The World Champion Martial Artists Of ONE: HERO'S ASCENT
ONE Championship opened up its 2019 calendar with a thrilling event in Jakarta, Indonesia last weekend, and the train will keep rolling as the promotion heads to Manila, Philippines on Friday, 25 January.
The 11-bout card for ONE: HERO’S ASCENT is laden with World Champion martial arts superstars from around the globe, who will help to curate a memorable show.
The elite competitors boast World Title gold in disciplines that include mixed martial arts, Muay Thai, karate, and shoot boxing.
Here are the nine World Champions who will compete inside the Mall Of Asia Arena.
Geje Eustaquio
ONE Flyweight World Champion Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio has worked on his martial arts skills for 15 years to reach the top. The 13-bout ONE veteran finally converted his efforts into World Title gold in 2018.
At the start of the year, he defeated Kairat “The Kazakh” Akhmetov for the ONE Interim Flyweight World Title at ONE: GLOBAL SUPERHEROES.
In June, he picked up the biggest win of his career and became the undisputed king of the division by edging out Adriano Moraes at ONE: PINNACLE OF POWER. They will meet again in front of “Gravity’s” countrymen on Friday.
Adriano Moraes
Brazil’s Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes is a five-time ONE Flyweight World Champion, making him the most successful competitor in the division’s history.
However, in a rematch with Eustaquio in Macau last year, his second reign ended by the tightest of margins when two judges sided with the Filipino to give him the World Title via split decision.
Moraes has won back the belt before, and his plan is to begin his third stint with gold around his waist by beating Eustaquio in their historic trilogy bout.
Honorio Banario
Honorio “The Rock” Banario won the inaugural ONE Featherweight World Title when he defeated Eric “The Natural” Kelly for the championship gold at ONE: RETURN OF WARRIORS in 2013.
Banario experienced a downswing in his career following the elation of becoming World Champion, but with six wins in his last seven contests after a move up to lightweight, he has forced his way into the division’s upper echelon.
If he can defeat unbeaten American Lowen Tynanes in the first ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix bout on Friday, his dreams of returning to the top will be even closer.
Tatsumitsu Wada
Tatsumitsu “The Sweeper” Wada entered ONE after an accomplished 30-bout career in his native Japan.
“The Sweeper” competed 26 times for DEEP, and earned the World Title in the organization’s flyweight division in 2016. He made one defense of his belt before he got the call to step up into The Home Of Martial Arts.
He meets Team Lakay’s Danny “The King” Kingad, who is a former ONE World Title challenger.
Rodtang Jitmuangnon
Rodtang “Iron Man” Jitmuangnon is arguably most proud of his reputation as one of the most exciting Muay Thai artists on the planet, and he also has the accolades to prove he is one of the best, too.
The forward-marching 21-year-old has used his aggressive style to overwhelm many opponents en route to a 254-41-10 record, and two Omnoi Stadium Muay Thai World Titles.
He takes on WMC Intercontinental Muay Thai Champion Fahdi Khaled at the Mall Of Asia Arena.
Hiroki Akimoto
Japan’s Hiroki Akimoto has a stunning 19-0 kickboxing record, but he comes from a Kyokushin karate background.
Akimoto has a long list of accomplishments, including the WFKO Karate World Championship, and will make his ONE Super Series kickboxing debut against Josh “Timebomb” Tonna in the Philippines.
Bangpleenoi Petchyindee Academy
Bangpleenoi Petchyindee Academy is another newcomer to the world’s largest martial arts organization, but he comes armed with a 180-bout resume, which includes 120 victories.
In the 20 years since he began his career at the age of 5, his most prestigious honors so far are his WMC Muay Thai World Titles in two weight divisions. He will chase an even greater prize in ONE.
Bangpleenoi will square off against European Muay Thai Champion Brown Pinas in his promotional debut.
Elias Mahmoudi
Elias “The Sniper” Mahmoudi is considered one of the top rising stars in the world of striking.
The 21-year-old Frenchman has won three Muay Thai World Championships, including the WPMF World Title.
Mahmoudi began his training aged 5 with his father and uncle, and was considered a prodigy. Now, he is competing on the global stage for martial arts and has the platform to showcase his skills to millions of fans in his ONE debut against Japan’s Yukinori Ogasawara.
Hiroaki Suzuki
Hiroaki “Kaibutsukun” Suzuki boasts an impressive 40-11-1 (1 NC) record in kickboxing, and he impressed fans in his exciting debut against Deividas Danyla at ONE: CONQUEST OF CHAMPIONS in November.
The 34-year-old Japanese striker is a Shoot Boxing Lightweight World Champion, which proves his varied skill set. He will bring his versatility to the cage against Mohammed “Jordan Boy” Bin Mahmoud this weekend.
