ONE Championship News

BJPENN.COM Staff - October 31, 2019

Robin Catalan is looking for a much-needed win at ONE: Masters of Fate when he faces Gustavo “El Gladiador” Balart at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila on November 8. Catalan dropped a knockout loss to Pongsiri Mitsatit last May after receiving sharp knees to his ribs. He is motivated to give a better performance this time around, knowing he will be performing in front of his countrymen. 

BJPENN.COM Staff - October 30, 2019

ONE Atomweight Muay Thai and Kickboxing World Champion Stamp Fairtex will face another imposing opponent in Killer Bee” Bi Nguyen who is out to redeem herself from her split-decision loss in her previous outing. Stamp is on a mission for a third world title in as many sports. After defeating Asha Roka in just her second mixed martial arts bout last August, Stamp continues her quest in Manila at ONE: Masters of Fate this November 8. 

BJPENN.COM Staff - October 29, 2019

ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua Pacio will not allow Rene Catalan to take his title on 8 November at ONE: Masters of Fate. Pacio is focused on his preparations and won’t leave anything to chance, knowing that he will return to the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila where he reclaimed his golden strap from Yosuke Saruta in April.

Cole Shelton - October 27, 2019

On Oct. 27, 2018, the MMA world was shaken up as it was announced the UFC and ONE Championship made a trade. The Las Vegas-based promotion traded longtime flyweight champion, Demetrious Johnson, to the Singapore-based promotion for the former welterweight champion, Ben Askren. Right away, fans wondered who came out on top in this trade. The UFC was sending one of the greatest fighters of all time in Johnson for an undefeated Askren who could sell fights with his trash-talk. It seemed like a win-win for both fighters and promotions at the time. But, one year later, is it still a win-win?

BJPENN.COM Staff - October 23, 2019

Zebaztian Kadestam’s last title defense was no cakewalk. He was pushed extensively by Georgy Kichigin back in March at ONE: Reign of Valor. His next defense takes place on October 25 in Jakarta, Indonesia, and the battle could be just as fierce for “The Bandit.” The promising and well-rounded Kiamrian Abbasov awaits, and he’s in the midst of a three-fight win streak. Most recently, Abbasov made short work of Japanese legend Yushin Okami. The 26-year-old from Kyrgyzstan scored a second-round TKO victory over Okami at ONE: For Honor in May. 

BJPENN.COM Staff - October 22, 2019

Only three men in history have held the ONE Welterweight World Title, and it is an esteemed group of martial artists. Because the weight class contains athletes with elite strength, speed, and skill, some of the most dangerous and exciting competitors cross paths in this division.  That makes extended reigns with the ONE Welterweight World Title all the more impressive. The current champion is Zebaztian Kadestam, and he’s one of the roughest and well-balanced martial artists in the world.

BJPENN.COM Staff - October 22, 2019

Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol will make her 11th appearance on the ONE Championship stage in Jakarta on October 25 when she faces Bozhena “Toto” Antoniyar at ONE: Dawn of Valor. Knowing full well that her opponent is a tremendous striker, Lumban Gaol has been working on a strategy that will put her in a position of victory in front of her hometown fans.

Tom Taylor - October 18, 2019

These days, more and more fighters are using trash talk to promote themselves and their fights. Former UFC bantamweight champion Miesha Tate understands why this happens, but believes fighters should think twice before ramping up the verbal warfare. Speaking to BJPENN.com ahead of last weekend’s ONE: Century card, Tate explained how trash talk and bravado can sometimes end up being more damaging to a fighter’s career than helpful. If a fighter talks a big game and fails to back it up, then their brand can take a huge, often irrecoverable hit.

Adam D Martin - October 13, 2019

ONE Championship star Brandon Vera has issued a statement following his second-round TKO loss to Aung La N Sang at ONE: Century. Vera was finished in the second round to mark the end of a thrilling battle between the two men for the ONE light heavyweight title. It was an amazing fight that drew praise from fans all over the world. Despite the loss, Vera’s stock arguably rose in defeat.

Tom Taylor - October 13, 2019

The main event of Sunday’s ONE: Century card was big — both in terms of the size of the competitors and the scale of the fight. The matchup saw ONE light heavyweight champ Aung La N Sang, who also owns the promotion’s middleweight belt, attempt to thwart the challenge of heavyweight champ Brandon Vera. The result was an absolutely thrilling contest.

Tom Taylor - October 13, 2019

One of the many highlights of Sunday’s ONE: Century double-header was a heavyweight showdown between former UFC talent Arjan Bhullar and former Cage Warriors heavyweight champion Mauro Cerilli. It was a razor close fight that unfurled almost exclusively on the feet, despite Bhullar’s Olympic-level wrestling accolades. And in the end, it was the Indian-Canadian that won the fight, capturing a hard-fought unanimous decision win for a successful ONE debut.

Tom Taylor - October 13, 2019

After an action-packed morning of fights, ONE: Century continued on Sunday evening in Tokyo. The second portion of the card was topped by a light heavyweight title fight between divisional kingpin Aung La N Sang, who also owns the middleweight belt, and slimmed down heavyweight champion Brandon Vera.