Michael And Mitch's 2018 Highlights – The Best Bouts
When it comes to reviewing the greatest martial arts contests of 2018, two people are arguably more qualified than any others when it comes down to evaluating which were the best.
Michael Schiavello and Mitch Chilson have sat inches away from every strike, every takedown, and every transition in ONE Championship this year, which gives them a unique perspective on all that action.
Following the breakdowns of their favorite submissions and their most memorable knockouts, “The Voice” and “The Dragon” run through some of the most unforgettable contests in The Home Of Martial Arts.
Michael: Mei Yamaguchi VS Angela Lee II
At ONE: UNSTOPPABLE DREAMS, “Unstoppable” Angela Lee and Mei “V.V.” Yamaguchi finally met again in a rematch of one of mixed martial arts’ greatest World Title matches.
The bout lived up to the standard set by their first bout, as the competitors went back and forth for five rounds in another close contest. Lee won again, but do not be surprised if we see them meet for a third time in the future.
“Yamaguchi versus Lee is the Ali-Frazier of ONE Championship. It really is,” exclaims “The Voice.”
“Both times we’ve seen these ladies perform, they’ve given us two of the greatest matches of all time. The second one, without a doubt, was one of the highlights of watching ONE Championship in 2018.”
Michael: Kevin Belingon VS Bibiano Fernandes II
ONE: HEART OF THE LION brought a World Champion versus World Champion unification rematch as Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon and Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes battled to become the undisputed bantamweight king.
Belingon won on the judges’ cards by a narrow margin after five rounds that showcased the very best of mixed martial arts – jaw-dropping athleticism, incredible technique, and unforgettable warrior spirit.
“The crowd was rampant for it. What they got was one of the greatest matches in ONE Championship history,” says Schiavello.
Mitch: Li Kai Wen VS Emilio Urrutia
For pure, non-stop excitement, few contests can match “The Underdog” Li Kai Wen’s battle with Emilio “The Honey Badger” Urrutia.
At ONE: PURSUIT OF POWER, these two warriors left everything in the cage as they chased a dramatic finish. First Li was on top, and then Urrutia, before the Chinese star surged back to seal a dramatic knockout in round three.
“This match was bananas,” says Chilson.
“We got to see two warriors who had to dig down deep and put everything on the line.”
Michael: Srisaket Sor Rungvisai VS Iran Diaz
For the first time in the history of the world’s largest martial arts organization, boxing featured in the main event at ONE: KINGDOM OF HEROES.
In his native Bangkok, Thailand, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai defended his WBC Super Flyweight World Title with a commanding performance as he shut down Iran “MagnifiKO” Diaz over 12 rounds. It was a showcase of supreme skill, and non-stop excitement, too.
“[Srisaket] showed us why, pound-for-pound, he is one of the best on the planet,” Schiavello says.
Michael: Stamp Fairtex VS Kai Ting Chuang
When “Killer Bee” Kai Ting Chuang defended her ONE Kickboxing Atomweight World Title against Stamp Fairtex, it would have taken a brave person to bet against fast and furious action from bell to bell.
Sure enough, at ONE: KINGDOM HEROES, five rounds of non-stop excitement ensued, as the challenger did just enough to capture the gold in front of her compatriots.
“[Stamp] brought power with work rate and precision, and those three ingredients caused the demise of Kai Ting Chuang,” Schiavello says.
Nong-O Gaiyanghadao VS Fabio Pinca
If you were in search of some Muay Thai magic in 2018, ONE Super Series was the place to look.
Few match-ups were better than the clash between Nong-O Gaiyanghadao against Fabio Pinca at ONE: HEROES OF HONOR in April – the coming out party for the all-striking league – as two World Champions showed what the sport is all about with a masterclass of top-class technique.
“You want to see the true beauty of the art of eight weapons? Watch Nong-O Gaiyanghadao against Fabio Pinca,” explains “The Voice.”
“For me, it was one of the most aesthetically beautiful and inspiring performances of 2018 in Muay Thai.”
