ONE Championship: Fabricio Andrade teases fights with Nong-O and Hiroki Akimoto in Super Series
- Brazilian is one of the top contenders in ONE’s bantamweight MMA division, and could be next for champ John Lineker
- The 24-year-old striker is focused on MMA, but admits he’d enjoy fighting Muay Thai champ Nong-O or kickboxing king Akimoto
Fabricio Andrade is closing in on a title shot in MMA, but we could see him return to kickboxing and Muay Thai competition before all is said and done.
The Brazilian striking specialist, 24, has asserted himself as one of the top contenders in ONE Championship’s bantamweight MMA division with victories in his first five bouts with the promotion – four by way of stoppage.
While a title fight with reigning bantamweight king John Lineker is probably next for him, he is also thinking about testing himself in the ONE Super Series, which features kickboxing and Muay Thai contests.
“I think so,” Andrade (8-2) told the Post when asked about competing in ONE Super Series. “My contract right now is only for MMA, but I think in the future, we can do something fun.”
ONE’s bantamweight kickboxing division is currently the domain of Japanese karate stylist Hiroki Akimoto, who won the title with a thrilling decision defeat of Capitan Petchyindee at ONE X in March.
The promotion’s bantamweight Muay Thai division, meanwhile, is ruled by Thailand’s Nong-O Gaiyanghadao, who is considered one of the best fighters in the sport. He was also in action at ONE X, defending his belt with a third-round knockout of short-notice opponent Felipe Lobo.
Andrade respects both champions, but seems to hold Nong-O in particularly high regard.