The World Champions Of ONE: REIGN OF VALOR

The number of World Champions continues to rise in The Home Of Martial Arts, and many of these prestigious competitors will be featured on the card for ONE: REIGN OF VALOR this Friday, 8 March.

There are 123 athletes on the ONE Championship roster who have claimed World Titles in their respective sports, and when the action gets underway in Yangon, Myanmar, nine of them will showcase their skills to the promotion’s global audience.

Here is a complete rundown of every World Champion who will be competing inside the renowned Thuwunna Indoor Stadium on Friday evening.

Zebaztian Kadestam

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Zebaztian “The Bandit” Kadestam entered the world’s largest martial arts organization as a renowned striker — his WBC Muay Thai World Title was confirmation of his stand-up prowess.

The 28-year-old Swede had his eyes on an even bigger prize, however, and with back-to-back knockout victories over Agilan Thani and Tyler McGuire in 2018, he reached his goal.

On 17 November at ONE: WARRIOR’S DREAM, he knocked out McGuire to win the ONE Welterweight World Title.

Kadestam will defend his belt for the first time on Friday. He is scheduled to face Georgiy “Knight” Kichigin in the night’s headline attraction.

Alain Ngalani

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Hong Kong-based striker Alain “The Panther” Ngalani has scored three knockout victories in the ONE heavyweight mixed martial arts division, and the four-time Kickboxing and Muay Thai Heavyweight World Champion has his years in the ring to thank for this crossover success.

Just some of his many stand-up accolades include the ISKA Super Heavyweight World Title and a pair of Planet Battle Heavyweight World Championships.

Now after a brief return to his striking roots in ONE Super Series in 2018, he is focused on mixed martial arts for his battle against Italy’s Mauro “The Hammer” Cerilli.

He hopes a victory will lead to a ONE World Title shot in the near future.

Yoshitaka Naito

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Japanese grappler Yoshitaka “Nobita” Naito entered the world’s largest martial arts organization with an impeccable 10-0 record and immediately received a shot at World Title gold.

In May 2016, he became the ONE Strawweight World Champion when he submitted Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke via rear-naked choke in the fourth round.

The 35-year-old Matsudo resident successfully defended the belt later that year. Although he lost it to Alex Silva via decision in December 2017, he reclaimed the belt by atoning his defeat to the Brazilian five months later.

Naito is back on the hunt for the World Title. He could receive another shot if he is successful in his match-up with the man below.

Rene Catalan

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Rene “The Challenger” Catalan oversees the famous Catalan Fighting System gym in the Philippines, and he comes from a family of elite martial artists.

The Manila resident comes from a striking background and eventually became a Wushu World Champion. 

Although he is known for his decorated wushu skills, he is now a force in the grappling exchanges, too.

He will have to utilize his skills in every area to overcome Naito in a battle of top strawweight contenders.

Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy

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ONE Super Series star Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy has a phenomenal array of striking skills, including fierce kicks and elbows that he has used to overcome top competitors in The Home Of Martial Arts.

The 25-year-old honed these tools in his time on the Bangkok stadium circuit, where he became a two-division Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai World Champion, as well as a WMC World Champion.

Petchmorakot welcomes Japan’s Kenta Yamada to the ONE cage in his next assignment.

Liam Nolan

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Liam Nolan had a phenomenal 2018.

The UK’s number-one Muay Thai super welterweight combatant went unbeaten last year, with bouts in England, France, and Thailand.

Britain’s rising superstar is the Roar Combat League World Champion, but he takes a step up in competition against the man below.

Enriko Kehl

Enriko “The Hurricane” Kehl is one of the leading strikers in Europe.

Representing Frankers Fight Team, the 27-year-old German is a WKU and ISKA World Champion.

However, his biggest accolade came in 2014 when he won the K-1 World MAX World Tournament Title.

On Friday, he takes on Nolan in a ONE Super Series kickboxing featherweight encounter.

Andrei Stoica

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Andrei “Mister KO” Stoica is a renowned Romanian striker.

He started his career as a wushu stylist, and picked up national and European championships before switching his focus to kickboxing.

Stoica was crowned the SUPERKOMBAT Super Cruiserweight World Champion in 2013, and he successfully defended the gold three times.

The 30-year-old makes his ONE debut on Friday, as he takes on the Moroccan-Dutch powerhouse below in a light heavyweight clash.

Tarik Khbabez

Tarik Khbabez is well known to ONE fans thanks to his finishes of Alain Ngalani and Ibrahim El Bouni, which earned him a 2-0 slate with the promotion.

The 26-year-old Moroccan-Dutch warrior is aiming for the gold in Asia, but prior to competing on the global stage for martial arts, he amassed a dazzling array of silverware.

That includes two SUPERKOMBAT Heavyweight World Championships, a WKA Kickboxing World Title, and five World Muay Thai Council World Championships.

He could get one step closer to the ONE Super Series World Title when he takes on Stoica at ONE: REIGN OF VALOR.