https://www.scmp.com/rss/324452/feed ONE Championship is a Singapore-based mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion which was launched on 14 July 2011 by multimillionaire entrepreneur Chatri Sityodtong and former ESPN Star Sports senior executive Victor Cui. According to CNBC, ONE Championship is Asia's largest sports media property with a global broadcasting reach of over one billion homes in 118 countries. It is widely recognised as the biggest MMA promotion in Asia. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw For nearly three years, Yod-IQ Pimolsri worked his way through ONE Championship’s Friday Fights series, building momentum one bout at a time while waiting for a breakthrough that never felt guaranteed. At ONE Friday Fights 137, the 23-year-old Thai striker finally forced the issue. A violent first-round knockout of Alexey Balyko in a featherweight Muay Thai bout earned him a US$100,000 contract and a permanent place on ONE Championship’s main roster. The finish carried extra meaning. Balyko had... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3338266/one-championship-yod-iq-pimolsri-secures-contract-eyes-rematch-abdulla-dayakaev?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3338266/one-championship-yod-iq-pimolsri-secures-contract-eyes-rematch-abdulla-dayakaev?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 06:17:06 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Superbon is arguably one of the greatest featherweight kickboxers of all time, a fighter whose career has been defined not by fleeting brilliance but by an unwavering commitment to elite standards. At 35, the Thai star continues to compete – and win – at the very top of the sport, reaffirming his status as a modern great with a commanding five-round victory over Masaaki Noiri in Tokyo to defend his ONE featherweight kickboxing world title. A product of Thailand’s famed Banchamek Gym and a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3338048/one-championship-superbon-insists-his-longevity-success-are-rooted-discipline-over-sacrifice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3338048/one-championship-superbon-insists-his-longevity-success-are-rooted-discipline-over-sacrifice?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Dec 2025 10:49:48 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Mohammad Siasarani was speaking with the calm certainty of a fighter who feels aligned with his moment. Days after knocking out “Smokin’” Jo Nattawut to secure a US$100,000 ONE Championship contract, the 23-year-old Iranian sounded less relieved than resolved. “For a long time, my goal was just the contract,” Siasarani told the Post. “Now it is finished. My goal now is the belt.” The finish itself at ONE Friday Fights 137 in Bangkok on December 19 was emphatic: a clean second-round stoppage that... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3337901/one-championship-mohammad-siasarani-finally-gets-coveted-contract-now-he-wants-belt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3337901/one-championship-mohammad-siasarani-finally-gets-coveted-contract-now-he-wants-belt?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Dec 2025 01:00:33 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Liu Mengyang recently shared a photo of his trainer standing alongside legendary Muay Thai star Tawanchai PK Saenchai. The image carried deep personal meaning. As a 16-year-old prospect, Liu had messaged the coach asking for the chance to train under him. Eight years later, the Chinese stand-out found himself standing over Tawanchai after stopping the Thai icon in just 52 seconds at Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium on December 19. Competing in the main event of ONE Friday Fights 137 in a featherweight... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3337866/one-championship-liu-mengyang-believes-win-over-tawanchai-turning-point-my-career?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3337866/one-championship-liu-mengyang-believes-win-over-tawanchai-turning-point-my-career?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Dec 2025 06:48:21 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Aliff Rakib will challenge long-reigning strawweight Muay Thai champion Prajanchai PK Saenchai for the ONE Championship world title in February 2026, promotion chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong has announced during a Facebook Live broadcast. The confirmation comes less than two weeks after Rakib produced a composed and tactically disciplined performance to defeat Ramadan Ondash by unanimous decision at ONE Fight Night 38, extending his winning streak in the organisation to five fights and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3337014/one-championship-aliff-rakib-take-prajanchai-strawweight-muay-thai-world-title?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3337014/one-championship-aliff-rakib-take-prajanchai-strawweight-muay-thai-world-title?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Dec 2025 05:27:48 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw ONE featherweight Muay Thai world champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai has said his pursuit of featherweight kickboxing gold was back on track as he prepared to headline ONE Friday Fights 137 against Chinese stand-out fighter Liu Mengyang on December 19. Already regarded as one of the finest Muay Thai fighters of his generation, Tawanchai’s ambitions stretch further. The Thai star has made no secret of his desire to add a kickboxing title to his collection, a goal that has proved more demanding than... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3336610/one-championship-tawanchai-aims-revive-title-bid-against-chinas-liu-mengyang?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3336610/one-championship-tawanchai-aims-revive-title-bid-against-chinas-liu-mengyang?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Dec 2025 07:50:47 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Enkh Orgil Baatarkhuu produced the biggest win of his career at ONE Fight Night 38 in Bangkok on Saturday, submitting Fabricio Andrade in the fourth round to claim the ONE bantamweight MMA world title and deliver a landmark moment for Mongolian combat sports. The 36-year-old entered the main event as the No 4 contender and a clear underdog against Andrade, who had built a reputation as one of the most dangerous strikers in the division. Baatarkhuu, best known recently for appearing on the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3335461/one-championship-baatarkhuu-submits-andrade-win-mma-world-title-fight-night-38?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3335461/one-championship-baatarkhuu-submits-andrade-win-mma-world-title-fight-night-38?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Dec 2025 11:08:09 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Ahead of her return to Muay Thai against Martyna Dominczak at ONE Fight Night 38 on Saturday, Phetjeeja Lukjaoporongtom has said her long-targeted showdown with Allycia Hellen Rodrigues could deliver a modern classic. The Thai star, the ONE women’s atomweight kickboxing world champion, told the Post that the match-up had the potential to become the female equivalent of Superlek v Rodtang, a rivalry that defined ONE’s Muay Thai landscape in recent years. Before she can chase that superfight,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3335371/phetjeeja-says-potential-rodrigues-fight-has-makings-classic-rodtang-v-superlek?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3335371/phetjeeja-says-potential-rodrigues-fight-has-makings-classic-rodtang-v-superlek?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Dec 2025 09:59:44 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw ONE Championship Thailand president Jitinat “Plai” Asdamongkol has said the promotion’s renewed partnership with Lumpinee Stadium was a major signal of intent, with Thailand set to remain the company’s global engine room as it targeted further domestic and international growth. Speaking after the Royal Thai Army confirmed a two-year extension with ONE, Plai said the collaboration had already reshaped the landscape of Muay Thai. “Lumpinee and the Royal Thai Army invited ONE Championship about... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3334899/one-championship-thailand-chief-outlines-bold-expansion-plans-after-lumpinee-renewal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3334899/one-championship-thailand-chief-outlines-bold-expansion-plans-after-lumpinee-renewal?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Dec 2025 08:21:57 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Fabricio Andrade has spent years building his reputation as one of the most dangerous bantamweights in mixed martial arts. Beautiful striking and a sharp fight IQ have carried the Brazilian to the top of the division. But ahead of ONE Fight Night 38 in Bangkok next month, Andrade believes this title defence offers something different: it gives him the chance to silence anyone who still doubts his grappling. “A lot of people still question my grappling,” Andrade said. “They think if I fight a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3333949/one-championship-fabricio-andrade-ready-answer-lot-questions-bangkok?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3333949/one-championship-fabricio-andrade-ready-answer-lot-questions-bangkok?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Nov 2025 09:20:03 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Takeru Segawa will have one last hurrah before retiring after stopping Denis Puric in the third round at ONE 173 in Tokyo and positioning himself for a blockbuster rematch with Rodtang Jitmuangnon in what he says will be his final fight. The former three-division K-1 champion entered Sunday’s flyweight kickboxing contest carrying significant pressure. Since joining ONE, Takeru’s run has been turbulent. He lost his promotional debut to Superlek Kiatmoo9, rebounded with a win over Thant Zin, then... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3333009/takeru-wants-go-out-bang-gets-rodtang-rematch-retirement-fight-one-175?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3333009/takeru-wants-go-out-bang-gets-rodtang-rematch-retirement-fight-one-175?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Nov 2025 16:05:38 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw The highly anticipated flyweight Muay Thai world title fight between Rodtang Jitmuangnon and Nong-O Hama has been cancelled after Rodtang informed ONE Championship medical staff that he was unwell and was taken to hospital for treatment and evaluation. The promotion confirmed the news on Friday afternoon in Tokyo, ending hopes of a blockbuster showdown at ONE 173 on Sunday. The cancellation came shortly after a difficult weigh-in morning for both men. Nong-O failed hydration testing and was... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3332919/one-championship-rodtang-v-nong-o-title-fight-cancelled-after-ironman-hospitalised?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3332919/one-championship-rodtang-v-nong-o-title-fight-cancelled-after-ironman-hospitalised?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Nov 2025 08:20:41 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Stamp Fairtex has all the elements of a star. She was the first three-sport world champion in ONE Championship history. Her walkouts are iconic, her smile is infectious and her personality has made her one of the most beloved figures in Asian combat sports. But it has not all been Korean hearts and TikTok dances for the crowd favourite. The Thai superstar has endured one of the toughest spells of her career, forced to relinquish her atomweight Muay Thai belt last year because of a chronic knee... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3332848/one-championship-thai-star-stamp-fairtex-make-lost-time-against-kana-morimoto?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3332848/one-championship-thai-star-stamp-fairtex-make-lost-time-against-kana-morimoto?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 11:31:54 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Superlek Kiatmoo9 has seen and heard it all in his storied career, but Japan’s Yuki Yoza may have given him extra motivation ahead of their clash at ONE 173 in Tokyo. The Thai superstar, known worldwide as “The Kicking Machine”, makes his return to kickboxing this weekend after a brief injury lay-off. His opponent has been making headlines of his own, confidently declaring that he will be the new Kicking Machine after their bout. Either way, many fans have earmarked this fight as the pick of the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3332785/one-championship-superlek-kiatmoo9-yuki-yoza-trade-verbal-kicks-ahead-tokyo-showdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3332785/one-championship-superlek-kiatmoo9-yuki-yoza-trade-verbal-kicks-ahead-tokyo-showdown?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 07:13:42 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Rodtang Jitmuangnon is a pure showman. From going viral for dropping his hands to marching forward with relentless pressure and fire in his gloves, he is the ultimate fan-friendly fighter. There is no “off” switch and there are no backwards steps, even when it is a friend standing across from him in the ring. Ahead of his flyweight Muay Thai showdown with Nong-O Hama at ONE 173 in Tokyo on Sunday, the Thai superstar said he had no intention of changing his approach. “This is my style and I... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3332772/one-championship-rodtang-jitmuangnon-vows-fight-rocket-against-nong-o-hama?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3332772/one-championship-rodtang-jitmuangnon-vows-fight-rocket-against-nong-o-hama?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 06:25:29 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Tokyo’s Ariake Arena will host a striking masterclass on Sunday when Thailand’s Superbon Singha Mawynn defends his ONE featherweight kickboxing world title against Japan’s Masaaki Noiri, the interim champion who stunned Tawanchai PK Saenchai earlier this year. The bout, which puts national pride on the line for both fighters, headlines ONE 173, a card stacked with elite strikers. Both men understand what is at stake: Superbon wants to cement his legacy as an all-time great, while Noiri aims to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3332765/one-championship-superbon-vows-defend-his-crown-masaaki-noiri-eyes-another-shock?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3332765/one-championship-superbon-vows-defend-his-crown-masaaki-noiri-eyes-another-shock?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 05:35:35 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Nabil Anane was ready to defend his ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title against Jonathan Haggerty at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena on Sunday – a dream match-up between two of the most exciting strikers in the sport. But when Haggerty withdrew through injury, the plan changed overnight. Instead, the 21-year-old Thai-Algerian phenom will now face Japan’s Hiromi Wajima under kickboxing rules at featherweight at ONE 173: Superbon vs Noiri. It is a major test for Anane, who stands 1.93 metres tall (six... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3332699/one-championship-nabil-anane-face-hiromi-wajima-one-173-after-injury-pull-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3332699/one-championship-nabil-anane-face-hiromi-wajima-one-173-after-injury-pull-out?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Nov 2025 14:32:13 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Nico Carrillo showed exactly why he was considered one of the most dangerous finishers in Muay Thai after dispatching Luke “The Chef” Lessei in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 37 in Bangkok last Saturday. The Scottish contender survived early adversity, switched stances and tore through Lessei with a ruthless second-round barrage to maintain his 100 per cent finishing rate inside ONE Championship. Carrillo weathered a difficult opening round, absorbing a steady diet of low kicks and teeps,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3332227/one-championship-nico-carrillo-doubles-down-title-push-after-dismantling-luke-lessei?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3332227/one-championship-nico-carrillo-doubles-down-title-push-after-dismantling-luke-lessei?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Nov 2025 11:17:17 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Samet Agdeve walked into ONE Fight Night 37 on Saturday as one of the biggest underdogs on the card, he walked out as the new ONE Championship heavyweight kickboxing world champion. The 21-year-old from Turkey handed Roman Kryklia his first loss in seven years, ending the Ukrainian’s impressive 15-fight winning streak via a unanimous decision while delivering a performance that has instantly reshaped the division. There were shades of Anthony Joshua’s first fight with Andy Ruiz Jnr in this... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3332070/one-fight-night-37-agdeve-upends-heavyweight-division-shock-win-over-kryklia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3332070/one-fight-night-37-agdeve-upends-heavyweight-division-shock-win-over-kryklia?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Nov 2025 15:26:47 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Abdulla Dayakaev believes destiny is calling ahead of his clash with Thailand’s Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon at ONE Fight Night 37 on Friday. The Dagestani knockout machine has torn through the bantamweight Muay Thai ranks and now stands on the brink of title contention. Now he sees himself with one simple mission: win in style and position himself for Jonathan Haggerty. Dayakaev will ride some serious momentum into the bout. The 23-year-old has finished four straight opponents inside the distance,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3331886/dayakaev-ready-face-destiny-one-fight-night-37-wants-jonathan-haggerty-next?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3331886/dayakaev-ready-face-destiny-one-fight-night-37-wants-jonathan-haggerty-next?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Nov 2025 05:37:28 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Christian Lee is returning to Tokyo for ONE 173 with a clear mission: the reigning ONE Championship lightweight and welterweight MMA king wants to erase the memory of his accidental eye poke that halted his first bout with Alibeg Rasulov and prove once again he is one of the greatest finishers in the promotion’s history. The 27-year-old has spent two years on the sidelines since becoming a two-division world champion. Now back to defend his lightweight crown against the undefeated Turkish... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3331033/one-championship-christian-lee-vows-finish-alibeg-rasulov-tokyo-rematch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3331033/one-championship-christian-lee-vows-finish-alibeg-rasulov-tokyo-rematch?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 06:23:44 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Nong-O Hama has spent decades at the pinnacle of Muay Thai, but at 38 years old, the Thai legend is chasing one final summit. And to reclaim gold and prove he can still rule the sport’s highest level, he must defeat not just any opponent, but a friend and one of the most celebrated fighters of his generation. At ONE 173 in Tokyo next month, Nong-O will face fellow Thai superstar Rodtang Jitmuangnon for the vacant ONE flyweight Muay Thai world title. It is a match-up between two icons whose names... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3330733/one-championship-nong-o-hama-rodtang-jitmuangnon-leave-friendship-outside-ring?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3330733/one-championship-nong-o-hama-rodtang-jitmuangnon-leave-friendship-outside-ring?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Oct 2025 05:41:48 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Yuya Wakamatsu has waited his entire combat sports life for this kind of moment. The 30-year-old finally reached the summit when he became the ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion in Tokyo earlier this year, fulfilling a dream he once believed might not be possible. Now he returns home to defend that title for the first time, determined to show he is not only the man who climbed the mountain, but the man who belongs at the top of it. Wakamatsu faces ONE strawweight champion Joshua Pacio at ONE 173... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3330139/one-championship-wakamatsu-out-defend-title-home-soil?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3330139/one-championship-wakamatsu-out-defend-title-home-soil?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Oct 2025 02:41:19 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Joshua Pacio already sits atop ONE Championship’s strawweight division, but the Filipino star said his story is only just beginning. The 29-year-old is chasing a new challenge at ONE 173 in Tokyo, where he moves up to flyweight to face Japan’s Yuya Wakamatsu in pursuit of becoming the Philippines’ first-ever two-division world champion. “This is a big opportunity not just for me, but for the Philippines,” Pacio told the Post. “To be the first ever Filipino two-division world champion would mean... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3330001/one-championship-pacios-bid-become-philippines-first-ever-2-division-world-champ?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3330001/one-championship-pacios-bid-become-philippines-first-ever-2-division-world-champ?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Oct 2025 03:04:49 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Kana “Krusher Queen” Morimoto is targeting a statement finish when she faces Stamp Fairtex at ONE 173 in Tokyo – and she believes stopping a former title-holder with a reputation for elbows and showmanship is the perfect way to restore the meaning behind her nickname. The former K-1 flyweight kickboxing champion meets Stamp in a three-round atomweight kickboxing bout on November 16 at Ariake Arena. The Thai star, a fan favourite in Asia, has held ONE world titles across three sports and is... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3329055/one-championship-krusher-queen-aiming-statement-win-over-stamp-tokyo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3329055/one-championship-krusher-queen-aiming-statement-win-over-stamp-tokyo?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2025 02:53:52 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Kana “Krusher Queen” Morimoto is targeting a statement finish when she faces Stamp Fairtex at ONE 173 in Tokyo – and she believes stopping a former title-holder with a reputation for elbows and showmanship is the perfect way to restore the meaning behind her nickname. The former K-1 flyweight kickboxing champion meets Stamp in a three-round atomweight kickboxing bout on November 16 at Ariake Arena. The Thai star, a fan favourite in Asia, has held ONE world titles across three sports and is... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3328963/one-championship-kana-morimoto-guns-career-first-ko-against-popular-stamp-fairtex?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3328963/one-championship-kana-morimoto-guns-career-first-ko-against-popular-stamp-fairtex?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Oct 2025 09:15:47 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Kickboxer Nico Carrillo got married in June and is done waiting: after a career-defining move to featherweight and a knockout win over one of the sport’s icons, the Scot is desperate to stay active and keep stopping opponents as he pushes towards a ONE Championship title shot. Carrillo faces American Luke Lessei at ONE Fight Night 37 in Bangkok next month, and while he expects an entertaining contest, he is more focused on momentum and making a statement. “I’m just buzzing to be fighting again,”... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3328685/one-championship-wedding-done-next-list-kickboxer-nico-carrillo-title-shot?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3328685/one-championship-wedding-done-next-list-kickboxer-nico-carrillo-title-shot?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Oct 2025 06:50:05 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Aung La N Sang has seen enough heartbreak in MMA to know the sport rarely hands out happy endings. But at ONE Fight Night 36, the “Burmese Python” walked away with one of the most cinematic exits in recent memory. The 40-year-old former two-division king stopped ex-welterweight champion Zebaztian Kadestam in the second round of their middleweight clash at Lumpinee Stadium, before learning he would be inducted into the ONE Championship Hall of Fame at ONE 173 in Tokyo on November 16. “You... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3327960/one-championship-hall-fame-looms-legendary-aung-la?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3327960/one-championship-hall-fame-looms-legendary-aung-la?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Oct 2025 03:48:33 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Jonathan Di Bella said his win over Prajanchai PK Saenchai has cemented his place at the top of the strawweight striking hierarchy after retaining his ONE strawweight kickboxing world title at ONE Fight Night 36. The rematch had been billed as a clash of styles – Prajanchai’s counter-heavy Muay Thai against Di Bella’s rangy kickboxing – and for the first two rounds it was the Italian-Canadian’s movement and volume that dictated the pace. Prajanchai, who is known for starting slowly and building... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3327900/di-bello-says-he-one-championship-no-1-after-second-win-over-prajanchai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3327900/di-bello-says-he-one-championship-no-1-after-second-win-over-prajanchai?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Oct 2025 03:25:16 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Prajanchai PK Saenchai will step into Lumpinee Stadium on Saturday for a rematch with Jonathan Di Bella, and the Thai double champion is confident he has made the right changes to get the job done against the Canadian-Italian. “Of course, my plan has changed – it will be very difficult for him to beat me,” he told the Post ahead of the strawweight kickboxing world title bout at ONE Fight Night 36 in Bangkok. The pair went five close rounds in their first meeting, with some fans believing Di... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3327656/one-championship-prajanchai-ready-rematch-biggest-test-jonathan-di-bella?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3327656/one-championship-prajanchai-ready-rematch-biggest-test-jonathan-di-bella?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Oct 2025 10:21:34 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Jarred Brooks has never been short on confidence, but for the first time in his ONE Championship run, he enters a fight with genuine pressure on his shoulders. After moving up to flyweight and losing a split decision to Reece McLaren last December, the mixed martial arts fighter returned to strawweight and was beaten by long-time rival Joshua Pacio in their trilogy bout at ONE 171: Qatar in February, surrendering the title. Now, as he prepares to face Mansur Malachiev at ONE Fight Night 36 in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3327602/one-championship-jarred-brooks-faces-high-stakes-crossroads-against-mansur-malachiev?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3327602/one-championship-jarred-brooks-faces-high-stakes-crossroads-against-mansur-malachiev?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Oct 2025 06:23:44 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Aung La N Sang, the 40-year-old former double champion in mixed martial arts, has confirmed that his clash with Zebaztian Kadestam at ONE Fight Night 36 next month will be his last fight, marking the end of an era for one of Asia’s most beloved fighters. The Myanmar icon, who has held both the middleweight and light heavyweight world titles in ONE Championship, said that after almost two decades in the sport, it was time to close the book on competition. “You can’t fight forever,” Aung La told... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3327377/one-championship-myanmar-icon-aung-la-n-sang-call-it-day-after-fight-night-36?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3327377/one-championship-myanmar-icon-aung-la-n-sang-call-it-day-after-fight-night-36?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Sep 2025 08:19:26 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Nabil Anane’s first step into kickboxing under the ONE Championship banner ended in frustration, but he still took plenty of positives from his clash with former flyweight king Ilias Ennahachi. Already the bantamweight Muay Thai world champion, Anane looked sharp and composed in front of a packed Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok on Friday. The 6ft 4in 20-year-old used his reach to full effect, scoring an early knockdown and even mixing in spinning taekwondo attacks, before he accidentally kicked his... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3327086/nabil-ananes-kickboxing-debut-cut-short-haggerty-super-fight-beckons-one-173?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3327086/nabil-ananes-kickboxing-debut-cut-short-haggerty-super-fight-beckons-one-173?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Sep 2025 07:44:31 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw The collision course is set: Jonathan Haggerty, ONE Championship’s bantamweight kickboxing world champion, is convinced he is the man who will end Nabil Anane’s rise. Anane, already the bantamweight Muay Thai world champion at just 20 years old, is about to test himself under kickboxing rules for the first time when he meets former champion Ilias Ennahachi this Friday at ONE Friday Fights 126 in Bangkok. For Haggerty, there is little doubt that the bout is the final hurdle before he and the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3326792/one-championship-jonathan-haggerty-says-he-will-stop-rise-thai-phenom-nabil-anane?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3326792/one-championship-jonathan-haggerty-says-he-will-stop-rise-thai-phenom-nabil-anane?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Sep 2025 06:04:29 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Hyu Iwata has quietly become one of the most dangerous contenders in ONE Championship’s flyweight kickboxing division, and after his latest win, the undefeated Japanese star sent a clear message: he was coming for the belt. “I am here to shake up the flyweight division,” he said. “Whoever ONE Championship puts in front of me, I will be ready.” Iwata is now 12-0 overall, including a perfect 4-0 run in the ONE Championship, with finishes in his past three bouts. His latest outing saw him stop... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3326662/one-championship-japanese-star-hyu-iwata-ready-shake-flyweight-kickboxing-division?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3326662/one-championship-japanese-star-hyu-iwata-ready-shake-flyweight-kickboxing-division?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Sep 2025 08:00:10 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Jonathan Di Bella is heading back to Thailand for the biggest fight of his career, with the 29-year-old challenging Prajanchai PK Saenchai for the ONE strawweight kickboxing world title at ONE Fight Night 36. The Italian-Canadian star returns to Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium to face the Thai in a high-stakes title unification bout on October 3, and an opportunity to avenge the lone blemish on his record. “When I saw it was finally me fighting Prajanchai again, I was so happy. It’s about time we run... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3326645/one-championship-jonathan-di-bella-gets-chance-avenge-only-loss-his-career?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3326645/one-championship-jonathan-di-bella-gets-chance-avenge-only-loss-his-career?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Sep 2025 05:57:53 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Rukiya Anpo has made his intentions crystal clear ahead of his ONE Championship debut: the Japanese kickboxing ace said Marat Grigorian was only the first obstacle in his path to compatriot Masaaki Noiri. “Marat is my stepping stone to the belt,” Anpo told the Post after the ONE 173 press conference in Tokyo. “When I met him backstage, I told him exactly why I came to ONE: to get revenge against Noiri. That’s my mission here.” Noiri, the interim featherweight kickboxing world champion, beat Anpo... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3326109/one-championship-rukiya-anpo-says-marat-grigorian-just-stepping-stone-old-foe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3326109/one-championship-rukiya-anpo-says-marat-grigorian-just-stepping-stone-old-foe?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Sep 2025 06:20:42 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw ONE Championship has officially added Japanese superstar Rukiya Anpo to its roster and confirmed two more world title bouts for its blockbuster ONE 173 card, set for November 16 in Japan. The event will now feature American Christian Lee’s highly anticipated rematch with Russia’s Alibeg Rasulov for the ONE lightweight MMA world title and a historic inaugural ONE atomweight Muay Thai world title fight between Nadaka Yoshinari and Numsurin Chor Ketwina. The announcement came during a press... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3325338/one-championship-rukiya-anpo-signs-2-more-world-title-bouts-added-one-173-card?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3325338/one-championship-rukiya-anpo-signs-2-more-world-title-bouts-added-one-173-card?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Sep 2025 09:04:26 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Stella Hemetsberger was still walking on clouds after her surprise victory over Jackie Buntan at ONE Fight Night 35 in Bangkok, a result that made her Austria’s first ONE Championship world champion. The 26-year-old captured the vacant strawweight Muay Thai world title last Saturday with a unanimous decision against the division’s reigning kickboxing queen. It was a gruelling five-round contest that saw Hemetsberger drop Buntan twice in the opening frame before holding off the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3325242/one-championship-strawweight-world-champ-hemetsberger-sure-buntan-rematch-will-happen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3325242/one-championship-strawweight-world-champ-hemetsberger-sure-buntan-rematch-will-happen?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Sep 2025 13:52:49 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Stella “Always Hungry” Hemetsberger pulled off a remarkable victory at Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium, defeating American-Filipino star Jackie Buntan to capture the vacant ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai world title at ONE Fight Night 35 on Saturday. The Austrian dynamo entered the Bangkok main event as an underdog against the division’s reigning kickboxing queen. But when the five-round battle was done, the scorecards told the story of an upset with lasting significance: Hemetsberger became the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3324608/one-championship-buntan-stunned-strawweight-muay-thai-title-bout?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3324608/one-championship-buntan-stunned-strawweight-muay-thai-title-bout?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Sep 2025 10:47:20 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw When Suablack Tor Pran49 steps into Lumpinee Boxing Stadium on September 26, he will be across the ring from the fighter he once idolised. For years, Seksan Or Kwanmuang has been one of Muay Thai’s most beloved warriors, famous for his relentless style and his ability to march forward no matter the punishment. Now Suablack will try to hand that same man a defeat at ONE Friday Fights 126. “It is bittersweet for me,” Suablack told the Post. “I have loved Seksan since I was about 17 years old. I... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3323600/one-championship-suablack-out-beat-idol-seskan-friday-fights-126?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3323600/one-championship-suablack-out-beat-idol-seskan-friday-fights-126?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Aug 2025 05:37:14 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Denis Puric will step into the spotlight once again when he faces Japanese superstar Takeru Segawa at ONE 173 in Tokyo’s Ariake Arena on November 16, and the 40-year-old insisted he was more than prepared for the challenge. “I feel like I got another chance to go for the belt, at least in kickboxing,” Puric told the Post. “If I beat Takeru, I think it’s gonna be right there again. We put on a spectacle last time, so I’m just excited, man. I’m just excited to go in there and do what I do:... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3323529/one-championship-denis-puric-rely-power-against-japanese-superstar-takeru-segawa?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3323529/one-championship-denis-puric-rely-power-against-japanese-superstar-takeru-segawa?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Aug 2025 11:32:54 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Tawanchai PK Saenchai has admitted that defeat to Masaaki Noiri at ONE 172 has changed his outlook, and he is now a man on a mission. Tawanchai suffered a knockout loss to Noiri in Tokyo and was determined to use his next bout, against China’s Liu Mengyang at ONE Friday Fights 126 on September 26, as a springboard to redemption in kickboxing. The reigning ONE featherweight Muay Thai world champion is widely regarded as one of the finest technicians of his generation in the art of eight limbs,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3323524/one-championship-tawanchai-pk-saenchai-use-liu-mengyang-bout-kickboxing-redemption?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3323524/one-championship-tawanchai-pk-saenchai-use-liu-mengyang-bout-kickboxing-redemption?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Aug 2025 11:06:59 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Jake Peacock could barely hide his excitement after learning he will face three-time Lumpinee Stadium world champion Suakim Sor.Jor.Tongprajin at ONE 173 in Tokyo. “I’m absolutely thrilled,” Peacock told the Post. “Just for the opportunity to fight, I’d fight in my backyard if I had to, but to fight in Japan, even better. “ONE 173 is absolutely stacked. I love Japan, I love to fight, so all things are going in the right direction,” he added. Suakim arrives on a five-fight winning streak and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3323163/one-championship-peacock-thrilled-be-stacked-one-173-bill?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3323163/one-championship-peacock-thrilled-be-stacked-one-173-bill?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Aug 2025 06:48:00 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw ONE Friday Fights 126 is one of the promotion’s tentpole events, stacked with elite talent and championship implications across multiple divisions. Featherweight Muay Thai king Tawanchai PK Saenchai steps into kickboxing against China’s Liu Mengyang as he looks to rebound from a loss to interim champion Masaaki Noiri. That result set up a unification bout with Superbon Singha Mawynn at ONE 173, adding extra intrigue to Friday’s clash. Bantamweight Muay Thai champion Nabil Anane is also on the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3323067/titles-not-significant-one-championship-cult-hero-seskan-wants-wow-fans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3323067/titles-not-significant-one-championship-cult-hero-seskan-wants-wow-fans?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Aug 2025 09:20:46 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Former K-1 champion Yuki Yoza arrived in ONE Championship with a reputation as one of the most dangerous kickboxers in the world, and the 27-year-old has quickly lived up to it. On his debut, Yoza outpointed the previously undefeated Elbrus “The Samurai” Osmanov, before returning less than two months later to score a unanimous decision win over former bantamweight kickboxing champion Petchtanong Petchfergus. Those two statement victories have earned the Japanese star a blockbuster showdown with... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3322961/one-championship-yoza-out-take-superleks-kicking-machine-title?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3322961/one-championship-yoza-out-take-superleks-kicking-machine-title?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Aug 2025 04:52:24 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Nicknamed “The Scorpion”, Ramadan Ondash is a teenage knockout artist from Lebanon who has already earned a six-figure deal with ONE Championship. Ondash, who competes in the strawweight Muay Thai division, earned his contract after racking up four straight wins on the ONE Friday Fights series in Bangkok, two of them coming by stoppage. His left hand in particular has gained a reputation for ending fights in emphatic fashion. He fought for the first time aged six in Thailand and still remembers... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3322489/fight-airport-no-problem-one-championship-teen-stars-bold-claim?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3322489/fight-airport-no-problem-one-championship-teen-stars-bold-claim?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2025 07:28:18 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw There are some athletes who appear to have been blessed with a deep cache of natural gifts – and Bampara Kouyate is one of them. The 30-year-old Frenchman is not only a professional runway model and thoughtful communicator, but also one of the most technically gifted Nak Muays on the planet. Known as “Bambi,” Kouyate trains out of BMTC Gym in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France, and spends long stretches at Thailand’s Venum Training Camp in Pattaya. The blend of cultures and gyms has helped him refine a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3322483/one-championship-meet-fighter-who-alternates-between-cat-walking-and-ring-walking?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3322483/one-championship-meet-fighter-who-alternates-between-cat-walking-and-ring-walking?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2025 06:57:45 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Adrian Lee said Tye Ruotolo made a serious mistake when he called him out for his first professional MMA bout. The surging lightweight prospect, younger brother of women’s MMA icon and former atomweight champion Angela Lee, current double champion Christian Lee, and the late Victoria Lee – who was undefeated in ONE – will face the decorated Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion in the ring at ONE Fight Night 35 in Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium on September 6. Ruotolo’s twin brother Kade is also a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3321801/one-championship-adrian-lees-ominous-warning-one-fight-night-35-opponent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3321801/one-championship-adrian-lees-ominous-warning-one-fight-night-35-opponent?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Aug 2025 04:19:38 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Regian Eersel added another emphatic chapter to his reign as ONE’s lightweight Muay Thai king, dispatching George Jarvis with a first-round knockout in the main event of ONE Fight Night 34 on Friday. The Suriname-born Dutchman needed just 84 seconds to finish off the British challenger at Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium, retaining his title and taking home a US$50,000 performance bonus. Eersel had spoken beforehand about a strategy to drag Jarvis into deep waters and score a late finish, but once the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3320554/one-championship-regian-eersel-kos-george-jarvis-retain-lightweight-muay-thai-title?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3320554/one-championship-regian-eersel-kos-george-jarvis-retain-lightweight-muay-thai-title?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Aug 2025 14:19:23 +0000