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https://scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3163168/one-championship-angela-lee-vs-stamp-fairtex Mixed Martial Arts
ONE Championship: Angela Lee vs Stamp Fairtex headlines 10th anniversary card with return to full attendance in Singapore
- Rescheduled and revamped ONE: X card will feature at least 18 fights at Singapore Indoor Stadium
- ‘It’s gonna be our biggest show in history, it’s gonna go all day,’ ONE CEO Chatri says
Stamp Fairtex (left) will challenge ONE atomweight champ Angela Lee at ONE: X on March 26. Photos: ONE Championship
ONE Championship’s highly-anticipated 10th anniversary show has a new date – finally – with a revamped lineup featuring more blockbuster match-ups.
CEO Chatri Sityodtong made the announcement in a Wednesday interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, revealing there will be at least 18 fights on the card at the 12,000-seat Singapore Indoor Stadium.
“The first full stadium event will be March 26,” Chatri said. “The biggest show in the history of the company. We have a lot more confidence in what’s happening [in Singapore] so March 26, ONE: X goes down.”
The event was originally scheduled for December 5, but was scratched amid a surge in Covid-19 cases in the Asian martial arts promotion’s home city Singapore. ONE: X will now mark the organisation’s first event with a full attendance since pandemic protocols began.
Angela Lee will make her long-awaited return to the ONE Circle to defend her atomweight title against grand prix winner Stamp Fairtex (8-1), who is vying to become the first three-sport champion in the organisation’s history.
“Unstoppable” Lee (10-2) has not fought since an October 2019 title defence against Xiong Jingnan in Tokyo. The 25-year-old gave birth to her first child in April, and returned to training in June.
Chatri confirmed Demetrious Johnson’s special rules Muay Thai/MMA bout against Rodtang Jitmuangnon is also still on the card.
“I’m glad it’s finally happening,” Chatri said. “Either DJ is gonna get knocked out badly in the first round, or Rodtang gets subbed badly in the second round. I have no idea.
“DJ says he’s gonna go toe to toe, he’s not gonna run around. He’s gonna go Muay Thai to Muay Thai, so it’s gonna be a lot of fun.”
Adriano Moraes (19-3), who knocked out the legendary former UFC flyweight champ Johnson in April, will also defend his flyweight title against Japanese knockout artists Yuya Wakamatsu (15-4).
“That’s gonna be a barnburner of a fight, it’s definitely not gonna go the distance,” Chatri said.
Chatri also revealed former UFC stars Eddie Alvarez and Sage Northcutt will also be on the card, along with Japanese former lightweight champ Shinya Aoki.
Eddie Alvarez is shown a red card after a disqualification against Iuri Lapicus at ONE on TNT 1.
“I can’t say who they’re fighting because the bouts haven’t been set,” he said.
“There are other fights I can’t announce yet. It will be super exciting to have the entire Singapore Indoor stadium fully packed again.
“It’s gonna be our biggest show in history. The first three fights I gave you is the tip of the iceberg. It’s gonna go all day, it’s gonna be a big bonanza with all the stars coming out.”
John Lineker (left) and ONE bantamweight champ Bibiano Fernandes are finally set to fight.
However, Bibiano Fernandes and John’s Lineker bantamweight title fight has been scratched from the card, and moved to February 11’s ONE: Bad Blood event.
“There is real bad blood between Bibi and Lineker, Brazilian style, they’ve already said let’s fight in the streets in Manaus. There’s real anger and I’d say hatred there,” Chatri said.
He did not reveal if Thanh Le’s featherweight title fight against Garry Tonon, which was also originally scheduled for ONE: X, had been moved to a different show.