5 Rising Stars Who Are Ready To Shine At ONE 158
ONE 158: Tawanchai vs. Larsen is stacked from top to bottom with compelling matchups that will light up the Singapore Indoor Stadium this Friday, 3 June.
And while the main event will feature a World Title eliminator between established featherweight Muay Thai stars Tawanchai PK.Saenchai and Niclas Larsen, some of the most promising rising talents in martial arts are set to showcase their skills on the rest of the card.
Here, we look at five exciting athletes who could take their careers to the next level at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
#1 Fabricio Andrade
The brash and outspoken Andrade has put the entire bantamweight MMA division on notice with a series of explosive performances since joining ONE in 2020.
The young Brazilian’s high-octane fighting style has been problematic for his opponents, with “Wonder Boy” laying waste to the likes of Chinese firecracker Li Kai Wen and former bantamweight kingpin Kevin Belingon.
As Andrade’s confidence continues to grow, he’s begun calling out the top dogs – newly crowned ONE Bantamweight World Champion John Lineker and #1 contender Bibiano Fernandes.
It’s clear that #4-ranked “Wonder Boy” hopes to earn a World Title shot in the near future. To make that happen, he’ll need to beat #2-ranked Kwon Won Il convincingly in Friday’s second-last fight – perhaps with his third consecutive first-round finish.
#2 Kwon Won Il
South Korea’s Kwon Won Il is the #2-ranked fighter in ONE’s deep bantamweight division. He’s a hard-hitting phenom with plenty of experience, and he’s currently riding a three-fight winning streak.
Pretty Boy’s hands have been the biggest ingredients in his recipe for destruction. Out of his 10 career victories, Kwon has eight wins by knockout and one by submission. He’s a bona fide finisher who knows exactly how to end matters inside the distance.
Kwon’s showdown with Andrade could come down to who lands first, as both men will willingly meet at the center of the Circle.
And while we can only have one winner, this fight is practically guaranteed to produce fireworks.
#3 Adrian Mattheis
One of the most exciting fighters to come out of Indonesia, Mattheis is a ticking time bomb who’s ready to explode at any moment. He’s a legitimate threat to anyone at strawweight, and he’s quickly rising through the division with every victory.
“Papua Badboy” has also been on a tear as of late, winning five of his last six fights, all via dramatic finishes. He has a knack for overwhelming opponents with his unwavering will to win, and he’ll need another impeccable performance at ONE 158.
Mattheis most recently stopped former ONE Strawweight World Champion Alex Silva with a second-round TKO in March, upping his own record for finishes in the division (9).
Those two will rematch on Friday, and with a victory, “Papua Badboy” would establish himself as a legitimate World Title threat.
#4 Rade Opacic
Heavyweight kickboxer Rade Opacic has been a breakout star since he joined ONE Championship in 2020.
The Serbian sensation is an absolute force to be reckoned with, and he’s exhibited immense power with four straight second-round finishes over the likes of Errol Zimmerman and Francesko Xhaja.
When Opacic takes on legendary striker Guto Inocente at ONE 158, he’ll have another opportunity to showcase his incredible power.
And if he emerge victorious yet again, a shot at the inaugural ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Title could be just around the corner.
#5 Odie Delaney
Odie Delaney electrified ONE Championship fans in his promotional debut earlier this year when he submitted 6-foot-7 Thomas Narmo in the first round at ONE: BAD BLOOD.
The 32-year-old former NCAA Division I All-American wrestler has maintained an unblemished record since transitioning to mixed martial arts in 2019, and he’s quickly become one of the most exciting fighters in ONE’s budding heavyweight division.
None of Delaney’s opponents have made it to the final bell so far, and the rising American wants to keep it that way. However, “The Witness” does have a tough test ahead of him in Iranian Wrestling Champion Mehdi Barghi.
It’s usually a firefight when two elite heavyweights collide, and fans should look forward to watching the next step in Delaney’s MMA journey.
