We are a little over a week away from one of the most explosive events of the combat sports calendar, here are five reasons why you need to watch ONE Fight Night 16: Haggerty vs. Andrade.
The crowning of a two sport champion
Champion vs Champion is always a spectacle but when we know one of the combatants will walk away a two sport king, things hot up even more. ONE bantamweight Muay Thai champion Jonathan Haggerty will take on ONE bantamweight MMA champion Fabricio Andrade with the divisional kickboxing title on the line. These are two explosive strikers who have made careers out of highlight-reel performances, and this should be no exception.
Twin champions?
Tye Ruotolo’s brother Kade is already a ONE champion in the lightweight submission grappling division. Now the 19-year-old prodigy has the opportunity to join his twin as he attempts to claim the inaugural welterweight submission grappling title. He will go into the bout with Magomed Abdulkadirov as a strong favourite but the Russian debutant cannot be underestimated, and has serious pedigree of his own heading into the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium clash
Another teenage sensation
Ruotolo is not the only teenager on the card in Bangkok, Thailand’s own Supergirl Anna Jaroonsak will be in action when she takes on Spain’s Cristina Morales in the atomweight kickboxing division. Supergirl is an explosive striker known for making entertaining fights and will be looking to establish herself as a real contender on a number of fronts. With her only defeat in ONE coming at the hands of three sport world champion Stamp Fairtex, it is only a matter of time before she is holding gold of her own.
Revenge a dish best served cold
Liam Nolan will be going into ONE Fight Night 16 with one thing on his mind – revenge. The Brit meets Sinsamut Klinmee knowing the last time they met, he ended the night laid out on the canvas thanks to a stunning KO from the Thai fighter. This is an intriguing lightweight Muay Thai encounter with both men thinking a win can help them take a tilt at the title. Klinmee was super close the title glory in the past losing by split decision to Regian “The Immortal” Eersel the current lightweight kickboxing and Muay Thai king. There is a lot on this one for both men.
One for the Middle East fans
He may hail from Turkey, but having competed extensively in the Middle East, Hilal Amir has a significant following in the region. Undefeated in ONE, the 27-year-old will take on Pakistan’s Ahmed Mujtaba in the lightweight MMA division knowing a win will further enhance his impressive credentials. Mujtaba is well experienced in ONE, with three wins from his six outings – and will be looking to bounce back from his last outing, a first round submission defeat to Sage Northcutt.
ONE Fight Night 16 comes live from the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, Thailand on Saturday October 28 Fight fans in the MENA region can watch action BeINSPORTS from 3.00am MECCA, or on watch.onefc.com
