Dec 23, 2020

What’s At Stake For Every Fighter At ONE: COLLISION COURSE II

French-Algerian Muay Thai fighter Samy Sana celebrates his victory over Yodsanklai

This Friday, 25 December, ONE Championship will air its final event of 2020, and there will be plenty at stake for all the athletes who enter the Circle.

The previously recorded ONE: COLLISION COURSE II will feature a slew of Muay Thai fighters and mixed martial artists who are aiming to either secure a ONE World Title shot, earn a spot in ONE’s Athlete Rankings, enter the record books, or make a lasting impact before the calendar turns to 2021.

Ahead of the show’s premiere on Christmas Day, take a look at the potential implications within every single match at ONE: COLLISION COURSE II.

Jamal Yusupov & Samy Sana

ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy will be keeping a close eye on the main event, as he could be defending his belt against the winner in his next outing.

Jamal “Kherow” Yusupov is the featherweight Muay Thai division’s #2-ranked contender, a distinction he earned in his debut by becoming the first person to knock out “The Boxing Computer” Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex in more than 10 years.

The Russian was slated to challenge Petchmorakot for the inaugural belt in February, but an injury prevented him from fighting the lanky Thai and getting his chance to make history.

Now, he has an opportunity to earn another World Title shot, but #4-ranked Samy “AK47” Sana is looking to leapfrog Yusupov in the rankings and challenge the Petchyindee Academy representative for the crown.

Although he didn’t win the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix, Sana produced a terrific run in the tournament, and if the French-Algerian defeats “Kherow” on Friday, he would surely break into the ONE World Title picture.

Kairat Akhmetov & Dae Hwan Kim

MMA stars Kairat Akhmetov and Dae Hwan Kim fight at ONE: COLLISION COURSE II

The co-main event features a pair of flyweights who could be a few victories away from challenging for the gold.

Former ONE Flyweight World Champion Kairat “The Kazakh” Akhmetov is the division’s #3-ranked contender. With a 26-2 professional record, a world-class wrestling background, and a solid all-around skill set, he’s undoubtedly one of the best flyweights on the planet.

Meanwhile, “Ottogi” Dae Hwan Kim, is a former ONE Bantamweight World Title challenger who’s moved down a weight class and relaunched his mission for World Title glory. The South Korean is a master of many different martial arts, and while he was a monster in a heavier weight class, he should be even scarier at flyweight.

The winner of this bout likely won’t be awarded a World Title shot just yet, as ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes is scheduled to defend the belt against modern-day legend Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson in February.

However, the winner would prove deserving of the #3 contender spot and could be one victory away from securing a crack at the flyweight king – whoever that may be – later in 2021.

Momotaro & Walter Goncalves

Muay Thai stars Momotaro and Walter Goncalves fight at ONE: COLLISION COURSE II

The ONE Super Series Muay Thai flyweight encounter of the night could see the victor knocking on the door of the division’s top-five rankings.

WPMF Muay Thai World Champion Walter Goncalves, who owns a 65-6 professional record, pushed ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon to the limit during an exciting five-round battle in October 2019.

Although the Brazilian came up short, he proved to be a nonstop threat during the match, and that experience has only made him better.

Goncalves is beginning his campaign toward a World Title rematch, but WBC Muay Thai Champion Momotaro will have something to say about that.

The Japanese star, who holds the fastest KO in ONE Super Series Muay Thai history at 41 seconds, will attempt to extinguish his rival’s dream and work toward his own World Title ambitions on Friday night.

Amir Khan & Dae Sung Park

MMA stars Amir Khan and Dae Sung Park fight at ONE: COLLISION COURSE II

Amir Khan is entering his lightweight battle with South Korean star “Crazy Dog” Dae Sung Park with a very heavy heart.

The Singaporean’s father, Tajudeen, sadly passed away last week after being diagnosed with Stage IV brain cancer.

Instead of withdrawing from the contest to grieve, Khan is moving forward with the bout and plans to deliver an explosive performance in honor of his father.

If Khan beats Park, he would become the first person to defeat the ONE Warrior Series contract winner since the South Korean joined the main roster, as well as tie Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki for the second-most victories in ONE’s lightweight division.

And should he knock out “Crazy Dog,” the Singaporean would once again break his tie with Christian “The Warrior” Lee and stand alone with the most KOs in ONE history at 10.

Unless Park submits Khan within 26 seconds or knocks him out within 14 seconds, he won’t become a record holder. However, a victory would keep him unbeaten in his promotional run and propel him closer toward a spot in the lightweight rankings.

Raimond Magomedaliev & Edson Marques

MMA stars Raimond Magomedaliev and Edson Marques fight at ONE: COLLISION COURSE II

This Friday, two men will try to stake their claim for a shot at ONE Welterweight World Champion Kiamrian “Brazen” Abbasov.

Raimond Magomedaliev owns a 6-1 professional record with an 83 percent finishing rate and looked phenomenal in his bout with Joey “Mama’s Boy” Pierotti, whom he submitted via guillotine choke in the first round back in January.

On Friday, he’ll face undefeated promotional newcomer Edson “Panico” Marques, who owns a 9-0 record and has knocked out his last six opponents.

Should there be another finish from either Magomedaliev or Marques, they could jump to the front of the queue and perhaps become Abbasov’s next challenger in 2021.

Senzo Ikeda & Liang Hui

MMA stars Senzo Ikeda and Liang Hui fight at ONE: COLLISION COURSE II

Opening the show will be a pair of athletes who are looking to make some noise in the strawweight division.

Fans are very familiar with Senzo Ikeda, a Japanese Mixed Martial Arts Champion who is returning from an injury he suffered in his strawweight debut back in October 2018.

With those injury woes behind him, Ikeda is looking to recreate himself in his new weight class and join three of his countrymen in the rankings.

Standing across from him will be promotional newcomer “The Little Monster” Liang Hui, a Chinese Mixed Martial Arts Champion with 19 victories and a formidable grappling background.

While these fighters may not secure a ONE Strawweight World Title shot or a spot in the rankings, they’ll be looking to make a statement before heading into 2021.