Martin Nguyen’s Top 5 Bouts
If you are looking for the most incredible highlight reel in ONE Championship history, Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen may have it.
Ever since the Vietnamese-Australian exploded onto the global stage for martial arts in November 2014, he has made a habit of entertaining the fans with exciting exchanges and incredible finishes.
Ahead of the ONE Featherweight World Champion’s next defense against Koyomi “Moushigo” Matsushima at ONE: DAWN OF HEROES, take a look back at his most spectacular matches for a taste of what you can expect to see on Friday, 2 August at the Mall Of Asia Arena.
#5 Nguyen Vs. Yokota – ONE: QUEST FOR POWER
By January 2017, “The Situ-Asian” felt at home in the world’s largest martial arts organization and had started to look like he could be the next big thing.
Performances like this one against Kazunori Yokota confirmed that, as he stayed loose and relaxed as the Japanese veteran feinted and faked, and then threw a perfect counter overhand right to put him down. A few more punches finished the job.
#4 Nguyen Vs. Lee I – ONE: HEROES OF THE WORLD
The first bout in a rivalry between two future ONE World Champions took place three years ago, and just like in their second meeting, it was Nguyen who had the edge against Christian “The Warrior” Lee.
However, unlike the rematch that lasted the full 25 minutes, the Vietnamese-Australian ended this one in the first round. He had to survive some heavy punches from the Singaporean, but then turned the tables with a stunning left hand, before he put his opponent to sleep with a vice-like guillotine choke.
#3 Nguyen Vs. Gafurov II – ONE: QUEST FOR GREATNESS
When Nguyen captured his World Title from Marat “Cobra” Gafurov in August 2017, he put on a performance that showed two incredible sides of his martial arts abilities.
First, he displayed his composure under pressure in the opening round as his Russian rival tried to get the submission that had won him their first match two years before.
Then, in the second stanza, the Sydney native showed off his sharp counterstriking skills as he caught “Cobra” with his trademark overhand right to climb to the top of the featherweight mountain.
#2 Nguyen Vs. Folayang – ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD
“The Situ-Asian” must not have thought things could get much better than his first World Championship triumph, but a few months later, he made martial arts history at the Mall Of Asia Arena.
Though he was up against the bigger, stronger, more experienced hometown hero – Eduard “Landslide” Folayang – Nguyen rose to the occasion again with his money punch.
He figured out his timing throughout the first round and a half, and then unleashed his right hand to stop the Filipino hero with one strike, and claim the ONE Lightweight World Title, too.
#1 Nguyen Vs. Jadambaa – ONE: ROOTS OF HONOR
This was a test of the ONE Featherweight World Champion’s ability and mentality like never before.
In April, the 30-year-old was coming off a long layoff, and he did not have the luxury of a tune-up bout. His opponent was one of the toughest, strongest, and most respected athletes to ever compete on the global stage – Narantungalag “Tungaa” Jadambaa.
When the action began, you would not have known that Nguyen was under any pressure as he executed a perfect game plan. He broke his rival down with leg kicks in the first five minutes, and then struck a decisive blow in the second round.
The finish was one of the most spectacular in ONE history, too – a walk-off flying knee that sent the Filipino fans in Manila into meltdown and confirmed the Hardknocks 365 representative’s status as the undisputed featherweight number one.
