Top 6 Performances From The Heroes Of ONE: DREAMS OF GOLD

A host of the world’s best strikers return to action in Bangkok at ONE: DREAMS OF GOLD, where masters of the stand-up martial arts will take center stage.

Next Friday, 16 August, the ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Title will go on the line in the main event, and two ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix match-ups will decide the participants in the tournament’s final.

Some of the world’s most exciting strikers will also compete on the undercard and thrill the audience inside the Impact Arena.

Ahead of these bouts in Bangkok, Thailand, get a taste of the kind of excellence you can expect from these elite martial artists by looking back at their best performances on the global stage.

#1 Petchdam’s World Title Triumph 

The road to a World Championship is never an easy one, and that certainly was the case for “The Baby Shark” Petchdam Petchyindee Academy.

The Thai star had to battle through the pain barrier to secure victory and claim the inaugural ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Title against French-Algerian contender Elias “The Sniper” Mahmoudi.

At ONE: WARRIORS OF LIGHT, Petchdam had to recover from an illegal elbow in the first round, but an onslaught from his opponent did not make that easy.

The man from Bangkok negotiated that tricky early spell admirably, then took over the contest, using his punishing left kick to power his way back into the lead.

Although an accidental low blow in the final round forced the bout to go to the scorecards before the final bell, “The Baby Shark” had done enough to get ahead in the eyes of the judges to secure the win by technical decision.

Next Friday, Petchdam will defend his belt for the first time in front of his home fans against six-time kickboxing World Champion Ilias Ennahachi in the main event.

#2 Smokin’ Jo Shows His Class

Smokin’ Jo Nattawut is always one of the most exciting men in ONE Super Series, and the Thai star put on a show for the fans the last time he competed in Bangkok at ONE: CLASH OF LEGENDS.

Nattawut defeated Samy “AK47” Sana via unanimous decision after three rounds of striking excellence by using an aggressive, kick-heavy game against the rangy Frenchman’s boxing-based attack.

It was a thrilling contest in which both men stuck to their game plans and threw everything at each other to keep the fans inside the Impact Arena on the edge of their seats.

In the end, it was Nattawut’s thumping leg kicks that landed more frequently, and with more force than Sana’s slick counters to sway the judges.

#3 Petrosyan’s Precision & Power

Giorgio “The Doctor” Petrosyan showed why he earned his moniker with a display of clinical precision as he defeated Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai World Champion Sorgraw Petchyindee Academy last November.

The five-time kickboxing World Champion used sharper, faster strikes to dominate the Thai from the start of the contest, as he mixed up his punches and kicks with effortless ease.

He almost overwhelmed the Thai star inside a round, but Sorgraw’s heart kept him in the contest, and he fired back in the middle portion of the bout. However, the Italian was in stellar form as he continued to answer every attack from his rival with cleaner, harder strikes of his own.

With performances like that, it is no surprise Petrosyan is widely considered to be the greatest pound-for-pound kickboxing talent on the planet.

At ONE: DREAMS OF GOLD, the Italian will face Nattawut in a rematch for a place in the World Grand Prix final.

#4 Sana Shocks The World

When Samy “AK47” Sana lined up opposite Muay Thai legend “The Boxing Computer” Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex in their World Grand Prix quarterfinal matchup, few gave the Frenchman a chance of victory.

However, the Parisian took the initiative from the opening bell and stunned the Singapore Indoor Stadium by dropping Yodsanklai with a left hook in the first round.

From then on, he raised his game even more to dominate the toe-to-toe exchanges and maintain control of the contest as Yodsanklai attempted to battle his way back into the contest.

But Sana was simply too good, as he used his height and reach advantage to beat his rival to the punch, snap his head back with kicks, and break one of the longest winning streaks in martial arts.

#5 Askerov Brings The Thunder

Hard-hitting Dzhabar “Genghis Khan” Askerov booked his spot in the semifinals of the US$1 million kickboxing tournament in a brilliant battle with Enriko “The Hurricane” Kehl.

At ONE: ENTER THE DRAGON, the Russian planted his feet and unloaded a barrage of heavy punches and punishing kicks. The sheer volume, speed, and power of his strikes was too much for “The Hurricane” to handle, and he barely escaped the second round.

To his great credit, Kehl survived and battled all the way to the final bell with the 33-year-old, but Askerov’s intensity barely wavered as the contest wore on.

He sealed his victory on the judges’ scorecards – and his place in the hearts of the fans watching – with a sensational third stanza that included a series of spinning backfists and spectacular “rolling thunder” heel kick attempts.

#6 Michael Makes His Mark On The Global Stage

The 22-year-old switched his role from aggressor to counter-striker to outfox his opponent and connect frequently with clean shots. His punches were fast, his kicks were powerful, and his sweeps were timed perfectly.

As the minutes ticked by, the Thai crowd realized this young man was more than just a hot prospect – he could already compete with the best in the business, and his performance was worthy of the unanimous decision he claimed.

Michael will look to build on that superb win when he returns against Lerdsila Phuket Top Team on 16 August.