Top 8 KOs From The Stars Of ONE: DAWN OF VALOR

One look at the number of knockout artists on the bill at ONE: DAWN OF VALOR suggests that fans should prepare for an evening of finishes in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Next Friday, 25 October, ONE Championship will return to the Istora Senayan with a card stacked full of heavy hitters, including John “Hands of Stone” Lineker, who will make his promotional debut.

He will be joined by a quartet of power strikers in two World Title bouts at the top of the card, as well as a ton of athletes on the undercard who pack a serious punch.

Check out these eight incredible knockouts from the cast lining the card this weekend for a taste of what you can expect 

#1 Kadestam’s Late Show

Zebaztian “The Bandit” Kadestam faced off against Tyler McGuire for the vacant ONE Welterweight World Title at ONE: WARRIOR’S DREAM, and the Swede pulled off an incredible knockout to win the gold.

“The Bandit” looked much fresher than his rival in the final frame, and he saw an opening as the American backed off with his hands down by his waist.

Kadestam lunged at McGuire with a looping right hand that dropped him to the mat, and then moved in with a laser-guided knee to the head to score a clean KO, and claim the World Title.

#2 Abbasov Storms Through “Thunder” 

Kiamrian “Brazen” Abbasov gave Yushin “Thunder” Okami a rude welcome to The Home Of Martial Arts at ONE: FOR HONOR thanks to the power in his hands.

Although the Japanese icon outgrappled the Kyrgyz athlete in round one, he came out firing in the second, and when he blocked “Thunder’s” jab, he responded with a thudding right hand that pierced straight through the guard and sat him down.

“Brazen” followed it up with a barrage of ground and pound to seal the deal and earn his shot at the ONE Welterweight World Title against Kadestam in Jakarta.

#3 Eersel Lets Fly

A second-round knockout over Anthony “Assassin” Njokuani at ONE: CALL TO GREATNESS was enough to punch Regian “The Immortal” Eersel‘s ticket to a ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title match earlier this year.

The Dutchman steamed into his American adversary with trademark aggression, and forced Njokuani on to the back foot. When “Assassin” threw a straight left to try to relieve the pressure, Eersel countered with a chopping right to the jaw, and then a left hook that landed just behind the ear.

Njokuani wobbled into the Sityodtong Amsterdam representative’s clinch, and then ate a knee, as well as a final right hook before he crumbled to the canvas.

#4 Holzken’s Debut Destruction

Two of the world’s greatest strikers went toe-to-toe at ONE: WARRIORS DREAM, as Nieky “The Natural” Holzken made his first appearance on the global stage against Cosmo “Good Boy” Alexandre in a ONE Super Series kickboxing battle.

The Dutchman had already dropped his foe with a head kick and a flurry of punches in the first stanza when he choreographed a stunning finish in the second, which began with a spinning hook kick that forced his rival backward.

Holzken chased him down with a straight right hand, and as “Good Boy” wobbled back onto the fence from the force of the blow, he ate huge right uppercut that knocked him out.

The man from Helmond, Netherlands is aiming for redemption against his countryman Eersel in their ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Championship rematch.

#5 Antoniyar’s Record-Breaking Blowout

Bozhena “Toto” Antoniyar got her professional career off to a perfect start with the fastest knockout in ONE women’s history at ONE: QUEST FOR GOLD.

Antoniyar needed just 24 seconds to take Shwe Sin down and unleash a barrage of heavy ground and pound to take the victory. 

The Myanmar star has a tough assignment against local hero Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol on 25 October.

#6 Gafurov Comes Back With A Bang 

After two years away from the world’s largest martial arts organization, Muin “Tajik” Gafurov returned with a landmark victory over Leandro “Brodinho” Issa at ONE: KINGDOM OF HEROES.

The Combat Sambo World Champion escaped the BJJ specialist’s clutches in the early running, and then brought his striking to bear on the Evolve representative. Though it was Issa who backed “Tajik” into the corner of the ring, he dropped his hand just as the 23-year-old pitched an overhand right in his direction.

With nothing there to guard his chin, the shot landed right on the button and turned out the Brazilian’s lights.

Gafurov will hope for a similar result when he faces fellow heavy-hitter John “Hands of Stone” Lineker at ONE: DAWN OF VALOR.

#7 Buist Stuns Shimoishi

Pieter “The Archangel” Buist debuted on the global stage at ONE: WARRIORS OF LIGHT, where he put away Kota “Kong” Shimoishi with a spectacular second-round stoppage.

The Japanese athlete had actually controlled much of the bout on the ground, but when Buist finally scrambled back up to his feet with 90 seconds left in the stanza, he turned up the heat.

The Dutchman shrugged off “Kong’s” attempt to get things back to the mat, and then tagged him with a right hand. With Shimoishi on his knees, Buist drilled him with a series of hard knees to claim the fourth KO win of his career.

“The Archangel” is back in action against Antonio “The Spartan” Caruso at the Istora Senayan.

#8 Mattheis Kicks Off His Career With a Bang 

He may have been raw when he first exploded onto the scene in 2016, but Adrian “Papua Badboy” Mattheis already had serious power in his hands.

Mattheis charged at Rustam Hutajulu from the opening bell in search of a bout-ending shot, and he only needed 22 seconds to find it.

A hard right hand crunched down over Hutajulu’s straight left, and then a series of hooks had him on the back foot. A final left from Mattheis starched his Indonesian compatriot, and earned him his first win as a professional.

“Papua Badboy” will hope for a similar outcome in another all-Indonesian clash against Stefer “The Lion” Rahardian at ONE: DAWN OF VALOR.

Read more: Top 5 Submissions From The Stars Of ONE: DAWN OF VALOR