5 Reasons Why You Can’t Miss ONE: WARRIOR’S CODE
ONE Championship is ready to make history with a slate of non-stop action on Friday, 7 February.
The promotion returns to the Istora Senayan in Jakarta, Indonesia with ONE: WARRIOR’S CODE, which is set to feature a host of international superstars and homegrown heroes.
To top it all off, the 12-bout card will see the crowning of the first-ever ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion.
A fun night in the Indonesian capital awaits the global fanbase. Here are just five of the many reasons why you must watch ONE: WARRIOR’S CODE on Friday.
#1 A New World Champion Will Be Crowned
Two of the best Muay Thai strikers will have a chance to enter the record books, as Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy challenges his Thai compatriot Pongsiri PK.Saenchaimuaythaigym for the inaugural ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title in the main event.
Petchmorakot, who is a four-time Muay Thai World Champion, has been a force on the global stage ever since making his promotional debut in June 2018.
In addition to his thrilling pair of battles with Giorgio “The Doctor” Petrosyan last year, the 25-year-old has ignited the masses with several knockouts – including his stoppages of British strikers Liam “Hitman” Harrison and Charlie “Boy” Peters, who he stopped with his left elbow and knee strikes, respectively.
The Petchyindee Academy representative is entering this World Title affair on the heels of a full training camp, unlike his courageous opponent, who accepted this bout just 24 hours ago.
Like his younger opponent, Pongsiri developed his style in the Bangkok stadium circuit, where he eventually became a four-time Muay Thai World Champion.
The 29-year-old is used to competing in the ring quite frequently and, despite being cleared for battle on a single day’s notice, he is always prepared for action at any given time. Because of that, he may just capitalize on the biggest opportunity of his career in Jakarta.
#2 Aung La N Sang’s Next Challenger Will Emerge
The top contenders in the middleweight division will meet in the co-main event for the right to challenge for the crown later this year.
Leandro “Wolf” Ataides has been on an absolute tear. He is a five-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion who possesses knockout power, which he has brilliantly displayed in his current three-bout win streak.
The surging 33-year-old stopped Mohamed “Flex” Ali with a flying knee, out-dueled former ONE Light Heavyweight World Title challenger Michal Pasternak en route to a unanimous decision, and became the only person to knock out former middleweight king Vitaly Bigdash.
To keep that streak going, he must now become the first person to defeat Reinier “The Dutch Knight” De Ridder, something all 11 of his opponents to date have failed to do.
In fact, he has finished every man who has stood across from him, including “King Kong Warrior” Fan Rong and Gilberto “Giba” Galvao. The 29-year-old predicts he will do the same to Ataides, and he anticipates it happening via submission.
It will be exciting to see whether “Wolf” can keep his streak going and if “The Dutch Knight” can keep his spotless record intact. Whoever is successful will get rewarded with a shot at Aung La N Sang’s ONE Middleweight World Title.
#3 Riveting Muay Thai Bouts On The Lead Card
The main event is not the only thrilling ONE Super Series action on the bill. In fact, a pair of match-ups will electrify the lead card.
Two of the flyweight division’s young stars will take center stage, as “The Baby Face Killer” Savvas Michael Petchyindee Academy meets Taiki “Silent Sniper” Naito in a pivotal battle to move up the rankings.
This marks the Cypriot’s first match back in The Home Of Martial Arts since his freak injury last August, so he will want to prove he is ready to face the division’s elite.
As for Naito, he has been vocal about his desire to challenge ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon and a victory over “The Baby Face Killer” brings him one step closer to achieving his dream.
Also, battle-hardened Australian warrior Josh “Timebomb” Tonna drops to the newly-established strawweight division and welcomes Liam Harrison’s teammate Andy “Punisher” Howson to the world’s largest martial arts organization.
#4 A Battle Between Rising Atomweight Stars
Business is about to pick up in the women’s atomweight division.
ONE Warrior Series competitor Nyrene “Neutron Bomb” Crowley finally gets her chance to grace the global stage by stepping up on short notice to battle undefeated Japanese grappler Itsuki “Strong Heart Fighter” Hirata.
The 20-year-old Tokyo native has been absolutely dominant in her young mixed martial arts career. “Strong Heart Fighter” has finished every single one of her opponents by submission, and she has never looked threatened in competition.
However, Crowley – the first Kiwi female signed to ONE Championship’s main roster – has impressed during her stint in the promotion’s developmental league, and her mix of kickboxing and wrestling could be the ticket to marring Hirata’s perfect record.
#5 The Next Indonesian Hope
Multiple-time Indonesian national wrestling champion Eko Roni Saputra returns to home soil for a flyweight clash with Cambodian veteran Khon Sichan.
The 28-year-old hero had abrupt endings to his previous two outings, but he showed his grappling flair in those brief glimpses.
In Jakarta, the Evolve representative has the opportunity to further display his skill set against a more established mixed martial artist who has a penchant for striking.
Saputra has a chance to make a big statement on the global stage in his homecoming, but if Khon has his way, then he will ruin the occasion and elevate his name at the wrestling champion’s expense.
Read more: ONE: WARRIOR’S CODE – By The Numbers
