5 Reasons Why You Can’t Miss ONE: MASTERS OF DESTINY

After a short break, ONE Championship is set to return with a bang in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with a stacked card on Friday, 12 July.

With a host of top-class match-ups, including the most eagerly-awaited kickboxing rematch in ONE Super Series history, a can’t-miss women’s strawweight battle, and much more, ONE: MASTERS OF DESTINY looks set to give fans an unforgettable evening.

Here are five big reasons why you can’t afford to miss out when The Home Of Martial Arts returns to the Axiata Arena.

#1 A Kickboxing Rematch For The Ages

When Giorgio “The Doctor” Petrosyan and Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy first faced off in May, two striking cultures collided, and there was a fierce debate about who deserved to win after a gripping encounter.

The controversy around the contest demanded a rematch, and now the pair will face off to claim the final semifinal spot in the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix.

Petrosyan is one of kickboxing’s pound-for-pound greats, while Petchmorakot is a multi-time Muay Thai World Champion who has parlayed his skills in “the art of eight limbs” to kickboxing with spectacular effect.

Now the pair will meet again, and each man has taken everything they learned from their first encounter to inform their training so they can enter the ring ready to put on a show, and leave no doubt about who deserves to march on toward the tournament’s US$1 million prize.

#2 A Sensational Strawweight Clash

ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee was desperate for a quick return after her last bout in March, so she accepted another match in the strawweight division.

In Malaysia, her Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt skills will be put to the test like never before in the mixed martial arts arena when she faces eight-time BJJ World Champion, Michelle Nicolini.

Lee has utilized her grappling to great effect throughout her career in the world’s largest martial arts organization – she has more wins by submission than any other woman in ONE – but her Brazilian rival is one of the best pound-for-pound women’s submission grapplers ever. She also already has a win over her upcoming opponent in a BJJ match.

Furthermore, Nicolini has expressed how her history as Lee’s former teammate has her fired up for this contest, which will add an extra element of tension to this clash of top-tier warriors.

#3 A New Star On The Rise

India’s Gurdarshan “Saint Lion” Mangat made a spectacular start to his ONE career as he bids to be India’s first-ever mixed martial arts World Champion.

Mangat’s third-round finish of former World Title challenger Toni Tauru announced his arrival as a dangerous newcomer to the flyweight division, and maintained his habit of finishing bouts – 10 of his 14 wins have been via stoppage.

In Kuala Lumpur, he will meet a man who achieved all but one of his victories inside the distance, which should make for an explosive encounter.

If the 32-year-old can shut down the best offense Indonesia’s Abro “The Black Komodo” Fernandes can muster and respond with an attack like he did in March, he can propel himself up the flyweight rankings.

#4 A Stacked ONE Super Series Lineup

ONE Super Series has become a guarantee of exciting back-and-forth striking action as the world’s best Muay Thai and kickboxing athletes face off on the biggest stage in martial arts.

The match-ups never fail to excite, with fast-and-furious exchanges that bring diversity to every card, and deliver thrilling bouts for fans.

Before the headline attraction, the main card opener between Japan’s Hiroki Akimoto and Australia’s Kenny “The Pitbull” Tse has all the ingredients to produce flyweight kickboxing fireworks as two aggressive athletes go head-to-head.

Former ONE Atomweight Kickboxing World Champion “Killer Bee” Chuang Kai Ting and former World Title challenger Janet “JT” Todd meet in a pivotal match-up in the atomweight division, as the prelims see some high-caliber competition that would be guaranteed to feature on the main card in any other martial arts organization.

One of the most anticipated encounters for the home fans will see two local heroes go toe-to-toe under Muay Thai rules as Saiful “The Vampire” Merican and Mohammed “Jordan Boy” Bin Mahmoud face off for bragging rights at bantamweight.

Throw in a featherweight Muay Thai bout between Scotland’s George Mann and Thailand’s Sorgraw Petchyindee Academy, and stand-up aficionados should have their fill of outstanding action.

#5 ONE Warrior Series Graduates push their claims

Both South Korea’s “Crazy Dog” Dae Sung Park and Japan’s Kimihiro Eto found their way onto the ONE Championship roster via Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series.

The pair met in the show’s first live event, when Park claimed a quick win to book his spot in the big show. But Eto returned to the series to register three straight submission wins to earn a contract for the main roster, too.

Now, these talented rising stars will meet again on the global stage as they look to spring toward great things in the lightweight division.