Top 5 Performances From The Stars Of ONE: DAWN OF HEROES

The ONE Championship Circle will return to Manila, Philipines with a huge card on Friday, 2 August with some of the world’s very best martial artists who are set to thrill fans around the world.

ONE: DAWN OF HEROES is stacked with top-class athletes who have proven their ability to deliver incredible performances under pressure on the global stage.

Before they step under the lights to compete, take a look at a quintet of the best performances from some of the stars set for action at the Mall of Asia Arena.

#1 Jonathan Haggerty Vs. Sam-A Gaiyanghadao

British striker Jonathan “The General” Haggerty went into his World Title bout with the great Sam-A Gaiyanghadao at ONE: FOR HONOR as the clear underdog, but he came away with the respect of the martial arts world and the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title after an incredible match.

Haggerty’s performance belied his 22 years as he showed a veteran’s temperament to take control of the early exchanges and get the jump on the Thai icon.

He then did a superb job to maintain his work rate and match Sam-A strike for strike as the pair engaged in a thrilling bout through the middle rounds of the contest.

When Haggerty dropped Sam-A in the third round, it became clear to everyone watching that the Brit was much more than just a threat to the Thai’s World Title.

Once he added a second knockdown in the fifth, the result was a near-formality as Haggerty’s supreme performance saw him claim a unanimous decision to become the first ONE World Champion from the United Kingdom.

#2 Rodtang Jitmuangnon Vs. Sergio Wielzen

Rodtang “Iron Man” Jitmuangnon showcased his class in his ONE debut by completely dominating Dutch-Surinamese star Sergio “Samurai” Wielzen.

At ONE: CONQUEST OF HEROES, the two-time Omnoi Stadium Muay Thai Champion’s striking arsenal was simply sensational, as he unleashed a barrage of power strikes with hands, feet, elbows, and knees that his 30-year-old rival had no answer for.

With the final seconds of the bout ticking away, the 21-year-old put “Samurai” down once again with a left hook to cement his dominance and seal the win via unanimous decision.

Despite Wielzen’s admirable durability and undoubted striking qualities, Rodtang’s dominance made the bout look one-sided as the Thai phenom proved he was destined for the top.

The “Iron Man” will challenge Haggerty for his belt in Manila.

#3 Eduard Folayang Vs. Amir Khan

Filipino lightweight hero Eduard “Landslide” Folayang became the first man to win the ONE Lightweight World Championship for a second time last November, and he did it with arguably his most impressive performance ever.

Over five rounds against Amir Khan at ONE: CONQUEST OF CHAMPIONS, Folayang outstruck the most prolific knockout artist in ONE history and showed off many more aspects of his formidable martial arts arsenal.

“Landslide” established his kicks from long range as he looked to keep the action on the outside then, as the bout wore on, stepped in and unloaded slick multi-punch combinations and spectacular spinning strikes. When Khan looked to clinch, the Filipino superstar spectacularly slammed him onto the mat.

This was Folayang at his absolute best. “Landslide” seemed to have answers to every question the Singaporean striker had for him. At the end of an all-action contest, there was no doubt about the victor as the Team Lakay representative collected a unanimous decision.

The 35-year-old will return to the Mall Of Asia Arena to face Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez in the semifinals of the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix.

#4 Danny Kingad Vs. Senzo Ikeda

Danny “The King” Kingad is on an incredible streak of winning sensational, unforgettable battles, and his best display may have been his last in the quarterfinals of the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix.

His clash with Senzo Ikeda at ONE: A NEW ERA was a breathless and fast-paced encounter as the two contenders went back and forth in a thrilling contest that had the fans in Tokyo, Japan gripped throughout.

Both men showcased their speedy footwork and fast hands as they looked to move in and out of range and connect with strikes, but the difference-maker for Kingad was his wrestling and grappling. The Team Lakay standout used his ground game to keep Ikeda on the back foot and to get him out of trouble when his rival surged forward.

Kingad showed a little bit of everything a warrior needs to reach the top – heart, skill, stamina, power, and the intelligence to switch up his strategy on the fly. It all came together as he earned a unanimous decision to move to the next round of the tournament.

In Manila, he will challenge Reece “Lightning” McLaren for a place in the final.

#5 Rodlek PK.Saenchaimuaythaigym Vs. Liam Harrison

Channel 7 Stadium Muay Thai World Champion Rodlek PK. Saenchaimuaythaigym could not have asked for a bigger test than a match with Liam “Hitman” Harrison in his ONE Super Series debut, but he passed it with flying colors

The Thai superstar went toe-to-toe with the eight-time Muay Thai World Champion from the United Kingdom over three incredible rounds of all-out striking action at ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST, which began as the pair went strike for strike through an incredible opening round.

Rodlek turned up the power in round two as he dropped Harrison with a perfectly-placed right hand, then went after the finish. However, the Brit showed his heart, durability, and power to batter his rival’s legs with kicks.

Harrison even landed an amazing superman elbow in the final round, but the man from Bangkok just ate it and flashed a huge smile before he battled on.

The contest finished as both men left everything in the ring with a blistering final flurry of fists and feet, and after his showcase of spectacular striking and sheer toughness in the face of a fellow world-class striker, Rodlek celebrated his first win in the world’s largest martial arts organization via unanimous decision.

He will meet another Brit – Scotland’s Chris Shaw – at ONE: DAWN OF HEROES.