The Massive Challenges In Store For Jakarta's Biggest Winners

At ONE: CONQUEST OF HEROES, the world’s best martial artists ignited the Jakarta Convention Center with an evening of compelling action.

In the main event, a new ONE Strawweight World Champion was crowned, as Joshua “The Passion” Pacio defeated Yoshitaka “Nobita” Naito via unanimous decision to take the belt.

The night’s other big winners delivered incredible performances and authored statement-making victories. With that in mind, let’s take a quick look at what could be ahead for the blockbuster event’s biggest winners.

Joshua “The Passion” Pacio

It took Joshua Pacio two years to fortify his game. In that time, he had one goal – to challenge ONE Strawweight World Champion Yoshitaka Naito for the belt again.

In their rematch, Pacio put together an incredible, well-rounded performance. He showcased his striking superiority while stifling Naito with improved grappling defense. In the end, “The Passion” bagged a unanimous decision and took the ONE Strawweight World Championship belt back home to Baguio City.

Although there is a chance for a trilogy bout with Naito, there are also a couple of big names at strawweight that could stand to challenge for the gold.

One possibility is another familiar foe in Hayato Suzuki, who shocked Pacio in August 2017 when he submitted him with a rear-naked choke in the first round. Redemption against the Japanese competitor would start off Pacio’s reign on a high note – if Suzuki passes his next test against Robin Catalan at ONE: KINGDOM OF HEROES on 6 October.

Evolve’s Alex “Little Rock” Silva is another formidable former titleholder, and would give Pacio another test of his newfound grappling skills with his Brazilian jiu-jitsu world championship ability.

Peng Xue Wen

To go into hostile territory and dominate a hometown hero is no easy task, but Peng Xue Wen rose to the occasion.

For three rounds, the Chinese athlete picked local favorite Stefer Rahardian apart with accurate and powerful strikes, all while exhibiting tremendous takedown defense. He left the Jakarta Convention Center with a unanimous decision victory.

Next, Peng could meet another Indonesian opponent, who was victorious earlier in the night. Adrian “Papua Badboy” Mattheis took care of business against Angelo “The Unicorn King” Bimoadji in the prelims, winning by technical knockout.

Mattheis is as much a striker as Rahardian is a grappler, which would present an enticing yet different challenge for Peng.

Danny “The King” Kingad & Kairat “The Kazakh” Akhmetov

Former ONE Flyweight World Title challenger Danny “The King” Kingad recorded arguably his most impressive victory yet, overcoming a stiff challenge from hard-hitting promotional debutant Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu to win by unanimous decision.

One possibility in Kingad’s future is Malaysia’s Gianni Subba. The pair were scheduled to face each other as recently as March until the bout was called off, and this battle of young stars promises as much excitement now as it did then.

Kingad has also clamored for a showdown with Kairat “The Kazakh”Akhmetov, and he could get his wish after the former ONE Flyweight World Champion’s remarkable performance earlier in the evening against China’s “The Southern Eagle” Ma Hao Bin.

Akhmetov turned in one of the most dominant performances of his career with a one-sided demolition of the Chinese wrestler, taking a clear-cut unanimous decision.

A meeting between “The King” and “The Kazakh” should give fans an entertaining 15 minutes of action between two of the best flyweights in the world.

Koyomi “Moushigo” Matsushima

Japanese newcomer Koyomi Matsushima nabbed GoDaddy Knockout of the Night honors with his stunning stoppage victory over former ONE Featherweight World Champion Marat “Cobra” Gafurov.

Matsushima caught the Dagestani with a thudding counter right hook, which landed right on the button and set him up to record a stunning TKO.

If the powerful puncher clashes with another explosive young foe, more fireworks could be in the works. For that, two explosive featherweights immediately present themselves.

“The Underdog” Li Kai Wen is on an absolute tear, having won his last three bouts with scintillating finishes – including the fastest knockout in ONE featherweight history with his 10-second destruction of Rodian Menchavez. 

Also, Christian “The Warrior” Lee is one of the division’s best athletes and a former World Title challenger, so he should give Matsushima a tough battle.

Saygid “Dagi” Guseyn Arslanaliev

Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev was as impressive as anybody else on the stacked card, if not more. The 23-year-old did the unthinkable, as he knocked out fearsome Russian powerhouse Timofey Nastyukhin in the first round.

There is no doubt “Dagi” raised his stock and catapulted himself into World Title contention. Now, he could find himself standing across from the division’s top contenders.

Amir Khan, who recently ended Honorio Banario’s five-bout win streak, would fit the bill as a big-name opponent. The 23-year-old holds three ONE records – most wins with 11, most finishes with 10, and most knockouts with 8.

Also, a possibility for Arslanaliev is former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang. The Filipino recently spoiled the undefeated records of Russians Kharun Atlangeriev and Aziz Pahrudinov in their promotional debuts.

A showdown between the hard-hitting Turk and the Filipino icon would present a phenomenal contest.