The Martial Arts World Champions Of ONE: ETERNAL GLORY
ONE Championship is home to more World Champion martial artists than anywhere else in the world, and ONE: ETERNAL GLORY will be full of them this Saturday, 19 January.
The event in Jakarta, Indonesia is packed with exceptionally skilled warriors, and the 12-bout card features 10 World Champions from various disciplines.
Here is a rundown of the World Title gold captured by the martial artists set to perform at the Istora Senayan.
Joshua Pacio
Joshua “The Passion” Pacio is the current ONE Strawweight World Champion. The Team Lakay athlete took the belt from Yoshitaka “Nobita” Naito by unanimous decision after an epic five-round rematch at ONE: CONQUEST OF HEROES in September.
“The Passion” was a wushu champion before he made the switch to mixed martial arts, but he reached the pinnacle of his career by claiming the ONE belt to cap an outstanding 2018.
His first title defense comes in Saturday’s main event against Yosuke “Tobizaru” Saruta.
Yosuke Saruta
Japanese challenger Yosuke “Tobizaru” Saruta hoisted the Shooto Strawweight World Title aloft in October 2017, which set the wheels in motion for his move to the world’s largest martial arts organization.
“Tobizaru” defeated Ryuto Sawada with a fourth-round KO to claim the belt in an organization famed for producing high-class competitors in Japan.
He is on the hunt for his second World Title in Jakarta, as he challenges Pacio in a five-round strawweight encounter.
Alexi Serepisos
Alexi “Phet” Serepisos took up Muay Thai at the age of 15, and now the 24-year-old is a WMC I1 and IKBF World Champion.
The House Of Pain representative has become one of New Zealand’s top striking exports thanks to his technical style and powerful punching, and he will face Mongkolpetch Petchyindee Academy in his ONE debut.
Mongkolpetch Petchyindee Academy
Mongkolpetch Petchyindee Academy has won accolades throughout his 150-bout career, but the Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai World Title stands above them all as a showcase for his position among the elite.
The Thai has also been recognized for his exciting matches, too, as he also won the ‘Fight of the Year’ award at the Channel 7 Stadium in 2017.
He has promised to maintain his appetite for action against Serepisos.
Christian Lee
Singapore’s Christian “The Warrior” Lee is one of the world’s leading featherweight mixed martial artists, but before he pursued his career in ONE, he was a six-time World Champion in Pankration – a similar sport which combines elements of striking, wrestling, and grappling.
Lee faces Edward “The Ferocious” Kelly in a rematch of their September 2018 duel at ONE: BEYOND THE HORIZON.
Joseph Lasiri
Joseph “The Hurricane” Lasiri won the WBC Super Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title in February 2017 with a victory in his homeland of Italy.
“The Hurricane” has faced tough opposition in ONE to date, and that will not change when he faces debuting Brit Jonathan Haggerty.
Jonathan Haggerty
Jonathan “The General” Haggerty will enter The Home Of Martial Arts for the first time inside the Istora Senayan, but he brings with him both the ISKA Super Featherweight Muay Thai World Title and the Roar Combat League World Title.
He takes on Lasiri in a clash that will showcase the best of European Muay Thai.
Robin Catalan
Robin “The Ilonggo” Catalan may have showcased his grappling prowess in recent ONE battles, but the Filipino entered the promotion as an IFMA Muay Thai World Champion.
He will need to employ his skills in every area against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist Stefer “The Lion” Rahardian in the Indonesian’s hometown at ONE: ETERNAL GLORY.
Bruno Pucci
Bruno “Puccibull” Pucci is a feared submission specialist who was last seen choking out Xie Chao in November.
Before his move to mixed martial arts, Pucci was a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi World Champion, and he will meet the vaunted striker Kotetsu Boku.
Kotetsu Boku
Kotetsu “No Face” Boku became the first ever ONE Lightweight World Champion when he defeated Zorobabel Moreira by TKO back in 2012.
The Japanese athlete has been a consistent performer ever since, and it will be striker versus grappler when he squares off with Pucci in Jakarta.
