HEAVY HITTERS On 14 January

ONE Championship is ringing within the new yr with a card full of energy.

This Friday, 14 January, the promotion broadcasts ONE: HEAVY HITTERS reside from the Singapore Indoor Stadium, and each competitor scheduled for motion needs to get their respective 2022 campaigns began on the proper foot.

A pair of World Title fights and a extremely anticipated debut are amongst 12 essential battles that can undoubtedly affect the ONE Athlete Rankings.

With that mentioned, listed below are 5 of the largest the reason why you could watch ONE: HEAVY HITTERS on Friday.

#1 A Struggle For Girls’s Strawweight World Title Gold

ONE Girls’s Strawweight World Champion “The Panda” Xiong Jing Nan returns to the Circle within the night time’s predominant occasion, and the Chinese language MMA famous person has an opportunity to filter her division.

Since claiming the division’s inaugural gold in January 2018, the Beijing native has been essentially the most dominant power the burden class has ever seen. To this point, she holds a 16-2 file, which features a pair of victories over #1-ranked Tiffany “No Chill” Teo, a unanimous resolution over #2-ranked Michelle Nicolini, and even a TKO win over #3-ranked “Unstoppable” Angela Lee.

Along with that, Xiong owns the group’s file for many knockouts throughout all feminine divisions with 4 – and he or she would love so as to add to that quantity on Friday. Nevertheless, she may meet her match with #4-ranked Ayaka “Zombie” Miura – her polar reverse.

Miura is probably not recognized for her immense KO energy, however the third-degree judo black belt is legendary for her submission prowess.

The Japanese phenom owns a powerful 11-3 (1 NC) file with 4 of these victories coming through scarf-hold Americana. It’s turn out to be her trademark submission, a method she dubbed the “Ayaka Lock.” Furthermore, three of her 4 victories utilizing the distinctive transfer got here within the strawweight division, which implies she leads the burden class in submissions wins.

This conflict is a basic striker versus grappler matchup, and with every girl’s ending skill, followers may witness an epic highlight-reel conclusion to this predominant occasion showdown.

#2 Gentle Heavyweight Monsters Collide For The Belt

The co-main occasion additionally includes a conflict of kinds, as towering ONE Gentle Heavyweight World Champion Roman Kryklia defends the belt in opposition to one-punch behemoth Murat “The Butcher” Aygun.

Kryklia, who dwarfs the challenger by 3 inches (or 7 centimeters), has appeared flawless since making his organizational debut in 2019. He first gained revenge on surging previous foe Tarik “The Tank” Khbabez to win the title after which picked aside Andrei “Mister KO” Stoica over the course of 5 rounds.

Aygun has much less bouts in ONE, however the 17-1 fighter pummeled revered veteran Anderson “Braddock” Silva in his organizational debut.

Kryklia and Aygun have been presupposed to struggle a number of instances for over a yr, however the bout stored getting delayed for numerous causes. Nonetheless, the hearth in every huge kickboxer has solely grown.

The World Champion believes the Dutch-Turkish juggernaut is predictable, however Aygun feels insulted that the Ukrainian colossus thinks he’s “straightforward prey” and is gunning for a statement-making KO.

Don’t blink when these two enter the Circle. The large boys are coming to play, and so they received’t maintain something again.

#3 Khabib’s Protege Makes His ONE Debut

Ever since Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov’s protege Saygid Izagakhmaev put pen to paper in October, the worldwide fan base has been eagerly awaiting his debut.

On Friday, the wait will finish.

When Izagakhmaev steps into the Circle for the primary time, he can have the multiple-time World Champion in his nook for the large second.

Nurmagomedov mentioned the younger Dagestani grappler’s fashion is much like his, however added that he’s taller, longer, and has nice Muay Thai approach. If “The Eagle’s” prediction comes true and Izagakhmaev does earn one other victory, he’ll push his file to 20-2.

However the win isn’t a given, particularly in opposition to a stud like former ONE World Title challenger James Nakashima.

Nakashima is a wrestling standout too. And after struggling the primary two losses of his profession, the American light-weight spent a yr away from competitors to level-up his abilities. Ought to Nakashima spoil Izagakhmaev’s huge second, it might undoubtedly get his again off the wall.

#4 The Lengthy-Awaited Bantamweight Muay Thai Showdown

It had been booked a number of instances over the previous six months, however COVID-19 protocols and accidents have derailed the Muay Thai conflict between top-ranked bantamweight contender Saemapetch Fairtex and Tawanchai PK.Saenchai Muaythaigym.

So long as there isn’t a freak damage within the coming days, then this match will lastly go down on Friday.

A powerful victory by both man may line them up for a crack at reigning ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Gaiyanghadao’s belt. However whereas a shot at gold is an thrilling prospect, what makes this struggle much more attention-grabbing is the truth that they’re buddies exterior of the Circle.

In reality, when Tawanchai debuted final yr, he went to the Fairtex star for some recommendation regarding the rule set and hydration protocols. He additionally picked his mind about easier issues like flying overseas for the primary time. The PK.Saenchai Muaythaigym fighter even went to Saemapetch’s health club and educated with him.

Each athletes know one another effectively and have an incredible quantity of respect for each other. It’s actually a long-awaited showdown and the 2 will give it their all on Friday. Nevertheless, the friendship provides an attention-grabbing twist to the conflict.

#5 Younger Feminine Rising Stars Look To Proceed Ascent

Two potential cornerstones of the strawweight Muay Thai and combined martial arts divisions make their returns at ONE: HEAVY HITTERS.

Eighteen-year-old phenom Supergirl is coming off a jaw-dropping 60-second KO. Now, the Muay Thai sensation needs to be much more spectacular in her sophomore look.

If the teenager star can beat multiple-time Muay Thai World Champion Ekaterina “Barbie” Vandaryeva, then she would undoubtedly place herself among the many division’s high names. Maybe she would even get to problem Jackie Buntan, who defeated her sister, Wondergirl, final yr.

In combined martial arts, Meng Bo is able to start a brand new journey.

After struggling an upset within the ONE Girls’s Atomweight World Grand Prix quarterfinals, the revered Chinese language knockout artist has dusted herself off and is searching for a contemporary begin within the strawweight division.

Meng’s first activity is a troublesome one although, as she collides with Teo. Nevertheless, if she defeats the top-ranked ladies’s strawweight contender, she’ll make a case to problem her compatriot, “The Panda.”