6 Reasons Why You Can’t Miss ONE: DAWN OF HEROES

ONE Championship will return to Manila this Friday, 2 August for the biggest martial arts event in the Philippines’ history.

ONE: DAWN OF HEROES is full of some of the biggest names in martial arts, as two World Championships get put on the line and two World Grands Prix finish their second phase on top of a host of other tantalizing match-ups at the Mall Of Asia Arena.

Here are just six reasons why you simply cannot miss the action at one of the biggest shows of the year.

#1 Two World Title Bouts

Mixed martial arts and Muay Thai gold will be on the line in a pair of main event match-ups that will feature some of the promotion’s most exciting competitors.

At the top of the bill, ONE Featherweight World Champion Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen will put his belt on the line when he takes on Japanese challenger Koyomi “Moushigo” Matsushima.

The Vietnamese-Australian has been untouchable in the division for almost four years, but he will face his toughest test yet against the 26-year-old from Japan, who has shown formidable grappling skills and knockout power in his two bouts in the world’s largest martial arts organization.

Before that, ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Jonathan “The General” Haggerty will make the first defense of his World Title against Thai star Rodtang “Iron Man” Jitmuangnon in one of the most eagerly-anticipated ONE Super Series Muay Thai clashes yet.

Haggerty shocked the world when his incredible performance dethroned the great Sam-A Gaiyanghadao to win the gold in May, and his first act with the World Title over his shoulder was to call out his upcoming opponent, whose all-action performances have made him one of the most feared competitors in “the art of eight limbs.”

These two contests promise to deliver a spectacular finale to the latest huge ONE event to hit Manila.

#2 Legends Meet In The Lightweight World Grand Prix

Eduard “Landslide” Folayang and Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez are two of the all-time great lightweights in mixed martial arts history.

The Filipino hero has twice won the ONE Lightweight World Title, and his upcoming opponent became a four-time World Champion in American organizations.

Now, these two legendary athletes from East and West will go head to head, and the winner will move to within just one more victory of a World Title shot.

Following injuries to Lowen Tynanes and Timofey Nastyukhin, Folayang and Alvarez were entered into the semifinals of the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix to determine a number one contender for the division’s belt.

Even without these high stakes, both men are renowned for thrilling bouts, and fans should expect non-stop action when they meet in Manila.

#3 All-Action Flyweight Tournament Semis

The ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix semifinals are also set to feature at the Mall Of Asia Arena, with 12-time World Champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson in the starring role.

The American icon faces Japanese contender Tatsumitsu “The Sweeper” Wada on one half of the bracket as the man considered by many as the sport’s greatest athlete aims to build toward a ONE Flyweight World Title shot.

The other tournament match-up will see Filipino fan-favorite Danny “The King” Kingad take on Australia’s Reece “Lightning” McLaren in an encounter that is all but guaranteed to deliver high-octane scrambles and striking exchanges.

#4 Team Lakay Takes Center Stage

Whenever ONE returns to Manila, you can bet the Philippines’ foremost martial arts squad – Team Lakay – will be out in force to thrill the fans and raise the noise levels in the Mall Of Asia Arena.

The Baguio City gym has produced an incredible crop of world-class martial artists, and will be front and center once again this weekend as five of its athletes enter the ring.

Before Folayang and Kingad step up, former ONE Flyweight World Champion Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio will go to battle with Japan’s Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu in a ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix reserve bout that could steal the show.

Another of the collective’s former World Champions will also return as ONE’s first featherweight king, Honorio “The Rock” Banario, takes on in-form South Korean “Crazy Dog” Dae Sung Park in the lightweight division.

Finally, Edward “The Ferocious” Kelly will welcome “The Stalker” Xie Bin from China to the featherweight division.

#5 Rodlek Makes Short-Notice Return

Muay Thai star Rodlek PK.Saeenchaimuaythaigym will make a swift turnaround to step in at short notice and wow the crowds again at ONE: DAWN OF HEROES.

The 29-year-old Channel 7 Stadium Muay Thai World Champion won one of the most thrilling ONE Super Series bouts of 2019 so far when he defeated Liam Harrison at ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST in June.

Now, the man from Bangkok, Thailand believes he can build on that win with an even-more crowd-pleasing performance against another all-action athlete, Scotland’s Andrew “Maddog Fairtex” Miller.

#6 A Strawweight Gem On The Prelims

The third bout of the night’s preliminary card has all the ingredients to ignite the passionate Manila crowd, as Thailand’s Pongsiri “The Smiling Assassin” Mitsatit and China’s Miao Li Tao go head to head in a must-see strawweight contest.

Both men have their eyes on a shot at the ONE Strawweight World Title and know that an impressive display could catapult them into contention.

Both men exhibited exciting, aggressive styles in their recent outings, so expect the action to be fast and furious as they battle for supremacy.