this Friday, Osmanov could soon be competing on ONE’s global roster in U.S. primetime.
