5 Reasons Why You Can’t Miss ‘ONE On TNT IV’

The inaugural season of “ONE on TNT” will come to a close with its most stacked card yet on Wednesday, 28 April.

When “ONE on TNT IV” hits the airwaves live on U.S. prime-time television, fans will be treated to the biggest names, the most explosive finishers, and the hottest rising stars in the world of martial arts.

Here are five reasons why the jaw-dropping event can’t be missed as ONE Championship closes the curtain on a groundbreaking month of action.

#1 A World Champion Vs. World Champion Showdown

The main event pits two fierce World Champion rivals against one another, and each man has something to prove.

When then-reigning two-division ONE World Champion Aung La “The Burmese Python” N Sang last competed in the Circle in October, he suffered the quickest loss – and the only stoppage defeat – of his ONE Championship career.

Undefeated grappling sensation Reinier “The Dutch Knight” de Ridder dragged the Myanmar sports icon down to the canvas early in the first round and submitted him to win the middleweight belt.

Now, the two will meet again – this time, for Aung La N Sang’s ONE Light Heavyweight World Title – and the stakes could not be any higher.

De Ridder wants to take the Myanmar superstar’s other belt and become a two-division ONE World Champion, while “The Burmese Python” looks to prove he can defeat the lanky Dutchman, keep his gold, and tie their series one apiece.

#2 Alvarez’s Surprising Return

Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez did not get the ending he wanted in his “ONE on TNT I” matchup with #2-ranked lightweight contender Iuri Lapicus. However, the North American legend has the chance to get back on track right away when he faces Ok Rae Yoon just three weeks after his disqualification loss.

Alvarez was vocal in his wish to return to action as soon as possible, and it was granted when Ok defeated Marat “Cobra” Gafurov at “ONE on TNT III” last week.

The promotional newcomer immediately put himself in the lightweight mix by defeating the former ONE Featherweight World Champion and #5-ranked lightweight contender via decision.

Most interestingly for the fans, it was the South Korean’s striking repertoire that allowed him to overcome the Russian grappler, and that could tee up a great stand-up tussle with “The Underground King.”

Alvarez is hungrier than ever after a frustrating outing, and he’ll come firing on all cylinders — only to be met by equal force from Ok.

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• Folayang Plans To Use Aoki As Springboard Back To The World Title

#3 Asian MMA Legends Set For Trilogy Bout

Headlining the Bleacher Report lead card are Asian mixed martial arts legends Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki and Eduard “Landslide” Folayang, who will settle their feud in a highly anticipated trilogy bout.

Folayang knocked out then-reigning ONE Lightweight World Champion Aoki to claim the gold at ONE: DEFENDING HONOR back in November 2016, and the Japanese legend returned the favor with a trademark submission over his Filipino rival at ONE: A NEW ERA in March 2019.

There are no secrets here. It’s striking power versus grappling mastery, and both men have shown that their skill set can be superior on any given night — and that means there’s no way to predict what might transpire when they meet in the middle for the third time.

“Tobikan Judan” is the man in form with three straight wins against elite opposition, but Folayang’s heart and courage make him a constant threat.

#4 The Year Of ‘Reug Reug’ Continues

“Reug Reug” Oumar Kane has been a revelation in The Home Of Martial Arts in 2021. The Senegalese wrestling sensation has put the heavyweight division on notice with two stunning first-round victories in quick succession.

Now standing at 3-0 in his professional mixed martial arts career, “Reug Reug” meets his match in Kirill Grishenko, who sports an identical 3-0 slate. Like his surging rival, Grishenko has also finished all three of his past opponents inside the distance.

What makes this contest more intriguing are the relative styles of the two ginormous battlers. Both have been able to take their opponents down and hammer them with strikes so far in their careers.

This time, Kane’s Senegalese folkstyle wrestling goes up against the Belarusian’s elite Greco-Roman wrestling skills. Whoever can win the struggle for top position could ultimately win the match, but if neither man can get an advantage there, fans are still left with two powerful monsters duking it out on the feet.

#5 The Women Are Ready To Throw Down

Rounding off the card are a pair of women’s matchups, as Jackie Buntan and Ekaterina “Barbie” Vandaryeva square off in a strawweight Muay Thai clash, and Colbey Northcutt meets Courtney “No Mercy” Martin in a catchweight mixed martial arts bout.

Buntan got her ONE Super Series career off to a flying start when she shocked Wondergirl Fairtex with a blinding performance at ONE: FISTS OF FURY.

After suffering a defeat to Buntan’s teammate and current ONE Atomweight Kickboxing World Champion Janet “JT” Todd in her promotional debut, Vandaryeva will be keen to get a slice of redemption and notch up her first win on the global stage.

Northcutt — sister to lightweight star “Super” Sage Northcutt — wants to compound her debut success with another victory, but she knows that Martin is a tough nut to crack, and the pair will want to open the show in style on 28 April.

Read more: Bigdash Out, Aung La N Sang To Rematch De Ridder At ‘ONE On TNT IV’