5 Takeaways From ONE: FULL BLAST
On 28 May, ONE: FULL BLAST dazzled fans with a five-bout card filled with all sorts of memorable moments.
In the main event, Saemapetch Fairtex ended the evening with a crushing body shot that will endure on his highlight reel for years to come.
With the dust now settled, we break down that stunning finish – and much more – with five key takeaways from ONE: FULL BLAST.
#1 Saemapetch Is Undisputed Top Contender
Fireworks were guaranteed in the main event showdown between top bantamweight Muay Thai contenders, but such an early knockout was still shocking.
Just two minutes into their contest, #1-ranked Saemapetch threw a right hand that forced #3-ranked “The Left Meteorite” Kulabdam Sor. Jor. Piek Uthai’s guard up and then fired a blistering straight left to the liver that put “Left Meteorite” in the fetal position.
These striking stars were originally slated to meet in the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai Tournament final, but Saemapetch was forced to withdraw due to injury. At ONE: FULL BLAST, the lingering question of what would happen when they finally faced off was answered by the thunderous body shot that echoed throughout the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Saemapetch’s emphatic KO surely captured the attention of ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Gaiyanghadao, and it could lead to an epic World Title rematch after Nong-O emerged victorious the first time they met.
In any case, Saemapetch’s impressive return to the Circle proved that he is undoubtedly the division’s #1 contender.
#2 Xie Nears Contention, Chases History
“The Hunter” Xie Wei wants to become China’s first male Mixed Martial Arts World Champion, and he took another step forward with a second-round TKO of debuting Indian star Kantharaj Agasa “Kannadiga”.
With his big goal in mind, “The Hunter” sees every fight as a chance to send a message to the flyweight division. And after a TKO victory over Chan Rothana at ONE: COLLISION COURSE last time out, the follow-up showing against Agasa was even more impressive.
On Friday, the Chinese striker pushed at an incredible pace and outworked the Indian grappler. Xie shut down takedown attempts, threw heavy punches, and hammered Agasa with thudding leg kicks. The accumulation of offense left “Kannadiga” unable to continue following the second round.
With back-to-back TKOs, Xie has loudly announced that he is nearing flyweight contention and a chance to make history.
#3 Simson Is Exciting Addition To OSS Kickboxing
Miles “The Punisher” Simson grabbed the spotlight in his promotional debut at ONE: FULL BLAST and emerged as the welterweight kickboxing division’s leader.
The Dutch-Surinamese athlete went toe-to-toe with Santino Verbeek for three full rounds that saw both men dig deep into their arsenals. And despite falling behind early, Simson finished the fight with an impressive flurry that earned him the unanimous decision victory – and plenty of new fans.
It’s clear that we can expect a ton of offense from “The Punisher,” and his next ONE Super Series matchup will be highly anticipated. For now, he’s the man to beat in his weight class.
#4 Kelly’s Undeniable Will
Edward “The Ferocious” Kelly continues to inspire fans with his incredible heart inside the Circle.
In a display of sheer guts and toughness, Kelly survived a deep triangle choke from Ahmed “The Prince” Faress in the second round of their bout at ONE: FULL BLAST.
Faress had the submission attempt locked in for nearly two minutes. Still, the Filipino’s never-say-die attitude allowed him to hang in the fight until he eventually popped his head out and worked the remainder of the round from top position.
Those survival instincts proved to be fruitful, as Kelly ultimately earned a split-decision victory that could reinvigorate his status in the stacked featherweight mixed martial arts division.
#5 OWS Alums Keep Bringing It
ONE Warrior Series is a proving ground for the brightest up-and-coming martial artists around the world. And at ONE: FULL BLAST, three graduates to the main roster showed their skills on the global stage.
One of those grads was Xie, who put on a dominant performance to keep his momentum rolling.
Meanwhile, Anthony “The Antidote” Do’s main roster debut ended with a brilliant second-round triangle choke of Liang Hui. Do exhibited his impressive ability to create opportunities on the fly, as he locked in the submission immediately after a takedown from Liang.
And though Faress dropped a decision to Kelly, it was a tightly contested battle that nearly saw him finish the Filipino. “The Prince” proved he belonged against the Team Lakay standout and left a strong first impression on the ONE Championship fan base.
Overall, those performances from the OWS alums were a testament to the talented athletes who compete on that stage before making their way into The Home Of Martial Arts.
Read more: ONE: FULL BLAST – Full Results For Saemapetch Vs. Kulabdam
