The 4 Best Highlights From ONE: CLASH OF LEGENDS

For the first time in 2019, ONE Championship hosted its renowned blend of world-class martial arts action in the Thai capital of Bangkok with ONE: CLASH OF LEGENDS.

The action was fierce, and the elite-level Muay Thai strikers and mixed martial artists brought their A-games to the Impact Arena.

All of that resulted in some thrilling battles, dynamic performances, and memorable finishes on Saturday, 16 February.

Of the many great moments from the show, here are just four of the night’s best highlights.

Nong-O Captures ONE World Title Gold

Nong-O Gaiyanghadao and Han Zi Hao met in a five-round main-event battle for the inaugural ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title, and it did not disappoint.

Four-division Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O ultimately showed his class to claim the gold, but his Chinese rival constantly pushed him.

The Thai legend flattened his opponent with a stunning elbow in the first round, and he kept up the pressure, but Han’s resilience and will to win kept him in the search for a career-defining victory.

Han ate shins, fists, and elbows from the Evolve representative, but replied back with his powerful boxing combinations. In fact, he nearly sent the icon to the canvas in the second frame.

However, Nong-O’s veteran experience was telling in the later rounds, as he kept the Chinese warrior at bay with stiff jabs, battered his body with powerful kicks, and waited for his opportunity to score with elbows.

Nong-O made it clear he is still one of the best Muay Thai competitors in the world, and he strengthened his already immense legacy by adding a sixth World Title to his long list of accolades.

Nattawut And Sana’s Rip-Roaring Clash

“Smokin'” Jo Nattawut picked up his 69th career victory at the Impact Arena by overcoming the challenge of France’s Samy “AK47” Sana.

Sana utilized his long frame to counter his Thai rival’s kicks with boxing combinations in the first round and, when Nattawut took aim at his ribs, he also did a good job of catching the shots before landing in reply.

Nattawut overcame his rangier foe’s reach advantage in the second by closing the distance with powerful punches, before punctuating every salvo with heavy low kicks.

With the bout on the line heading into the final round, it was the Thai who remained in the ascendency. He smashed his shin repeatedly into Sana’s thigh, but the Frenchman still went on the offensive.

After three rounds of action, it was “Smokin'” Jo who earned the nod from the judges and claimed his third straight ONE Super Series victory.

Nakahara’s Left Hand Makes It A Debut To Remember

Thailand-based American Emilio “The Honey Badger” Urrutia welcomed Japan’s Yoshiki Nakahara to the ONE featherweight division, and it was a battle to remember.

Both men showed their durability as they ate heavy shots and continued to march forward, but it was the Japanese athlete who was the most clinical.

His offense accumulated throughout the contest, and while Urrutia’s face showed the scars of battle, the American would not be kept back.

As he stepped in for a fatigued jab in the third stanza, southpaw Nakahara slipped outside of the shot and landed a thudding overhand to the jaw that immediately buckled his rival to the mat.

Referee Olivier Coste had no option but to halt the contest and award the TKO victory to the Japanese debutant.

Liu’s Come-From-Behind Win

In the evening’s opening contest, China’s Liu Peng Shuai met Indonesia’s Elipitua Siregar in an intriguing strawweight encounter.

Kickboxing specialist Liu returned to the world’s largest martial arts organization for the first time since 2016, and he showcased the improvements he had made in that time, as he scored some takedowns on the Indonesian wrestling champion.

Although Siregar was in control for the majority of the contest and looked set to take a decision victory, the Chinese athlete would not go quietly.

With less than a minute left in the bout, he latched on to a kimura and started to crank. Siregar looked like he might escape, but Liu kept his grip on his opponent’s arm and maintained his position. Eventually, he wrenched it enough to elicit the tap from the Bali MMA man.