Shinya Aoki To Defend World Title In Singapore, Grand Prix Bouts Scheduled

ONE: ENTER THE DRAGON may be six weeks away, but the card is already starting to take shape.

The blockbuster spectacle, which is scheduled for the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Friday, 17 May, now has a main event and six other marquee bouts in place.

In the headline attraction, ONE Lightweight World Champion Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki will defend his belt against Singapore’s own Christian “The Warrior” Lee.

Also, the event will feature the full quarter-final round of the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix, the first semi-final bout of the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix, and the debut of “Super” Sage Northcutt.

Aoki is coming off a quick victory at ONE: A NEW ERA when he reclaimed the gold with a first-round submission of Eduard “Landslide” Folayang in Tokyo, Japan on Sunday, 31 March.

The first natural challenger for his second World Title reign was slated to be the winner of the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix. However, that tournament will not conclude until later in 2019, and Aoki was not willing to sit on the sidelines and wait.

Instead, the 35-year-old surprised fans and the media when he expressed his desire to face Lee – an Evolve teammate who normally competes in the featherweight division.

ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong was receptive to the idea, and “The Warrior” had no hesitation in accepting the challenge.

Lee usually competes in the weight class below Aoki, but few would deny he is a worthy challenger for the belt.

Although he is just 20 years old, the Singaporean has already challenged for the ONE Featherweight World Title, and he has set multiple records in The Home Of Martial Arts — including the record for most stoppage victories in ONE history at 11.

“The Warrior” is coming off a pair of impressive first-round victories, having defeated Kazuki Tokudome last November and Edward Kelly in January.

Now, with the support of his Singaporean fans behind him, Lee hopes to maintain his perfect 100 percent finishing rate and defeat the Japanese martial arts icon for the gold in his lightweight debut.

The card will also feature the first semi-final bout of the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix, as Ariel “Tarzan” Sexton meets Saygid “Dagi” Guseyn Arslanaliev.

Both men punched their tickets into the second round of the tournament by defeating their respective opponents at ONE: CALL TO GREATNESS in Singapore this past February.

Arslanaliev knocked out former ONE Lightweight World Title challenger Ev Ting in 25 seconds to claim his spot, while Sexton pulled off an astonishing come-from-behind effort to submit hometown hero Amir Khan via rear-naked choke in the third round of their battle.

The victor of this explosive semi-final contest on 17 May will advance to the tournament finals and patiently await the winner of the other semi-final between Lowen Tynanes and Timofey Nastyukhin.

That will not be the only Grand Prix action on the card.

ONE: ENTER THE DRAGON will also feature the quarter-final round of the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix.

Although the matches have not been revealed just yet, all eight participants have been announced.

Entering the tournament field of World Champions will be Italy’s Giorgio Petrosyan, France’s Samy Sana, the Netherland’s Andy Souwer, Germany’s Enriko Kehl, Russia’s Dzhabar Askerov, and Thailand’s Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex, “Smokin'” Jo Nattawut, and Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy.

Also, after months of waiting, Northcutt will finally make his highly anticipated ONE debut.

The multiple-time Karate World Champion, who officially joined the world’s largest martial arts organization in December, will square off against Lion Fight Muay Thai World Champion Cosmo Alexandre.

Each athlete is known for their vast striking repertoire, so there is no doubt this mixed martial arts showdown will produce fireworks in Singapore.

More bouts for ONE: ENTER THE DRAGON will be announced in the weeks to come.