What's Next For The Winners Of ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST?

The stunning performances from the stars of ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST have set up some mouth-watering match-ups for the next few months in ONE Championship.

Some of the heroes who won in Shanghai, China on Saturday, 15 June can look forward to some career-defining contests following their inspiring victories at the Baoshan Arena.

This is what could be next for six of the night’s biggest winners from an unforgettable evening of martial arts.

Agilan Thani

Agilan “Alligator” Thani was determined to get back to winning ways after a difficult 12 months, and he showed he had not lost his warrior spirit to edge Yoshihiro “Sexy Yama” Akiyama by decision after three exciting rounds.

The win over a legend of Japanese martial arts showed that the Malaysian’s setbacks were only temporary, and he is still a top-level operator in the welterweight division.

Another man who is close to the top of the pile in that division is James Nakashima – the undefeated American with two wins in The Home Of Martial Arts.

Like Thani, he is a grappling specialist with ever-improving stand-up, which should make for a close contest wherever the match plays out. Furthermore, the winner could put himself in line for a World Title shot.

Han Zi Hao

China’s foremost Muay Thai superstar Han Zi Hao enhanced his reputation for action with his knockout of Andrew “Maddog Fairtex” Miller.

The 23-year-old would love to get another crack at the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title, but to do that, he will have to get a few more impressive wins.

What better way to try and do that – all while getting into a guaranteed thriller – than by facing Saemapetch Fairtex?

The Thai star has also never failed to deliver excitement in the ONE Circle, so a battle between these young warriors would be the perfect addition to any main card.

Reinier De Ridder

If Reinier “The Dutch Knight” De Ridder has not earned a ONE Middleweight World Title shot with his knockout win over Gilberto “Giba” Galvao, then he is not far away.

One way he could be almost certain of a crack at his division’s top prize would be another marquee win. A victory over the Vitaly Bigdash would do the job.

The Russian powerhouse could give the undefeated 28-year-old a run for his money in the submission stakes, and he has the striking power to test him on the feet like never before.

The division’s former top dog is also chasing another shot at the gold, so this match could go down as a World Title eliminator.

Koyomi Matsushima

It was mission accomplished for Koyomi “Moushigo” Matsushima, who completed his recovery from injury to take out the dangerous “Pretty Boy” Kwon Won Il in Shanghai.

Combined with his KO defeat of Marat Gafurov last year, that win has pushed him toward a World Title match in the featherweight division, but he may need one more victory to cement his claim.

If he could beat Garry “The Lion Killer” Tonon, the Japanese martial artist could not be denied his chance.

The American is likely to go all out to try and submit the 26-year-old from Yokohama. But the last grappler Matsushima faced was Gafurov, and he was finished before he even had a chance to try.

“Moushigo” vs. “The Lion Killer” has all the makings of an edge-of-your-seat battle where one mistake from either man could result in a quick finish.

Itsuki Hirata

Itsuki “Strong Heart Fighter” Hirata could not have hoped to make a better professional mixed martial arts debut at ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST.

Her quick submission of Angelie “D Explorer” Sabanal means she is ready to test herself against another rising star of the women’s atomweight division.

Bozhena Antoniyar fits the bill perfectly. The two-time Myanmar national boxing champion is slightly more seasoned on the global stage than Hirata – but not by much – and her stand-up skills would create a classic striker vs. grappler match-up against the Japanese submission specialist.

Phoe Thaw

Myanmar hero Phoe “Bushido” Thaw made it seven finishes from eight wins in ONE as he continued his climb up the featherweight ranks with a highlight-reel knockout of Victorio “Indra” Senduk.

It would make sense to match him with another athlete coming off a win, and there could be few more perfect matches for the Yangon native than Edward “The Ferocious” Kelly.

These are two aggressive strikers who have eyes only for a finish, so their lethwei vs. wushu clash would be sure to bring fireworks.