‘Anything Is Possible’ – Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat Aiming For Knockout Return At ONE Fight Night 17

“No.1” Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat had been laying a path of destruction when he started competing in ONE Championship four years ago. Though the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily halted his meteoric rise, the 34-year-old superstar is now ready to pick up where he left off.

The Vietnamese sensation will face Denis “The Bosnian Menace” Puric in his long-awaited return at ONE Fight Night 17 on Prime Video on Friday, December 8, and their heated flyweight Muay Thai clash will broadcast live in front of a North American primetime audience.

Duy Nhat exploded onto ONE Championship’s global stage in 2019, earning a pair of highlight-reel knockout victories over Azwan Che Wil and Yuta Watanabe.

But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Vietnam in 2020, he was forced to the sidelines. Despite that, he used his time away from the world’s largest martial arts organization to focus on his coaching duties, where he achieved great success.

The Ho Chi Minh City resident told onefc.com:

“COVID-19 suddenly shut the whole world down. I was supposed to fight, but it was canceled. The Vietnamese government had very strict policies when it came to healthcare, so [there were] no more fighting events. 

“Since I couldn’t really fight, I focused on coaching. I worked as a coach for the Vietnamese National Kun Khmer Team, which competed at SEA Games 2023. Caring for the athletes, setting up plans, being with them in the corners, sharing my experiences with them – all those memories will stay with me forever.” 

Also, after competing exclusively in striking disciplines his entire life, Duy Nhat kicked off a new journey in the all-encompassing sport of mixed martial arts last year.

The Ho Chi Minh City native compiled a 4-0 amateur record, winning his first three bouts via stoppage and claiming a tournament championship in his most recent outing. Ultimately, “No.1” has looked extremely competent in the new endeavor that he took up partly to help the sport grow in his native Vietnam. 

Duy Nhat offered: 

“There were two reasons [why I took up MMA]. Firstly, martial arts – especially MMA – are on their way up in Vietnam. But everything related to MMA is still new. I believed if I could show up and let people see how exciting and incredible MMA is, then the sport would grow faster in my country. 

“Secondly, there are many great MMA and Muay Thai fighters in ONE Championship. Seeing them break out of their comfort zones and try a new sport gave me great inspiration. I thought, ‘What if I could do the same thing?’ And here we go.” 

Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat Plans To Wear Down Denis Puric

Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat has enjoyed his foray into MMA and seems destined to compete under that rule set at some point in his ONE Championship career. But for now, he’s thrilled to be making his promotional return against one of the world’s most exciting flyweight Muay Thai fighters.

He has a tough assignment in front of him in the shape of Denis Puric. The Vietnamese fan favorite is taking “The Bosnian Menace” extremely seriously, but he has a plan to extend his two-bout knockout streak when they meet in the ring on December 8. 

“No. 1” offered: 

“Denis Puric is a good fighter with heavy punches, so I won’t take him lightly. All aspects of the game need to be calculated, especially how I would use my kicks and my movements. 

“I watched some of his fights. I noticed his hands, his strength, his guts, and how explosive he could be. I’m more about the technical side, so controlling the fight, keeping him at bay with kicks and movements, and wearing him down will be my top priorities. But of course, I don’t mind having a KO win, if there is a chance to do so.” 

Duy Nhat’s first two ONE Championship victories showed that he is just as explosive as any of his peers in the flyweight Muay Thai ranks, and a third consecutive stoppage win would mark him out as a major threat.  

“No.1” is determined to rebuild the momentum he earned four years ago to push toward his dream match with reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon. 

With that in mind, the Ho Chi Minh City resident won’t underestimate Puric when they collide inside the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. Instead, he plans to take a calculated approach at ONE Fight Night 17 on Prime Video.

Duy Nhat said: 

“Anything is possible. I think we will probably spend the first round testing each other, then things will heat up in the later rounds of the match. 

“I believe in my experience, my skills, and my soul as a Muay Thai fighter. I will try my best to achieve the win.”