The Top 5 Highlights From ONE: CENTURY PART I
ONE Championship came to the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan for the biggest event in martial arts history, and the double-header kicked off with some unforgettable action at ONE: CENTURY PART I.
The first half of the day’s bouts brought a bit of everything with back-and-forth battles, sensational submissions, and awesome knockouts from the opening contest all the way through to the main event.
These are the five most electrifying moments from Tokyo that stole the show.
#1 Lee Beats the Bell
It was the rematch everyone had been waiting for, and it delivered in every way. After unsuccessfully attempting to take “The Panda” Xiong Jing Nan’s ONE Women’s Strawweight World Title in March, “Unstoppable” Angela Lee put her atomweight gold on the line in the main event.
“The Panda” started strong by landing her heavy punches, and though Lee came back with her incredible ground attack, Xiong stole the momentum back in the fourth round as she knocked Lee down with a powerful left hook.
That all set up a fifth round where the Singaporean seemed to need a finish to hang onto her belt. She appeared to have recovered, and navigated the early part of the round until she then slammed Xiong to the canvas, where she took control and worked for a submission.
As the clock ticked away, Lee finally got her arm under “The Panda’s” chin, which forced her to tap with just 12 seconds to go.
The 23-year-old showed the heart of a true champion as she overcame adversity to find a way to retain her ONE Women’s Atomweight World Title, and remain undefeated in the division.
Read more: Angela Lee Submits Xiong Jing Nan In The Final Seconds To Retain The Gold
#2 Todd’s Highlight-Reel Head Kick
Japanese-American star Janet Todd wipes out Ekaterina "Barbie" Vandaryeva with a 💥 CRACKING 💥 Round 2 knockout!📺: Check local listings for global broadcast details📱: Watch on the ONE Super App 👉 http://bit.ly/ONESuperApp🏷: Shop Official Merchandise 👉 http://bit.ly/ONECShop
Posted by ONE Championship on Saturday, October 12, 2019
ONE Super Series delivered another astonishing knockout thanks to Janet “JT” Todd’s second-round stoppage of Ekaterina “Barbie” Vandaryeva.
The first round was a back-and-forth duel as both women threw everything in their arsenals at each other as they looked for a finishing blow. By the second stanza, Todd was on top as she never let the three-time Muay Thai World Champion get into a rhythm.
Just over two minutes into the second round, Todd connected with a head kick that echoed throughout the arena. Vandaryeva dropped to her back, and “JT” added another entry to her highlight reel.
Read more: Janet Todd Stops Ekaterina Vandaryeva With Highlight-Reel Head Kick
#3 Sam-A Unleashes His Left Hand
Muay Thai great 🇹🇭 Sam-A knocks out Daren Rolland in Round 2 and scores the sweetest of victories on his birthday! 🎁📺: Check local listings for global broadcast details📱: Watch on the ONE Super App 👉 http://bit.ly/ONESuperApp🏷: Shop Official Merchandise 👉 http://bit.ly/ONECShop
Posted by ONE Championship on Saturday, October 12, 2019
When Sam-A Gaiyanghadao is in the Circle, you can expect to see something spectacular, and his strawweight bout with Daren Rolland was no exception.
The former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title was given all he could handle in the first round, but in the second, he showed the skill that made him a legend.
When Rolland overcommitted to a straight right, the icon of “the art of eight limbs” slipped the strike, and countered with a short left cross that landed square on the chin. One blow was all Sam-A needed to close the show.
Read more: Sam-A’s Second-Round Knockout And More Results From The ONE: CENTURY PART I Prelims
#4 Hirata Ties Ishige In Knots
Hometown hero 🇯🇵 Itsuki Hirata scores her THIRD-STRAIGHT submission win, locking in a slick armbar to force the tap from Rika "Tiny Doll" Ishige / ริกะ อิชิเกะ!📺: Check local listings for global broadcast details📱: Watch on the ONE Super App 👉 http://bit.ly/ONESuperApp🏷: Shop Official Merchandise 👉 http://bit.ly/ONECShop
Posted by ONE Championship on Saturday, October 12, 2019
There was not a slicker submission on either ONE: CENTURY card than Itsuki “Strong Heart Fighter” Hirata’s superb armbar on Rika “Tiny Doll” Ishige.
The Japanese judoka had the Thai star all tangled up in the second period and chained her attacks together to isolate a limb and get the tap in the second round.
When “Tiny Doll” got to her knees to defend a kimura, Hirata stepped over her head, rolled, and flipped her rival onto her back, where she was helpless as the 20-year-old from Tokyo earned her second win in The Home Of Martial Arts.
Read more: ONE: CENTURY PART I Post-Event Press Conference
#5 Kwon Opens The Show With Quick KO
South Korean sensation 🇰🇷 Kwon Won Il kicks off ONE: CENTURY with a stunning TKO victory over Indonesian star Sunoto!📺: Check local listings for global broadcast details📱: Watch on the ONE Super App 👉 http://bit.ly/ONESuperApp🏷: Shop Official Merchandise 👉 http://bit.ly/ONECShop
Posted by ONE Championship on Saturday, October 12, 2019
“Pretty Boy” Kwon Won Il made a statement with a 103-second TKO in the opening bout at the Ryogoku Kokugikan by defeating Indonesia’s “The Terminator” Sunoto.
Opening ONE’s largest event to date could have been a daunting task for the young South Korean, but he rose to the occasion and used his patented powerful punches to get his third finish on the global stage.
A straight right hand connected first and stunned Sunoto, and then a flurry followed from the man from Seoul. He continued his quick attack until the referee stepped in to call an end to the match.
Read more: ONE: CENTURY PART I – Full Results And Highlights For Lee Vs. Xiong II
