Why ONE: VISIONS OF VICTORY Is A Blockbuster Not To Be Missed
This coming Friday, 9 March, ONE Championship returns to the brand new Axiata Arena in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur for its latest spectacle, ONE: VISIONS OF VICTORY.
The metropolis is buzzing with excitement, as the world’s greatest martial artists are set to once again showcase their elite skills inside the prestigious ONE cage.
As if that was not enough, here are three reasons you should definitely check out ONE: VISIONS OF VICTORY.
#1 See The Next Flyweight World Title Challenger
A new flyweight world title challenger will emerge this coming Friday.
Filipino-Australian martial artist Reece “Lightning” McLaren will meet Malaysian hero Gianni Subba in the main event of ONE: VISIONS OF VICTORY, with the winner getting a future flyweight world championship opportunity.
McLaren, who previously competed at bantamweight, put the entire division on notice when he submitted Anatpong Bunrad in his flyweight debut last November. The BJJ black belt showcased his high-level grappling with an impressive D’Arce choke, which forced his Thai opponent to tap for the first time ever with only seconds remaining in the opening stanza.
That win had originally earned him a shot at the ONE Flyweight World Title against reigning kingpin Adriano Moraes in Malaysia, but the champ was unfortunately unable to compete due to injury. Selflessly, McLaren accepted a short notice against Gianni Subba, and even put his title shot on the line.
This is an especially thrilling moment for Malaysian fans, as one of their own is getting a chance to shine in the spotlight.
The well-rounded Subba, who has competed exclusively in ONE since making his professional debut in October 2012, is riding a two-bout win streak with victories over former world title challengers Yago Bryan and Riku Shibuya.
Both McLaren and Subba are considered the top contenders in the talent-rich division, and it would not be a surprise to see fireworks for a full 15 minutes. And, with a guaranteed world championship opportunity up for grabs, the two flyweight dynamos will undoubtedly leave everything they have inside the ONE cage.
#2 A Fantastic Featherweight Showdown
There is a lot of action happening in ONE’s flyweight division, but on Friday, one more challenger could make himself known.
In the featherweight division, Christian “The Warrior” Lee will continue his campaign towards a world title bout against the only man who has ever defeated him, reigning ONE Featherweight and Lightweight World Champion Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen.
Lee brings his three-bout win streak into battle against two-division DEEP Champion Kazunori Yokota, who is also eager to avenge his loss from the right hand of Nguyen.
With the top contenders all clamoring to earn their place at the top, this is a pivotal match-up that will undoubtedly help clear up the title picture.
#3 Malaysia’s Brightest Talents Are Set To Shine
As always, ONE puts the spotlight on homegrown talent, and will once again feature a strong local contingent on this action-filled card.
Besides the aforementioned Subba, another superstar that will be competing at the event is Agilan Thani. The 22-year-old is one of the best welterweight in the game today. Following his lone blemish against ONE Welterweight World Champion Ben Askren, Thani returned with a vengeance, and thoroughly dominated Egypt’s Sherif Mohamed in August 2016.
“Alligator” will attempt to surge back towards a world title opportunity, but the next warrior he encounters is India’s Amitesh Chaubey, an SFL Welterweight Champion known for his knockout power.
MIMMA Featherweight Champion “Jungle Cat” Muhammad Aiman will also return to action, and will look to settle into his new home in the bantamweight division.
The 23-year-old has shown tremendous promise so far in his young career, already owning victories over notable opponents such as China’s Yang Fei and BJJ champion black belt Eduardo Novaes. At ONE: VISIONS OF VICTORY, Aiman will clash with Kun Khmer specialist Rin Saroth.
Finally, highly-regarded female atomweight Jihin “Shadow Cat” Radzuan is scheduled to make her ONE debut. At the tender age of 19, Radzuan already looks like a seasoned professional. After all, she is a FIOGA Wushu World Champion, and a talented Muay Thai kickboxer.
There is a lot of hype surrounding Radzuan’s first appearance inside the ONE cage. She is set to face a fellow striker in Indian wushu champion Puja Tomar, who will be gunning for an impressive win of her own.
