Knockouts to remember from ONE Championship’s stellar 2017

The world-class and talented athletes of ONE Championship pulled out all the stops in 2017, and the burgeoning martial arts scene in Asia has never been in a better position.

2017 saw a plethora of highlight-reel knockouts taking place within the ONE Championship cage, and to commemorate the most spectacular ones, here are the five best knockouts of the year in the organization.

#5) Anthony Engelen’s power right hook at ONE: QUEST FOR POWER

Anthony Engelen

It has not been an easy run in ONE Championship for Dutch-Indonesian journeyman Anthony “The Archangel” Engelen as he has registered a handful of big wins as well as a couple of painful losses in five bouts under the organization’s banner.

However, his victory on the undercard of ONE: QUEST FOR POWER on 14 January showcased tremendous promise moving forward.

Engelen electrified his adopted home crowd of Jakarta, Indonesia with a masterful display of striking, defeating his opponent with one strong blow and bringing everyone up to their feet.

Just two minutes into the very first round against Malaysian martial arts veteran AJ “Pyro” Lias Mansor, Engelen put together a stunning boxing combination, punctuated by an emphatic right hook that connected right on the jaw of his cage counterpart, who was out cold before he even hit the ground.

(Link: https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship/videos/1300814339941818/)

#4) Christian Lee’s spectacular slam at ONE: WARRIORS OF THE WORLD

Christian Lee, Koketsu Boku

Throughout his young professional career, featherweight standout Christian “The Warrior” Lee has been billed as the future of martial arts, showing great talent and unlimited potential.

The 19-year-old martial arts sensation took another step in fulfilling all of those on 9 December as he concluded a masterful performance against former ONE Lightweight World Champion Kotetsu “No Face” Boku at ONE: WARRIORS OF THE WORLD in Bangkok, Thailand.

In perhaps his most impressive performance to date, Lee brought his best against a dangerous opponent in Boku as he employed the perfect strategy and completed a rapturous knockout triumph that undoubtedly signals his readiness to challenge the upper tier of talent in the promotion’s most stacked division.

Bringing the action right to Boku, Lee blasted the Japanese veteran with powerful strikes, takedowns and submission attempts.

Moreover, Lee unloaded his best offense on the former world champion, all while pushing him constantly back up against the cage.

Just past the three-minute mark, Lee quickly took Boku’s back and executed a textbook trip takedown with such incredible power that it knocked Japanese veteran out.

The impressive win over Boku was Lee’s seventh first-round stoppage victory and tied the promotional record for most finishes at eight.

(Link: https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship/videos/1645110132178902/)

#3) Zebaztian Kadestam’s comeback knockout win at ONE: DYNASTY OF HEROES

Zebaztian Kadestam, Luis Santos, Yuji Shimada

Going up against one of the most feared strikers in the division is not the most ideal scenario for a ONE Championship debutant, but Swede newcomer Zebaztian “The Bandit” Kadestam wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Receiving the opportunity to join ONE Championship and take on one of the biggest names in the division, Kadestam would put everything on the line.

It all worked out for Kadestam as he turned in one of the most exciting finishes in 2017 with a third-round knockout of Brazilian powerhouse Luis “Sapo” Santos at ONE: DYNASTY OF HEROES in Singapore on 26 May.

Accepting the challenge on short notice, Kadestam spent the first two rounds fending off a furious offense by Santos.

Unknown to the Brazilian, it was all a part of Kadestam’s plan as Swede was biding his time, waiting for the third round where Santos has been known to lose his steam.

It was precisely what happened to the Brazilian brute, giving Kadestam a great opening to capitalize with a series of hard knees that flattened Santos to complete a shocking comeback upset.

(Link: https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship/videos/1440768412613076/)

#2) Honorio Banario’s one-punch knockout at ONE: KINGS OF DESTINY

Honorio Banario

Former ONE Featherweight World Champion Honorio Banario does not believe his best days are behind him as after losing five bouts in a row from 2013 to 2015, there is no quit in the 28-year-old Baguio City native to bring back the glimmer in his professional career.

Banario has since won four straight matches, including two spectacular finishes in his last two outings.

On 21 April at ONE: KINGS OF DESTINY, Banario showcased another epic performance, stopping ONE Championship debutant Jaroslav Jartim with a single left hook.

Countering a body kick with a punching combination, Honorio unleashed a left hook that landed square on Jartim’s jaw, turning the lights out immediately for his Czech opponent.

It was Banario’s first real knockout victory since he stopped compatriot Andrew Benibe at ONE: PRIDE OF A NATION in August 2012.

(Link: https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship/videos/1406660046023913/)

#1) Martin Nguyen’s history-making knockout at ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD

Martin Nguyen, Eduard Folayang

Having just lifted the coveted ONE Featherweight World Championship from the previously-unbeaten Marat Gafurov via scintillating knockout just three months prior, Vietnamese-Australian dynamo Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen became an overnight sensation.

Nguyen catapulted to superstardom through a series of impressive highlight-reel finishes, culminating with his knockout of Gafurov.

With an unstoppable weapon in his vaunted overhand right, Nguyen emerged as a legitimate knockout artist who is capable of toppling anyone with a single shot.

Nguyen proved that yet again on 10 November as he entered hostile territory to challenge beloved Filipino martial arts superstar Eduard “Landslide” Folayang for the ONE Lightweight World Championship before a hometown crowd in Manila at ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD.

Although Folayang knew that Nguyen’s best weapon was the overhand right, there was little that the Filipino hero could do to stop it as “The Situ-Asian” waited for just the right moment to counter his opponent.

As Folayang telegraphed his patented spinning back kick, Nguyen uncorked his famed overhand grenade to shock the world once again.

The jaw-dropping knockout of Folayang earned Nguyen the ONE Lightweight World Championship and wrote his name in history books as the first man to hold two world titles simultaneously in ONE Championship.

(Link: https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship/videos/1613437662012816/)

​For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Tiffany Teo and Xiong Jing Nan to compete for inaugural ONE Women's Strawweight World Championship in Jakarta

Tifanny Teo, Stefer Rahardian, Muhammad Imran, Xiong Jing Nan

The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced a blockbuster main event set for the Jakarta Convention Center in Jakarta, Indonesia. ONE: KINGS OF COURAGE is set for 20 January, and is ONE Championship’s first global broadcast of 2018. In the main event, Tiffany “No Chill” Teo of Singapore will take on “The Panda” Xiong Jing Nan of China for the inaugural ONE Women’s Strawweight World Championship.

Ticket information for ONE: KINGS OF COURAGE is available at www.onefc.com.

Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “I am super excited to announce Tiffany Teo versus Xiong Jing Nan at ONE: KINGS OF COURAGE in Jakarta. It is our first global broadcast of 2018 and we are going big. The two women are exemplary martial artists who compete at the highest level of skill. It should be an exciting bout for all the fans watching, and at the end of the night, we will be crowning our first ONE Women’s Strawweight World Champion. In addition, our co-main event contest between local hero Stefer Rahardian and Muhammad Imran will see the winner go on to challenge for the ONE Flyweight World Championship.”

Tiffany Teo, ONE World Title Challenger, stated: “First of all, I would like to thank ONE Championship for believing in me. I’ve always kept my head down and let the hard work and my achievements speak for itself. I got the win in my last bout, but I still feel like I could have done better. As a martial artist, I am constantly seeking to improve. This title shot means a lot to me and I am excited to get right back in the cage. I would like to thank Xiong Jing Nan for the opportunity to showcase my skills again. This one is for my fans in Singapore. I will bring the belt home for you guys.”

Xiong Jing Nan, ONE World Title Challenger, stated: “I would like to thank ONE Championship for the opportunity. I am so glad to have a title shot against Tiffany [Teo]. This is a great honor for me, and for China. I have been training and dreaming of becoming a world champion for a long time and I am ready to defeat whoever is standing in front of me. My entire career has been about making this dream come true, and now it’s time for me to make that dream a reality.”

Tiffany “No Chill” Teo of Singapore is a rising female martial arts star who competes in ONE Championship’s women’s strawweight division. She holds an unblemished professional record of seven wins and no losses, including three submissions and two knockouts. Teo began training in taekwondo before moving on to compete in boxing and Muay Thai and eventually transitioning to the ONE Championship cage. In her last bout, Teo impressed with a quick submission victory over Puja Tomar. Up next, Teo will take on Xiong Jing Nan for the inaugural ONE Women’s Strawweight World Championship.

“The Panda” Xiong Jingnan of Shandong is an upcoming female strawweight contender in ONE Championship. She is known as one of the top three leading female martial arts talents in China. With a professional record of 10-1, Xiong began her career competing in professional boxing and was inspired by her father, who imparted in her values of courage and integrity. Featuring a wide array of skills, Xiong recently bagged a gold medal at the prestigious China Open Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournament in 2017. In her last bout, Xiong made quick work of Filipino wushu specialist April Osenio, finishing her opponent via technical knockout in the first round. Up next, Xiong will take on Tiffany Teo for the inaugural ONE Women’s Strawweight World Championship.

Top Indonesian martial arts talent Stefer Rahardian impressed in his ONE Championship debut by winning the ONE: TITLES & TITANS Flyweight Tournament in August of 2016. Rahardian finished both Yotha Hutagalung and Hendrick Wijaya by first round rear-naked choke to become the tournament winner. Since then, Rahardian has blazed a trail in the ONE Championship cage, winning three additional bouts to cap an unprecedented run as a professional. In his last outing, Rahardian outperformed Cambodia’s Sim Bunsrun to win by impressive first-round submission. Still unbeaten, Rahardian puts his perfect record on the line against Muhammad Imran in a ONE Flyweight World Championship title eliminator..

Muhammad “The Spider” Imran of Gujar Khan, Pakistan is a martial artist making his ONE Championship debut. He is the former PFC Strawweight Champion who specializes in budokai karate and grappling. The 26-year-old is looking to make a solid impact at flyweight, challenging one of the top talents in the division in his first appearance for the promotion. In his next outing, Imran is set to battle Indonesia’s Stefer Rahardian for the right to challenge for the ONE Flyweight World Championship.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

ONE Championship’s scintillating submissions of 2017

It has been a great 2017 for ONE Championship as the constantly-flourishing martial arts landscape in Asia continues to expand and more fans have jumped onto the trend of the fastest growing sport in the world.

What endears avid martial arts fans to the sport is the purity of the various disciplines and techniques, which resemble a real battle in both the physical and mental aspects.

Grappling in particular has seen an epic surge in depth for Asia-based competitors as over the past year, ONE Championship’s talented athletes have impressed with some spectacular submission finishes.

Here is a look back at the best submissions of the year in ONE Championship.

#5) Jomary Torres pulls off shocking submission win in ONE Championship debut

 Jomary Torres, Olivier Coste, Rika Ishige

In a recent upset among female atomweights, Jomary Torres of the Philippines made her promotional debut at ONE: KINGS & CONQUERORS in Macao, China on 5 August and halted Thai superstar Rika “Tinydoll” Ishige’s rapid rise through the ranks.

Ishige, who had previously won her first two bouts by spectacular finish, has proven to be a talented grappler.

However, Torres was quick to point out that Ishige was severely lacking in the striking department as the Filipina proceeded to test her opponent’s stand-up game.

After surviving several submission attempts while softening up the Thai in round one, Torres would then work to finish in round two, sensing that Ishige was slowly fading.

Just before the midway point in the second frame, the Filipina striker surprisingly caught Ishige in a choke, pressed her up against the cage, and proceeded to pursue the submission until the Thai tapped out.

(Link: https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship/videos/1517251958298054/)

#4) May Ooi rallies back to clinch submission win at ONE: QUEST FOR GREATNESS

May Ooi, Olivier Coste, Ann Osman

At ONE: QUEST FOR GREATNESS on 16 August, Singapore’s “Mighty” May Ooi made her promotional debut against Ann “Athena” Osman of Malaysia.

The former Singaporean Olympic swimmer turned martial artist stepped into the ONE cage for the first time and was undoubtedly looking to make a statement.

Before the bout, Ooi boldly predicted her victory, claiming that she would win by first-round submission.

It almost looked like it was not going to happen as Osman enjoyed early success, knocking Ooi down and then plastering her with stiff ground-and-pound, but the Malaysian strawweight was unable to put the Singaporean away.

With less than two minutes remaining in the opening frame, Ooi would make good on her promise as she dug deep to rally back against Osman.

Ooi took her opponent’s back and caught her in a deep rear-naked choke, leaving Osman with no other choice but to wave the white flag.

It was an upset of huge proportions as the Singaporean took home the victory on Malaysian soil.

More importantly, it signified Ooi’s arrival on the biggest stage of martial arts and as a new player in the blossoming women’s strawweight division.

(Link: https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship/videos/1529585833731333/)

#3) Alex Silva secures title contender position with crafty armbar

Hayato Suzuki, Alex Silva

Before he defeated Yoshitaka “Nobita” Naito with a masterful striking performance to claim the ONE Strawweight World Championship last 9 December in the main event of ONE: WARRIORS OF THE WORLD in Bangkok, Thailand, Alex “Little Rock” Silva displayed his elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills on another elite Japanese martial artist.

Silva met an unbeaten Hayato Suzuki, a highly-regarded wrestler and Grachan champion, on the undercard of ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD on 9 December.

Fans expected a technical ground war with two talented grapplers each wanting to showcase their best techniques, but what they got instead was a complete shocker.

From out of nowhere, Silva out-scrambled Suzuki following a takedown attempt and latched onto an armbar that forced a quick tap from Suzuki.

The result marked Suzuki’s first loss in 20 bouts as a professional and conversely catapulted Silva to an eventual world title shot weeks later.

Silva routed Naito by way of unanimous decision to clinch the ONE Strawweight World Championship.

(Link: https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship/videos/1613360995353816/)

#2) Bibiano Fernandes flaunts submission prowess to retain bantamweight crown

Bibiano Fernandes

Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes, who has been consistently considered one of the best bantamweights in the world, has undoubtedly achieved legendary status.

Although the 37-year-old Brazilian grappling wizard continues to face increasingly tough opposition, ONE Championship’s most dominant titleholder just keeps getting better.

On 5 August in the headliner of ONE: KINGS & CONQUERORS, Fernandes faced American contender Andrew Leone, who vowed to give the champion his stiffest test to date.

However, as Fernandes has consistently proven throughout the years, he only gets better with age.

Fernandes made quick work of Leone while unveiling new dynamics in his offensive arsenal, overwhelming his American challenger with a relentless attack.

After pounding Leone with hard blows on the mat, Fernandes finished matters on the ground with a classic rear-naked choke.

The most fearsome thing about Fernandes is that after over a decade of dominance, he looked the absolute best that he has ever been in his most recent bout.

(Link: https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship/videos/1517400408283209/)

#1) Angela Lee submits challenger against all odds to keep martial arts gold

Angela Lee

When ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion Angela Lee took on undefeated two-time Muay Thai world champion Istela Nunes at ONE: DYNASTY OF HEROES in Singapore on 26 May, the bout was expected to be the toughest test of Lee’s young career.

Little did anyone know, it would turn out to be more difficult than anyone could have imagined.

In the first round of their five-round title bout, Lee stormed out of the gates, and though Nunes had her moments in striking exchanges, things soon hit the ground.

On the canvas, Nunes was in Lee’s world as the reigning champion threatened with a variety of submissions from dominant positions, even coming close to pulling off another twister to close the round.

It was the same story in the second stanza, where it was apparent Lee was set on finishing things early. Lee maintained her breakneck pace and soon had Nunes in an anaconda choke.

After working on it repeatedly, Lee finally succeeded in tapping the Brazilian to retain her title and remain undefeated.

(Link: https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship/videos/1440812599275324/)

​For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.