Anissa Meksen, Marat Grigorian Highlight ONE On Prime Video 2 Lead Card With Statement Wins
ONE Championship kicked off its second offering on Amazon Prime Video Sports with an explosive lead card full of high-octane action this past Friday, September 30.
Fans were treated to four matches that featured some of the biggest names in combat sports. Ultimately, those superstars produced a brilliant knockout, competitive three-round affairs, and some noteworthy post-fight interviews.
Here is everything that went down on the lead card of ONE on Prime Video 2: Xiong vs. Lee III.
Marat Grigorian Beats Tayfun Ozcan In Kickboxing Barnburner
Second-ranked contender Marat Grigorian and #5-ranked Tayfun “Turbine” Ozcan were motivated to pick up another emphatic win in the stacked featherweight kickboxing division, and that determination showed in the lead card’s headlining bout.
The contest was a fast-paced battle of two tales – Grigorian carving a path through Ozcan’s tight defense with his power and accuracy, while the latter utilized his speed and volume to hit the Armenian on several occasions.
Grigorian’s left hooks, straight rights, and damaging leg kicks were his go-to weapons, but the Dutch-Turkish dynamo ate those shots and traded bravely in the pocket. Ozcan landed crushing uppercuts and quick combinations that connected square on his rival’s chin.
After three rounds of action, the judges scored the contest in favor of Grigorian, handing him his third win on the global stage and bumping his career record to 66-12-1.
In his post-fight interview with Mitch Chilson, the Armenian stated his desire to have a trilogy match with the last man who beat him – ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon Singha Mawynn.
Oh Ho Taek Edges Out Ryogo Takahashi
Korean sensation “Spider” Oh Ho Taek made his presence felt in his promotional debut, as he scored a narrow split-decision win over the division’s #5-ranked contender, Ryogo “Kaitai” Takahashi, in their back-and-forth featherweight MMA clash.
Both athletes landed strikes throughout a competitive opening stanza that took place entirely on the feet. Oh utilized his height and reach advantage to fire off kicks at range, while the Japanese veteran patiently countered with thudding punches and leg kicks.
Takahashi gained momentum early in the second frame, landing crisp counter punches that briefly dropped his Korean foe to the mat. But “Kaitai” failed to maintain that aggression, causing the referee to issue him a yellow card later in the round and again in the third stanza due to a lack of action.
That inactivity would cost him dearly in the end. “Spider” increased his volume in the final round, connecting with a variety of kicks and near-constant attacks, which earned him the victory when it went to the judges’ hands.
The 29-year-old Seoul native improved his record to 9-2-1 and is, undoubtedly, poised for another top-five test in his next outing.
Anissa Meksen Coasts To Breezy Decision Win, Fires Shot At Stamp
Anissa “C18” Meksen has had one goal since joining ONE Championship: to win a World Title in the striking arts. Against Dangkongfah Banchamek on Friday night, she took one step closer to earning her shot by defeating the Thai veteran via unanimous decision in their 115.25-pound catchweight Muay Thai bout.
Meksen looked fluid as she bounced around the flat-footed Dangkongfah and stuck jabs and straight rights in her face. However, it was “C18’s” left hook that helped her reel in the win. Each time the Banchamek Gym representative advanced, the French-Algerian walloped her chin with a looping left hand.
By the final round, Meksen looked so comfortable inside the Circle that she was throwing Superwoman punches and jumping roundhouse kicks just to entertain herself and the crowd. The three judges would award “C18” a clear-cut decision victory, which moved her record to 103-5.
Nothing was more entertaining than her post-fight chat with Chilson, however.
When the ONE Championship commentator asked the 34-year-old how she felt about her next opponent, Stamp Fairtex, who she’ll meet in a mixed rules super-fight at ONE on Prime Video 6 in January 2023, she didn’t hold back.
“She’s a dancer,” Meksen said. “I’m a real fighter, simply.”
Rade Opacic Kicks Off The Show With Massive KO
Rade Opacic opened the show with a massive knockout victory over Giannis “Hercules” Stoforidis in their ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix alternate bout.
Following a competitive first round, the Serbian took control of the action in the second stanza and dropped Stoforidis with a slick cross-hook-cross combination to earn the win at the 1:52 mark of the frame.
With the KO, the 25-year-old Belgrade native improved his record to 17-6.
In his post-fight interview, Opacic called out the winner of the ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix, which will feature light heavyweight kickboxing king Roman Kryklia and Iranian powerhouse Iraj Azizpour slugging it out in the final.
