5 Stunning Knockouts From ‘ONE On TNT III’ Heavy Hitters
Some of ONE Championship’s most powerful strikers will bring serious firepower to the proceedings at “ONE on TNT III” this Wednesday, 21 April.
The explosive event series on U.S. prime-time television has already offered up plenty of memorable finishes, and that trend looks set to continue with the lineup of strikers who are braced for war in the third installment.
Here are five of the best knockouts from the truly global array of Muay Thai competitors and mixed martial artists who are set for action.
Lineker Prevails In Battle Of Bantamweight Sluggers
Everybody knows what to expect when John “Hands of Stone” Lineker steps into the Circle, but that doesn’t mean his rivals can stop it.
The Brazilian star took on fellow knockout artist Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon at ONE: INSIDE THE MATRIX III in November 2020 and didn’t stop slugging until the Filipino hit the canvas in round two.
Belingon used kicks and punches to try and keep the marauding Lineker away, but “Hands of Stone” could not be pushed back and waded in with hurtful hooks behind his jab.
Lineker seemed intent on breaking down “The Silencer’s” body and pushed him to the Circle Wall with a double-jab. He followed that with a right hook that smashed painfully into his foe’s floating rib.
The Filipino tried to put on his best poker face, but as he attempted to roll away from the next attack, “Hands of Stone” sent him down and out with a right uppercut to the side of the head.
Worthen Demolishes Chen With Ground-And-Pound
Troy “Pretty Boy” Worthen looked phenomenal in his promotional debut against “The Ghost” Chen Rui at ONE: MASTERS OF DESTINY in July 2019.
The American powerhouse showcased his wrestling prowess as he dominated the opening stanza and came close to finishing the bout until his Chinese rival was saved by the bell.
In round two, Worthen slammed Chen to the canvas again with a body lock and worked from the half-guard position with punches and elbows.
The finishing salvo came when “Pretty Boy” slid around to “The Ghost’s” back as he tried to escape. Chen wriggled but only wound up in mount, where Worthen pummeled him with hard punches and elbows until the referee waved off the contest via TKO.
Next, Worthen will take on Lineker in a USA vs. Brazil tussle.
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Wakamatsu’s Right Hand Starches Eustaquio
As one of the hardest pound-for-pound hitters on the global stage, Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu has produced his fair share of stunning wins, but his finish of former ONE Flyweight World Champion Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio at ONE: DAWN OF HEROES in August 2019 could well be the highlight.
The Japanese destroyer loaded up on his right hand from the start, and it didn’t take long for that strike to land with concussive force.
“Gravity” tried to use a more diverse arsenal and poked at his rival’s knee with a front kick to gauge the distance. However, he stayed in Wakamatsu’s range and paid the price.
“Little Piranha” teed up his money shot with a left hook and then uncorked a monstrous straight right that pierced the Filipino’s guard and left him looking up at the arena lights. From there, a rapid succession of ground-and-pound quickly sealed the deal.
Wakamatsu is now on a three-fight winning streak and will face off against Aussie grappler Reece “Lightning” McLaren in another high-stakes battle.
Holzken Snatches Compton’s Liver
Nieky “The Natural” Holzken is one of the most revered kickboxers of the modern era, and he showed that he’s still at the top of his game when he defeated Elliot “The Dragon” Compton at ONE: BIG BANG II in December 2020.
The Dutchman’s slick boxing proved too much for the Australian Muay Thai stylist, and he found a finish after just 96 seconds of the fight with an inch-perfect liver shot.
Compton tried to keep “The Natural” on the outside with his strong jab and low kicks, but Holzken was eager to close the distance and get inside to score with his hands.
The Helmond native pushed his rival backward with a jab-cross, and as “The Dragon” tried to reset, Holzken let rip with the bout-ending combination.
He stuck his jab in Compton’s face, shot a right uppercut through the middle, and then rammed his left fist into his foe’s midsection — incapacitating the Aussie so he was unable to make the 10-count.
Next up, Holzken will meet the legendary John Wayne “The Gunslinger” Parr in a rare Muay Thai outing for the Dutchman.
Miao Takes Out A Striking Legend
Miao Li Tao earned the biggest win of his career when he knocked out former ONE Strawweight World Champion Dejdamrong “Kru Rong” Sor Amnuaysirichoke at ONE: ENTER THE DRAGON in May 2019.
As a multiple-time Muay Thai World Champion, “Kru Rong” was favored to find success in the stand-up game, but his Chinese opponent showed that power can be the great equalizer.
Miao tried to wrestle with the Thai star in the early running of the match, but then he took advantage of an opening on the feet.
The pair launched simultaneous attacks at one another — a looping right for the Chinese athlete, and an elbow from the Evolve man — but Miao beat his foe to the second shot.
The Beijing native let rip with a left hook before “Kru Rong” could retract his right arm to defend. The strike landed right on the button and immediately separated Dejdamrong from his senses.
Miao returns to action against Japan’s Ryuto “Dragon Boy” Sawada to open “ONE on TNT III” on Wednesday.
Read more: How To Watch ‘ONE On TNT III’
