The 5 Best ONE Super Series Bouts Of Q2 2019

The action in ONE Super Series is always fast and furious, but it has arguably never been better than in the past few months.

The Muay Thai and kickboxing contests that have graced ONE Championship in April, May, and June have thrilled fans in arenas across Asia, and viewers across the world with some jaw-dropping action.

Whether they were five-round World Title matches, ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix bouts, or regular three-round contests, the athletes have delivered incredible entertainment.

Here, we take a look at five of the very best contests from the second quarter of 2019.

Savvas Michael Vs. Singtongnoi Por Telakun

Cypriot striking sensation Savvas “The Baby Face Killer” Michael claimed a notable scalp at ONE: WARRIORS OF LIGHT as he defeated multi-time Muay Thai World Champion Singtongnoi Por Telakun over three hotly-contested rounds.

Michael started the faster of the pair and outstruck the Thai star in the opening round. In the second stanza, Singtongnoi fired back with more offense in a much closer round, but one in which the Cypriot star still held the edge.

And in the third round, the Thai superstar increased the intensity as both men left it all in the Circle in a thrilling final three minutes.

Despite Singtongnoi’s spirited comeback, it wasn’t enough to stop Michael claiming a headline-grabbing win, and one of the biggest victories of his career.

Jonathan Haggerty Vs. Sam-A Gaiyanghadao

Jonathan “The General” Haggerty was a huge underdog when he stepped up to challenge Thai legend Sam-A Gaiyanghadao, but he produced the best performance of his career to capture the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title.

At ONE: FOR HONOR in Jakarta, Indonesia, the British 22-year-old dropped Sam-A twice in a thrilling display that saw him maintain a relentless pace throughout the five-round World Title bout in Jakarta.

Crucially, Haggerty started fast and took control of the contest early on. Then, as the bout progressed and Sam-A turned up the intensity, the Brit had the answer. When a sharp right hand decked Sam-A in the third round, the fans in the Istora Senayan began to believe the young Englishman could finish the job.

Though the Evolve representative piled on the pressure in response, Haggerty added another knockdown early in the fifth. After that, he just had to make it to the final bell, and he did just that to complete a famous win by unanimous decision.

Dzhabar Askerov Vs. Enriko Kehl

Dzhabar “Genghis Khan” Askerov showcased his powerful striking style in the quarterfinals of the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix at ONE: ENTER THE DRAGON.

The Russian battled head to head with Germany’s Enriko “The Hurricane” Kehl over three action-packed rounds of kickboxing competition that set the standard for the much-hyped tournament.

Askerov already held two victories over Kehl before their meeting in Singapore, and he completed the hat-trick by outpointing the German star – principally through his explosive punches and relentless forward pressure.

“Genghis Khan” dominated the opening period, but Kehl came back strongly in the second. However, late in the round, Askerov’s power took over and a finish looked possible.

Somehow, Kehl survived, and in the final frame, his rival let fly with his full striking arsenal, including a pair of spectacular “rolling thunder” heel kicks.

The Russian’s aggression and relentless pursuit of a finish gave him the advantage in the eyes of the judges, who awarded him the unanimous decision to send him onward to the semifinals.

Samy Sana Vs. Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex

When Samy “AK47” Sana took on “The Boxing Computer” Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex in the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix, many expected him to give the Thai superstar a stern test, but few believed he would claim the win.

But that is exactly what happened as the Frenchman delivered a stunning performance to defeat one of the pre-tournament favorites with a display of non-stop power striking.

The table was set for a shock when Sana sensationally put Yodsanklai on the seat of his pants late in the first round, and from that moment on, the Frenchman’s confidence soared as he went toe-to-toe with the Muay Thai legend.

Yodsanklai tried to battle back and level up the scorecards, but “AK47” continued to rock his rival’s head back with strikes – including a phenomenal front kick – for the remainder of an action-packed contest to earn a unanimous decision and a famous victory.

Tarik Khbabez Vs. Anderson Silva

The light heavyweight clash between kickboxing powerhouses Tarik “The Tank” Khbabez and Anderson “Braddock” Silva was always guaranteed to deliver fireworks, and the fans at ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST were not disappointed as the two traded bombs for three full rounds in Shanghai, China.

The Dutch-Moroccan had already established himself as a force to be reckoned with in ONE Super Series, and he asserted his dominance early on as he dropped the Brazilian inside the opening minute with a left-right combination that caught Silva cold.

It set the tone for the rest of the bout, as “The Tank” controlled the pace and range of the contest. He continued to march forward to get inside Silva’s long strikes and rough him up at close range.

It was the perfect strategy as he kept the Brazilian on the back foot throughout with his heavy-handed, non-stop pressure. His reward was a unanimous decision victory and he extended his unbeaten run in The Home Of Martial Arts.