ONE Championship 160, Prime Video 1 preview: six things to watch out for in Singapore double-header
- Martial arts promotion poised for back-to-back events this weekend, with four title fights and a host of crucial matchups peppered between the two cards
- ONE will debut on Amazon’s Prime Video streaming service on Saturday morning, with a similarly action-packed show the evening before
ONE Championship will make its debut on Amazon’s Prime Video streaming service this weekend, and the martial arts promotion has pulled out all the stops to celebrate the occasion.
ONE’s first event on Prime, aptly titled ONE on Prime Video 1, goes down on Saturday morning in Singapore, which will allow fans in the coveted US market to enjoy the show during prime time. The line-up for the event is stacked with top talent – and that is not all ONE will have on offer this weekend.
The evening before – Friday, August 26 – the promotion will kick things off with the ONE 160 card, topped by two title fights and several other compelling attractions.
Here are the biggest storylines to keep an eye on ahead of ONE’s big double-header in Singapore.
ONE 160 | Friday, August 26 – 8.30pm SGT
Ok, Lee run back controversial lightweight title fight
In August 2021, Christian Lee (15-4) stepped into the ONE Circle with South Korea’s Ok Rae-yoon (16-3) with the intention of defending the promotion’s lightweight MMA title for a third time. But after five extremely competitive rounds of action, Ok was named the winner by unanimous decision.
It was one of the more controversial judging verdicts in ONE history, and Lee did not hide his disappointment with it.
The good news is that in the main event of ONE 160, the pair will run it back in search of a more definitive outcome.
If the first fight is any indication, the second should be both competitive and entertaining.
Knockout artists collide for featherweight gold
ONE featherweight MMA champion Thanh Le (13-2) has scored stoppages in all of his pro victories – 12 of those by knockout. He is as venomous as finishers come in the sport, but his next opponent is as close as he’s seen to an equal in that department.
In the ONE 160 co-main event, the Vietnamese-American champion will attempt his second title defence opposite China’s Tang Kai (14-2). The Chinese star has also finished 12 of his victories by knockout – including a first-round win over Kim Jae-woong at ONE X in March, which earned him his title shot.
ONE 160: Thanh Le enlists Sandhagen in prep for China’s Tang
It seems nearly impossible that this fight goes to a decision. Moreover, the possibility of a highlight reel knockout – whether it’s the champ or challenger on the receiving end – seems very high.
ONE on Prime Video 1 | Saturday, August 26 – 8.00am SGT
Flyweight King Moraes rematches MMA legend “Mighty Mouse”
In April 2021, ONE flyweight MMA champ Adriano Moraes posted one of the greatest upsets in recent MMA history, defending his belt with a knockout of Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, a man considered one of the best fighters of all time.
It’s not just that the champion beat Johnson, it’s that he knocked him out. Despite three tough fights in ONE, and dozens in the UFC and WEC and North America, the MMA legend had never been stopped by strikes before.
As with any upset, Moraes’ naysayers quickly made themselves heard, asserting that his victory over Johnson was a fluke.
In the main event of ONE’s debut on Prime, Moraes will attempt to prove it was anything but, when he rematches the former UFC champ, with the flyweight belt once again hanging in the balance.
Nong-O and Harrison collide in Muay Thai barnburner
Nong-O Gaiyanghadao, the reigning ONE bantamweight Muay Thai king, is one of the most revered fighters in the entire sport. With eight wins and five title defences behind him, the Thai looks nearly unbeatable at this point.
But he’ll have his work cut out for him in the ONE on Prime Video 1 co-headliner, when he defends his title against English destroyer Liam Harrison.
ONE: Haggerty backs Harrison to beat Nong-O, but ‘it’s going to be tough’
Harrison, while a little older than some of his peers at 37, is one of the most aggressive and brutal fighters in Muay Thai – traits that belie his extremely tactical approach to the sport.
Make no mistake, he will enter the Circle with Nong-O as a big underdog with few avenues to victory, but if anybody can stop the champ, it’s the Briton.
Flyweight Grand Prix semi-finals
Nong-O and Harrison will not be the only Muay Thai stars in action at ONE on Prime Video 1.
Earlier in the evening, viewers will be treated to the semi-final round of ONE’s flyweight Muay Thai Grand Prix.
On one side of the bracket, the division’s reigning champion, Rodtang Jitmuangnon of Thailand, will take on dangerous but unheralded Cypriot Savvas Michael. On the other side, Rodtang’s countryman Superlek Kiatmoo9 will battle Brazilian spitfire Walter Goncalves.
Haggerty off ONE on Prime Video 1 card with illness, prompting reshuffle
Important action at heavyweight
In the past it has been easy to criticise ONE’s heavyweight division for its lack of depth. It simply lacked bodies. But that is no longer the case.
Today, the division is packed with dangerous fighters, several of whom will be in action at ONE on Prime Video 1.
First up, former Cage Warriors champion Mauro Cerilli (14-4) of Italy will take on Iranian wrestling star Amir Aliakbari (10-3). Then, in the next bout on the bill, Brazilian jiu jitsu legend Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida (3-0) will attempt to keep his perfect record intact against Belarusian striker Kirill Grishenko (5-1).
Both bouts are rife with title implications.
