ONE: IRON WILL results: Bibiano Fernandes outlasts Martin Nguyen

Martin Nguyen, Bibiano Fernandes

24 March 2018 – Bangkok, Thailand: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), held a historic evening in Bangkok as the capacity crowd at the Impact Arena witnessed an amazing display of heart-pounding martial arts action. ONE: IRON WILL sent shockwaves of excitement throughout the state-of-the-art stadium as the card featured a series of compelling bouts, punctuated by an unforgettable championship clash. In the main event, Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes of Brazil remained the undisputed king of ONE Championship’s bantamweight division, defeating two-division world champion Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen of Australia.

In a gruelling five-round title tiff, reigning ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes of Brazil turned in a gutsy performance, overcoming a spirited effort from ONE Featherweight & Lightweight World Champion Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen of Sydney, Australia to win via razor-thin split decision. The action was electric all throughout the bout, with both men having their moments. Although Nguyen landed the harder, more telling blows, Fernandes was the busier ma and performed slightly better overall with his takedowns and accurate combinations. In the final frame, Fernandes pulled away just slightly, outworking Nguyen over the last five minutes of the contest. In the end, the Brazilian did just enough to retain his title in front of a packed Impact Arena crowd. The victory cemented Fernandes’ claim as the best in the world at bantamweight, earning him a record eight title defenses to remain the most dominant ONE world champion in history.

Bibiano Fernandes, ONE Bantamweight World Champion, stated: “I said I would win, and I did. I really live for these challenges. I’m the champion, and I’m here to stay. I’m the best bantamweight in the world. I’ve proven it many times. Bangkok, Thailand -- thank you for having me.”

In the co-main event of the evening, Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado of the Philippines overcame insurmountable odds, knocking out former world champion Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke in the first round. In a wild exchange of punches, Miado clipped Amnuaysirichoke with a thunderous right cross, sending the Thai hometown hero crashing to the canvas as the referee waved off the contest immediately.

Shannon “OneShin” Wiratchai of Thailand authored one of the most dominant performances of the night, reinserting his name into the winner’s column with a quick knockout victory over Singapore-based Indian martial artist Rahul Raju. Wiratchai only needed 21 seconds to shut the lights out on Raju, landing a hard right hook to clinch the scintillating knockout. With his impressive conquest of Raju, Wiratchai earned the GoDaddy Knockout of the Night.

In a clash of talented female atomweights, Angelie Sabanal of the Philippines captured a hard-earned victory, routing Thai rising star Rika Ishige via unanimous decision in her ONE Championship debut. Sabanal and Ishige kept the action focused primarily at the center of the ONE Championship cage for the majority of the bout. The Filipina newcomer showcased her pinpoint accurate striking early on, peppering Ishige with stinging kicks and stiff punches. Although Ishige boldly traded strikes with the Filipina kickboxer from bell to bell, the latter pulled away in the final round, landing the more telling blows. In the end, Sabanal earned the undivided nod from the three judges at cageside.

23-year-old Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev reignited his meteoric rise through the ranks, defeating seasoned Japanese veteran Tetsuya Yamada by submission. Both men started out aggressively, but it was Arslanaliev who showed a more capable set of both striking and grappling skills throughout the three-round lightweight match. As Yamada avoided trading strikes in the stand-up, Arslanaliev spun a web of crafty grappling on the ground to overwhelm the Japanese veteran. Driven to score a finish, Arslanaliev was able to get the submission in the third round, making Yamada tap from a wrenching belly-down armbar.

Pakistani martial artist Waqar Umar made an astounding statement in his return to the ONE Championship cage after nearly two years of absence, submitting Chinese prospect Zhao Zhi Kang in the first round of their featherweight clash. With a game plan to take matters to the ground, Umar got the job done by fastening a rear-naked choke to force the tap from Zhao.

American submission wizard Garry “The Lion Killer” Tonon impressed in his highly-anticipated ONE Championship debut, toppling Filipino lightweight Richard Corminal in his maiden assignment wearing four-ounce gloves on the premier martial arts stage. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu superstar put forth a dominant striking performance, unveiling a new dimension to his evolving skill set by putting together dynamic combinations. In an offensive clinic against his Filipino counterpart, Tonon overwhelmed Corminal with punishing strikes from the get-go, blasting his opponent with rocking right hands and cracking kicks. In the second round, Tonon took matters to the ground and quickly got mount, finishing Corminal with a pair of elbows.

Kritsada “Dream Man” Kongsrichai made quick work of the Philippines’ Robin Catalan to continue his winning ways inside the ONE Championship cage. Opening up the contest by taking the action right to Catalan, Kongsrichai pounced on his Filipino opponent with a series of powerful strikes, including solid knees from the clinch. As he pushed Catalan constantly back up against the cage, Kongsrichai wrapped his arms around his foe’s midsection and took him for a ride with a belly-to-back suplex. Catalan was deemed unable to continue when he landed on the mat, forcing the referee to wave it off and declare Kongsrichai as the victor by way of stoppage.

Multiple-time kickboxing world champion Alain “The Panther” Ngalani placed himself back on the winning track by edging out promotional newcomer Ariunbold Tur-Ochir of Mongolia via split decision. Both men gave fans a spirited effort over three rounds, which featured a healthy stream of action from both corners. After a gruelling contest, it was Ngalani who walked out with his hand raised in triumph.

Gilberto Galvao of Brazil spoiled the much-awaited return of Jake Butler to competition, defeating the decorated American wrestler by technical knockout in the second round. Galvao finished the job in the opening sequence of the contest’s second frame, checking a low kick from Butler with a hard knee. As Butler dropped to the canvas, he held onto his leg and hit the ground writhing in pain, the referee stepped in and called a halt to the bout, awarding the victory to Galvao.

A three-round bantamweight encounter served as the curtain-raiser for ONE: IRON WILL as “The Terminator” Sunoto battled it out with Malaysian standout Hisyam Samsudin. Leaning on his impeccable grappling, Sunoto burned out his opponent, consistently bringing Samsudin to the canvas and controlling the action with crisp ground strikes. With a dominant top game, Sunoto notched his second consecutive victory in 2018, defeating Samsudin as all three judges saw the bout in favor of the Indonesian to win by unanimous decision.

Official results for ONE: IRON WILL

ONE Bantamweight World Championship bout: Bibiano Fernandes defeats Martin Nguyen by Split Decision (SD) after 3 rounds

Strawweight bout: Jeremy Miado defeats Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke by Knockout (KO) at 1:29 minutes of round 1

Lightweight bout: Shannon Wiratchai defeats Rahul Raju by Knockout (KO) at 0:21 minutes of round 1

Women’s atomweight bout: Angelie Sabanal defeats Rika Ishige by Unanimous Decision (UD)

Lightweight bout: Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev defeats Tetsuya Yamada by Submission (Armbar) at 2:51 minutes of round 3

Featherweight bout: Waqar Umar defeats Zhao Zhi Kang by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:21 minutes of round 1

Lightweight bout: Garry Tonon defeats Richard Corminal by TKO (Strikes) at 3:40 minutes of round 2

Strawweight bout: Kritsada Kongsrichai defeats Robin Catalan by TKO (Slam) at 1:40 minutes of round 1

Light Heavyweight bout: Alain Ngalani defeats Ariunbold Tur-Ochir by Split Decision (SD) after 3 rounds

Middleweight bout: Gilberto Galvao defeats Jake Butler by TKO (Strikes) at 0:07 minutes of round 2

Bantamweight bout: Sunoto defeats Hisyam Samsudin by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds

In case you missed the action log on to www.onefc.com/livestream for the full replay of the fights at only US $9.99.

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.

Team Lakay's Kevin Belingon not letting go of position as top bantamweight contender

For the past four outings of Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon inside the ONE Championship cage, the Filipino knockout artist has proven himself as the next worthy contender for the coveted ONE Bantamweight World Championship.

However, Belingon is having a slight detour towards his goal to meet division kingpin Bibiano Fernandes in a rematch as he has been booked to duke it out with American veteran Andrew Leone.

Both men are slated to face each other in a three-round bantamweight affair in the main event of ONE: HEROES OF HONOR, which takes place at the 20,000-seater SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines on 20 April.

“I will be back in action again this April. I am excited because the bout will be held in Manila. It favors me because it is always a delightful experience to perform in front of my countrymen at the Mall of Asia Arena,” Belingon said.

Many cageside pundits believe that Belingon did enough to earn a date with Fernandes, who successfully defended his gold-plated strap against two-division world champ Martin Nguyen by way of split decision last 24 March.

Ever since yielding to Fernandes in January 2016, Belingon has run through his recent opposition by piling up four-straight stellar victories.

“Like any other martial artist in this promotion, my goal is to become world champion. I was given a shot at the title a few years ago, but I fell short against Bibiano Fernandes. I want another shot at the title. I have been working very hard to make sure I keep winning,” Belingon stated.

Belingon hails from the acclaimed Team Lakay in Baguio City, which has produced its fair share of world champions such as Eduard Folayang, Honorio Banario and Geje Eustaquio.

With his feared Wushu striking, Belingon plans on booking a second crack at the ONE Bantamweight World Championship with a victory over Leone.

“I am coming for that belt, and no one can stop me. Whoever they put in front of me, I will be looking to destroy. I am a man on a mission. I want to show everybody that I am the real title challenger-in-waiting,” he declared.

However, it will not be an easy task for Belingon as Leone is poised to take the Filipino’s stature as the rightful contender to vie for the coveted world title.

The 28-year-old native of Cortland, New York is no stranger to Fernandes as he once shared the ONE Championship cage with the Brazilian champion in August 2017.

Leone is similarly looking to secure another world championship opportunity after bowing down to Fernandes via first-round submission.

Belingon revealed that his main objective at ONE: HEROES OF HONOR is to keep his status as the No. 1-ranked bantamweight contender in the organization.

“I know what’s at stake here, and I know I have to beat Andrew Leone to get another shot at the title. I have to continue to give fans what they want and to leave nothing to chance. The title is within reach. I will beat Andrew Leone, and continue my march towards the belt,” he stressed.

Despite winning his three assignments in 2017, Belingon seeks to be more impressive this time around as he takes on Leone, who is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a highly-decorated wrestler.

Although he expects Leone to fully utilize his upper hand in the grappling department, Belingon is not worried as he made it a priority to concentrate on improving his wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu.

“After working on my wrestling and grappling over the past couple of years, I have really improved. Because of this improved grappling, my striking can be showcased even more,” he explained.

Belingon bared that he has watched Leone’s encounter with Fernandes and is confident that he possesses the power to finish the American standout.

“Andrew is a tough fighter, and I think his strength is on the ground. I will not hesitate to grapple with him. However, if he wants to stand and bang with me, I won’t hesitate to strike with him. I have the better chance of finishing the bout in the stand-up,” he warned.

Even though competing for the ONE Bantamweight World Championship title remains as his top priority, Belingon clarified that his current focus is fixed on his cage clash with Leone at ONE: HEROES OF HONOR.

“My opponent is not easy, and I am not taking him for granted, which is why I am completely focused on my upcoming bout this April 20. I need to be at my absolute best, so I can turn in another great performance for the fans,” he conveyed.

The stakes are incredibly high for Belingon, unveiling that he is preparing himself to be in the best shape of his life.

Belingon knows that each win from here on out is another step closer to the ONE Bantamweight World Championship belt.

“I know I will meet Bibiano again in that cage. There is not a day that has passed that I have not thought about that first bout against him. I am ready to face the champion. I am ready, more than ever. But for now, my goal to win and defeat Andrew Leone. I want to keep my dream alive,” he concluded.

​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.​ ​ ​

Crashing bantamweight title picture is in Andrew Leone’s crosshairs

Andrew Leone

After falling short in his bid to become a world champion in the sport nearly eight months ago, former world title challenger Andrew Leone is brimming with eagerness to redeem himself as he kicks off his 2018 with a marquee match-up versus a celebrated Filipino dynamo.

Leone is slated to lock horns with Team Lakay’s Kevin Belingon in the main event of ONE: HEROES OF HONOR, which takes place at the 20,000-seater SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines on 20 April.

“I love Asia. I’ve been living and competing here for a very long time. I’ve been to different countries and cities, including Manila. Manila is a special place because it’s where I had my promotional debut for ONE Championship,” he said.

“It’s great to have my first match for 2018 in Manila. It feels like I’ve gone full circle,” Leone quipped.

Leone, an eight-year mixed martial arts veteran who dynamically carved his niche in the Asian combat scene, seems destined to be a world champion after making waves in the organization when he debuted with a victory over Belingon’s teammate and future ONE Interim Flyweight World Champion Geje Eustaquio in May 2013.

Ever since his maiden appearance in ONE Championship, the 28-year-old native of Cortland, New York has strung together two solid victories over high-level opponents inside the cage.

For a highly-decorated competitor like Leone, who trains alongside some of the most talented combat sports athletes in Asia at the renowned Bali MMA gym in Bali, Indonesia, it took him four arduous years to get a crack at ONE Championship’s prestigious bantamweight crown.

“There were moments in my career when I was already near to the title shot, but suddenly I lost the momentum due to circumstances that were beyond my control. I really pushed myself very hard to reach the top. Finally after four years, I had the chance to vie for the world title,” he shared.

Leone challenged Bibiano Fernandes for the ONE Bantamweight World Championship in August 2017, but he yielded to the Brazilian legend via first-round submission.

“It was a tough loss. I worked very hard for that bout, and I only lasted for almost two minutes inside the cage with him. I believe I could have done more against Bibiano Fernandes, but it is what it is,” he recalled.

Leone affirmed that he still has gold on his mind, revealing that he views his upcoming meeting with Belingon as a chance to throw himself back into the world title mix.

“I heard Kevin Belingon was supposed to be next in line for the title, but the promotion had other plans. Winning the title is my happy ending in this journey. If I win this, I know I will be in a great position to face Bibiano for the title again,” he stated.

Belingon has won four-straight contests since October 2016, including scintillating triumphs over ex-bantamweight title contenders such as Toni Tauru and Reece McLaren.

The 30-year-old Baguio City resident desperately wants a second shot at the ONE Bantamweight World Championship after being submitted by Fernandes in January 2016.

Against a stand-up specialist like Belingon, there are clear areas where Leone sees that he has an advantage and will be looking to capitalize, including the exuberance of youth.

"I’m a lot younger. I think I’m faster, I’ve got some good scrambling, and I’m a little bit taller," he explained. "I’m going to get there in and just wrestle him. I see a lot of different positions coming up that I’m going to take advantage of and come out on top.”

According to Leone, his warpath back to the ONE Bantamweight World Championship picture commences on 20 April.

“A win in this match will definitely put me in line for a rematch against Bibiano. I want that title shot again. If Kevin Belingon is blocking my way to earn that spot, I have to take him out. I will give everything I’ve got,” he ended.

​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.​ ​ ​ ​

Luana Pinheiro set to fight at ‘Brave 11’ in Brazil

Luana Pinheiro

Brave Combat Federation has announced that it will feature a women’s strawweight bout in the 11th edition of its events, which be hosted in Brazil. In this division, Luana Pinheiro will face her fellow Brazilian fighter Elaine Leal.

The announcement marks the first time a women’s bout is announced by the Brave CF in Brazil. Pinheiro is the first fighter from Brazil officially announced to have signed a contract with the Bahrain-based mixed martial arts promotion.

Having practice Judo since the age of 2, Pinheiro aimed to represent Brazil at the Olympics held at Rio de Janeiro in 2016. She reached the Brazilian national team and won several gold medals in national tournaments in the 52kg and 48kg categories but she was unable to make it to the national team for the Olympics.

It was then that Pinheiro made her switch into the MMA world. Now with a record of 5 wins out of 6 appearances as a professional MMA fighter, she is training with BH Rhinos and is fighting out of Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

In October 2016, Pinheiro won her first fight, which was against Thatiane Araujo at “Sparta 9” in Belo Horizonte. The victory was via unanimous decision after a frantic and exciting battle. In Pinheiro’s second fight, which was at the same event at the end of 2016, she finished kickboxer Jessica Kelly in the first round.

As compared to Pinheiro, Leal is more experienced with 9 professional bouts in her career, winning 5. Still, Pinheiro is confident that her skills in Judo gives her the edge over her opponent.

“Today is certainly a defining day in my career,” Pinheiro said. “I signed with Brave Combat Federation, one of the largest MMA organizations in the world. I would like to thank the athlete relations team for the opportunity and I am super excited to fight for Brave. Thanks to my coaches Cristiano Lazzarini, Joel Velha and Bruno Victor and the team at BH Rhinos for the support in my career.”

Having hosted three Brave CF events, Brazil is one of the destinations that closely follow the sport of MMA. “Brave 11” will be held at Minas Tênis Clube Arena in Belo Horizonte, Brazil on April 13, 2018.

Rich Franklin's ONE Warrior Series to host inaugural event in Singapore on March 31, 2018

Rich Franklin

19 March 2018 – Singapore: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced the inaugural event of Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series, which will be held in Singapore on 31 March. The live spectacle features prospects signed on during the show who will compete in professional bouts to earn a contract with ONE Championship exceeding US $100,000+ based on performance.

Rich Franklin, Vice President of ONE Championship and CEO of ONE Warrior Series, stated: “It is my honor to announce the first ONE Warrior Series event to be held in Singapore. We’ve visited many great Asian nations over the past few months and now have a solid group of competitors ready to earn their time in the spotlight. Asia is the hotbed of the industry’s top martial arts prospects. I have enjoyed taking in all that Asia has to offer, while discovering some of the most promising young talent on this side of the world. ONE Championship and ONE Warrior Series will continue to search for the region’s best martial artists and give them a platform to showcase their skills to the world.”

Rich Franklin's ONE Warrior Series is a new travel series talent search which runs in 30-minute episodes. The show aims to discover new martial arts talent across Asia, providing promising young athletes with the platform to unleash their martial arts greatness. Franklin, who serves as the show’s host, travels across the Asian continent with co-host Jonathan Fong, searching for talent, experiencing local cultures and testing their boundaries.

The screening and tryouts process consists of pad sessions, grappling demonstrations, conditioning exams, and an interview process, among others. Once selected, athletes will compete in professional bouts with a chance at earning a contract with ONE Championship exceeding US $100,000+ based on performance. The episodes of Rich Franklin's ONE Warrior Series are available on ONE Championship’s YouTube channel athttps://www.youtube.com/user/OneFCMMA

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.

For Robin Catalan, facing brother’s conqueror is purely business

Robin Catalan

Filipino strawweight Robin “The Ilonggo” Catalan has a formidable opponent who will be standing across from him on Saturday, March 24 as he makes his return to the ONE Championship cage.

Catalan is slated to duke it out with Thai wrestling champion Kritsada “Dream Man” Kongsrichai on the undercard of ONE: IRON WILL, which takes place at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.

Kongsrichai is no stranger to Catalan as the Thai prospect had shared the cage with several Filipino combatants in the past, including his brother Rabin Catalan.

The 26-year-old native of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand notched a first-round technical knockout victory over Rabin last December.

Catalan shot down the notion that he is out to avenge his brother’s defeat at the hands of Kongsrichai as both men are set to collide at ONE: IRON WILL.

According to the Makati City-based Wushu practitioner, he does not hold any personal grudge against Kongsrichai, who is currently riding high on a two-bout winning streak.

“For me, it’s me pure business. This is my career. This is my work. I will fight to get the victory,” Catalan said. “I will just do my job and also do my best against him.”

Although he reiterated that there is no bad blood between him and his Thai counterpart, Catalan stressed that a decisive triumph over Kongsrichai will put a gleeful smile on his brother’s face.

“I believe my family will be proud of me if I get the win on Saturday. But again, this is nothing personal,” he quipped.

Catalan knows that he is going up against a rising talent with impeccable grappling and powerful striking, but he is up for the challenge.

“I know that he is a strong opponent, and I will do everything in my power to try and beat him,” he stated. “This will be a good match because win or lose, I am going to give it everything I’ve got and more.”

Coming off a second-round stoppage setback to former world champion Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke in August 2017, Catalan seeks to place himself back on the winning track when he steps into enemy territory on Saturday.

“My confidence level is great, and I am so excited about this bout because I really want to win,” he shared. “I think that between both of our skills, we will definitely put on an exciting and explosive match for the audience and viewers.”

Catalan stressed that he is not concerned about Kongsrichai’s hometown advantage as his focus is on showcasing the weapons that he has learned and added to his arsenal with the rest of the brothers at Catalan Fighting System.

“The difference will be how I apply my new skills against him. I am definitely happy to face a hometown hero like him. It challenges me,” he bared.

“I am very eager and definitely very hungry to compete again, I want to win this bout and work my way up to face the best in this division,” Catalan concluded.

​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.​

Thai martial arts superstars grace open workout for 'ONE: Iron Will'

Shannon Wiratchai, Rika Ishige, Kritsada Kongsrichai, Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke

20 March 2018 – Bangkok, Thailand: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), held an open workout for competitors of ONE: IRON WILL at Bangkok Fight Lab in Bangkok, Thailand on Tuesday, 20 March. The workout featured Thailand’s celebrated martial arts superstars such as Shannon Wiratchai, Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke, Rika Ishige and Kritsada Kongsrichai who showcased their martial arts techniques in front of fans and media.

Ticket information for ONE: IRON WILL is available at www.onefc.com

Shannon Wiratchai, ONE Athlete, stated: “Competing in front of my hometown fans is always a great pleasure. However, in my last bout in Bangkok, I wasn’t able to give my countrymen a sweet victory. I have been working very hard to get back on the winning track. I will showcase my best skills in this bout and take home the win for Thailand. Bangkok, be ready. I am bringing the action right to you.”

Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke, ONE Athlete, stated: “I believe the losses that I have suffered in my career have taught me a lot. I see those setbacks as an advantage, rather than just a blemish on my record. This match means a lot to me. I want to prove that I deserve to be competing on this international stage. I want to show to my countrymen that we also excel in martial arts, and to inspire more people to pursue their respective dreams.”

Rika Ishige, ONE Athlete, stated: “Martial arts in Thailand has really taken off, and I am proud to be a part of its growth. I have progressed a lot so far in my young career. The possibilities are endless for me, and I will continue to work hard to make my family and my fans proud. This is an awesome opportunity to showcase my skills on 24 March, so I will not take my opponent lightly.”

Kritsada Kongsrichai, ONE Athlete, stated: “It is an honor for me to represent my country. I will do my best to make my people proud. Since I joined ONE Championship, I have learned so much that has helped me throughout my career. I feel that I am ready to take the next step. My opponent is not easy, and it is going to be tough to face my fellow countryman, but I am prepared to do what it takes to win.”

Shannon “OneShin” Wiratchai of Thailand is one of the most thrilling offensive innovators in ONE Championship. The creator of the OneShin Striking System, Wiratchai developed his own style which incorporates various elements from Muay Thai, boxing, wrestling, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Training out of Tiger Muay Thai and Bangkok Fight Lab, Wiratchai emerges as Thailand’s biggest and most exciting martial arts star. After falling short against Russian lightweight Rasul Yakhyaev last December, Wiratchai seeks to re-enter the winner’s circle as he faces Singapore-based Indian martial artist Rahul Raju at ONE: IRON WILL.

Former ONE Strawweight World Champion Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke is a three-time Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai world champion who has an 8-3 professional record as a martial artist. He is known as a technical striker with quick hands and lightning feet, employing some of the most unique and creative offensive combinations. As a martial artist with over 25 years of competitive experience, Dejdamrong is a seasoned veteran. Dejdamrong aims to redeem himself in front of his countrymen as he is slated to lock horns with Jeremy Miado of the Philippines.

Rika “Tinydoll” Ishige is a 28-year-old female atomweight from Thailand who trains out of Tiger Muay Thai and Bangkok Fight Lab. She is of mixed Japanese and Thai heritage, beginning her martial arts training at age 9 with aikido and taekwondo. Heavily influenced by her late father who trained in judo, Ishige went on to hone her skills as a martial artist, and turned professional in 2017. All of Ishige’s victories have ended via impressive finish, showcasing her high-level grappling skills. In her last cage outing, she scored a second-round submission win over Rome Trinidad. Ishige looks to continue her winning ways when she takes on Filipino newcomer Angelie Sabnal.

Strawweight contender Kritsada “Dream Man” Kongsrichai of Thailand is a martial artist and one of the most promising young athletes in ONE Championship. He made his promotional debut in ONE’s first ever show in Bangkok in 2016, stopping opponent Kev Hemmorlor via first-round technical knockout. In his last bout, Kongsrichai made quick work of Rabin Catalan, finishing his Filipino opponent via first-round technical knockout. Kongsrichai is now set to return to the ONE Championship cage to give another spectacular performance, this time against Rabin’s brother Robin Catalan.

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.