ONE Championship News
Sage Northcutt still unable to train following KO loss six months ago
Adam Martin - November 8, 2019
Robin Catalan seeks redemption at ONE: Masters of Fate
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.
Stamp Fairtex says her experience will help her beat Bi Nguyen
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.
Joshua Pacio stepping up on behalf of Team Lakay
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.
Looking back on the Ben Askren-Demetrious Johnson trade one year later
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?
Kiamrian Abbasov could be the first in a long line of tough challengers for Zebaztian Kadestam
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.
Tracing the history of the ONE Championship welterweight title
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.
Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol promises an exciting match in Jakarta
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.
Miesha Tate explains how trash talk can be counterproductive for fighters
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.
Brandon Vera issues statement following loss at ONE: Century
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.
Aung La N Sang stops Brandon Vera in thrilling brawl
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.
Arjan Bhullar defeats Mauro Cerilli in ONE debut
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.
ONE: Century - Part 2 live results and highlights
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.
Demetrious Johnson wins Grand Prix title with dominant defeat of Danny Kingad
Tom Taylor - October 12, 2019
At Saturday’s ONE: Century card, former UFC flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson stepped into the cage with Team Lakay star Danny Kingad in the final of the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix. Johnson utilized pressure from the get-go, landing multiple takedowns and gluing himself to his opponent on the mat. As the round wore down, he threatened briefly with a kimura. When the tap failed to materialize, he climbed into full mount before a scramble ended the round. While ONE Championship fights are scored in their entirety rather than round-by-round, it was a clear victory for Johnson in the first.
ONE: Century - Part 1 live results and highlights
Tom Taylor - October 12, 2019
Despite the very best efforts of the ferocious Typhoon Hagibis, ONE: Century is going ahead as planned. The event, which marks ONE Champion’s 100th show, is divided into two parts. The first airs on TNT in the United States. It will be topped by an atomweight title fight between reigning champ Angela Lee and slimmed-down strawweight queen Xiong Jing Nan.
Chatri Sityodtong: Eddie Alvarez still 'one of the best lightweights in the world'
Tom Taylor - October 10, 2019
Eddie Alvarez has had an interesting run in ONE Championship thus far. After losing his promotional debut at the hands of Timofey Nastyukhin in March, he rebounded with a beautiful, come-from-behind submission defeat of the former champion Eduard Folayang in August. Alvarez was then expected to meet Saygid Guseyn “Dagi” Arslanaliev at ONE: Century in Tokyo this weekend, but was unfortunately forced off the card with an injury.
Arjan Bhullar gives Daniel Cormier the edge in Stipe Miocic trilogy fight
Tom Taylor - October 10, 2019
ONE Championship heavyweight contender Arjan Bhullar has known former UFC heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier for more than 15 years. He’s trained with Cormier at American Kickboxing Academy for many of those years. Based on that, watching Cormier lose the UFC heavyweight title to Stipe Miocic at UFC 241 was not easy for him. That being said, Bhullar is still proud of his friend’s performance.
Angela Lee is healthy and hungry ahead of Xiong Jing Nan rematch
Tom Taylor - October 10, 2019
It’s been a tough year for Angela Lee. After failing to wrest the ONE strawweight title from the waist of Xiong Jing Nan in March, the ONE atomweight champ came up short in another strawweight contest opposite Michelle Nicolini in July.
Mauro Cerilli determined to spoil Arjan Bhullar's ONE debut
Alfredo Zullino - October 9, 2019
2019 hasn’t been a great year for MMA in Italy, as most of the Italian fighters signed to the biggest international promotions haven’t been able to bring victories home. Of a total of 22 fights, Italian athletes have only won 6 of them. One of those winners was Mauro Cerilli (13-3; 1-1 ONE 1-1), former Cage Warriors heavyweight title-holder and current ONE Championship heavyweight contender.