ONE Championship

The ONE welterweight world title is on the line as champion Zebaztian Kadestam defends his belt for the first time against submission specialist Georgiy Kichigin. Kadestam could very well be considered the underdog in this bout, as Kichigin brings his scintillating 14-match win streak to ONE in this intriguing matchup. 

But who are Kadestam and Kichigin? How did they get here? What's on the line for both men?

Here is everything you need to know about Zebaztian Kadestam vs. Georgiy Kichigin. 

Where and How to Watch

This event will be held Friday, March 8 at Thuwunna Indoor Stadium in Myanmar.

Those in the U.S. can watch the contest for free on B/R Live.

The main card starts at approximately 8:30 a.m. ET, and preceding it is a six-match preliminary card that begins at 6.

The full card stands as follows:

Main Card

• Zebaztian Kadestam vs. Georgiy Kichigin (welterweight world championship)

• Phoe Thaw vs. Yohan Legowo

• Alain Ngalani vs. Mauro Cerilli

• Yoshitaka Naito vs. Rene Catalan

• Toni Tauru vs. Gurdarshan Mangat

• Kenta Yamada vs. Petchmorakot Academy (kickboxing)

• Tial Thang vs. Rin Saroth

• Liam Nolan vs. Enriko Kehl (kickboxing)

Preliminary Card

• Andrei Stoica vs. Tarik Khbabez (kickboxing)

• Lin Heqin vs. Jomary Torres

• Chen Rui vs. Roman Alvarez

• Bozhena Antoniyar vs. Audreylaura Boniface

• Yuta Watanabe vs. Rui Botelho (kickboxing)

• Momotaro vs. Kenny Tse (kickboxing)

Zebaztian Kadestam

Age: 28

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 170 pounds

Stance: Orthodox

Record: 11-4

ONE Record: 3-1

The ONE Welterweight World Championship showdown between Georgiy Kichigin & Zebaztian Kadestam is going to be ___ ! #WeAreONE #ReignOfValor #Yangon #MartialArts pic.twitter.com/tx9w0q77OR

— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) March 2, 2019

Zebaztian Kadestam has not had a meteoric rise to the top of his respective division like many other ONE champions have.

After defeating veteran Luis Santos in his ONE debut in 2017, Kadestam was subsequently throttled by Ben Askren just four months later. In fairness, Askren moved to the UFC last October and just defeated the No. 6 ranked welterweight Robbie Lawler in the first round last weekend, so it's not like Kadestam lost to an inferior opponent. Still, many began to doubt just how capable the Swede was against the best welterweights the division had to offer.

He put the doubts to rest in 2018, first by defeating Agilan Thani, who was 8-1 at the time, and then passing his biggest test yet and beating undefeated Tyler McGuire last November with a stunning fifth-round knockout for the vacant ONE welterweight belt.

Kadestam is one of the strongest strikers in the promotion, with his last five wins all coming by either knockout or technical knockout. He is not one to take his time and allow the judges to decide a bout, as all but two of his previous fifteen matches ended in a finish. He'll be looking to keep that mindset against Kichigin. 

His opponent is a technician on the mat. However, that was also the strength of McGuire during his title match with Kadestam and the latter did very well to stay on his feet and not play into McGuire's strategy. And although Kadestam's bout against Askren didn't go his way, he still came away with plenty of newfound knowledge competing against one of the world's best wrestlers.

Kadestam doesn't seem too fazed by Kichigin's attributes. 

“I’m not really worried about the ground or standing," Kadestam told ONE. "I just need to bring my A-game. I can’t make any mistakes—not standing, not in the clinch, not on the ground. I have this title, and I want to keep it forever.”

That's much easier said than done, and Kadestam must now go up against one of the best submission specialists in the world. The questions remains, is his title reign just a fortunate consequence of Ben Askren leaving for the UFC, or does Kadestam have a legitimate chance of holding the belt for an extended period of time?

Georgiy Kichigin

Age: 30

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 171 pounds

Stance: Orthodox

Record: 20-5

ONE Record: 0-0

Submission specialist Georgiy Kichigin is RED HOT heading into his ONE Welterweight World Title challenge on 8 March 🔥 #WeAreONE #ReignOfValor #Yangon #MartialArts pic.twitter.com/o5syA3Wo7C

— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) February 28, 2019

Although he sports a 20-5 record, Georgiy Kichigin has never had the chance to showcase his talents on a grand stage until now.

“It is always exciting to start a new chapter,” Kichigin told ONE. "I‘ve already got a title back in Russia—I became a Fight Nights Global Welterweight Champion—and the next step was to join an international promotion. Being signed to ONE will make me a more popular fighter because its events get broadcast to more than 100 countries in the world.”

Kichigin ran through different promotions in Russia, going undefeated since 2015. He's amassed an impressive 14-match winning streak in the process. Not only that, but ten of those fourteen came by submission, with just two wins coming by judges' decision. Similarly to Kadestam, Kichigin doesn't waste his time in route to victories.

He's always looking for a choke or armbar. Along with his supreme grappling, Kichigin has a natural instinct to control the arms of his opponents while on the mat, avoiding that finishing punch that so many athletes look for. He'll look to do the same against one of ONE's hardest-hitting strikers.

“I am sure he will be pressing me with his striking skills and will use kicks a lot, too. He loves to fight in the stand-up, and I can meet him there,” the 30-year-old told ONE. I think grappling is his weak point, so let’s see if I could exploit that. I am physically stronger than him, and my endurance is better. I’ve previously fought fighters much stronger than him, to be honest. Ideally, I would win this fight in the first or second round."

Yes, ideally any mixed martial arts athlete would love to end a match early. The question remains, can Kichigin back up his talk? He's certainly faced strong opponents in the past, but Kadestam is riding a wave of momentum since defeating two of ONE's better welterweights and earning the title. He cannot be overly concerned on finishing the bout early just to prove a point, especially against an opponent that doesn't mind going behind early on the judges' scorecards. 

Prediction

This is an intriguing bout considering Kadestam's history against grappling-oriented opponents. Ben Askren put on a wrestling clinic against him two years ago on his way to a decisive win. However, Kadestam redeemed himself last November against another grappler in Tyler McGuire, forcing him to stay on his feet and avoiding most takedown attempts.

Kichigin isn't on the level that Askren is, but he's more experienced and creative than McGuire.

This should be a riveting contest, but Kichigin will find the victory here. He's a cardio machine and is relentless on the attack, while the Swede is known to wear out quickly when not given enough space to find his strikes. One punch from Kadestam can change the course of this bout very quickly, but look for Kichigin to complete his ONE debut with gold around his waist.

Georgiy Kichigin defeats Zebaztian Kadestam by 3rd round armbar to become the new ONE welterweight world champion.

Former UFC star Vitor Belfort is headed to ONE.

Ariel Helwani of ESPN reported Belfort came to terms with the promotion Thursday.

Belfort, 41, has not fought since he announced his retirement following a knockout loss to Lyoto Machida at UFC 224 last May. He finished his UFC career with three losses and a no-contest in his last five fights.

The Brazil native has only fought outside his home country in two of his last 10 bouts. 

ONE is an Asia-based company that has never hosted an event in Brazil. All of the promotion's events have been held in Asia.

ONE has looked to expand its profile over the last calendar year, targeting a number of the UFC's former heavy hitters. The promotion's most notable move was pulling off the first "trade" in mixed martial arts history, acquiring Demetrious Johnson in exchange for Ben Askren.

Belfort has competed in heavyweight, light heavyweight and middleweight competition in his career. Aung La Nsang holds the championship in both of the latter divisions, so Belfort will likely have his eyes set on the Myanmarese fighter.

ONE Championship announced the full card for its highly anticipated March 31 event in Tokyo, ONE: A New Era.

Not only will we see the promotion debuts of former UFC champions Demetrious Johnson and Eddie Alvarez, but the card will also feature a ONE record four title bouts, as well as all four Flyweight World Grand Prix quarterfinal matchups.

Johnson made his mark in the UFC, becoming the flyweight division's inaugural winner and keeping the belt for nearly six years. He's now ready for a new challenge.

During his introductory press conference in October, he told reporters:

"I spent seven years in North America fighting the best in the world. I've never traveled to Asia to fight the best. I think now is the perfect time to do it ... The biggest thing that you can expect from me for coming over here to compete in Asia is that I'll do my best. I am taking no shortcuts."

Meanwhile, former UFC lightweight champion Alvarez, who has fought against legends such as Donald Cerrone, Anthony Pettis, Rafael dos Anjos and Conor McGregor, is out to prove a point with ONE.

"I don't know much about my opponents, but I know enough about myself," Alvarez said during a ONE event last November. "Put me against the most dangerous guys inside of this cage and I'll deliver every time."

FOUR World Title bouts. THREE World Championship rematches. TWO highly-anticipated debuts. ONE: A NEW ERA! #WeAreONE #ANewEra #Tokyo #MartialArts pic.twitter.com/tfyWxXFMlg

— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) February 26, 2019

Along with debuts from the two high-profile Americans, ONE will also showcase the some of the best Asian mixed martial artists in the world in what is the most stacked card in the promotion's history.

Here is everything you need to know about ONE: A New Era.

       

Where and How to Watch

This event will be held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo on March 31. This will be ONE's first show in Japan.

Fans in the U.S. can watch the contest on B/R Live.

The start times of the preliminary card and main card have not yet been announced.

      

Main Event: ONE Lightweight World Championship

(C) Eduard Folayang (21-6) vs. Shinya Aoki (42-8)

ONE lightweight world champion Eduard Folayang of the Philippines is set to face Japanese martial arts legend and former world champion Shinya Aoki in a long-awaited rematch.

In November 2016, Folayang captured the ONE lightweight world title from Aoki via third-round TKO, but he lost the belt to Martin Nguyen a year later.

Folayang reclaimed the title last November after defeating Amir Khan by unanimous decision for the vacant title.

      

ONE Women's Strawweight World Championship

(C) Xiong Jing Nan (16-1) vs. Angela Lee (9-0)

This eagerly anticipated bout sees 22-year-old submission specialist and ONE atomweight world champion Angela Lee attempting to become the first two-division women's champion in the promotion. She goes up against Xiong Jing Nan, whose lone loss came in 2015.

This bout was originally set for November, but Lee pulled out due to a back injury.

World Champions collide on 31 March when Angela Lee takes on Xiong Jing Nan for the ONE Strawweight World Title! @angelaleemma #WeAreONE #ANewEra #Tokyo #MartialArts pic.twitter.com/ZLuFAMeDZD

— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) February 27, 2019

       

ONE Middleweight World Championship

(C) Aung La N Sang (24-10) vs. Ken Hasegawa (16-3-1)

Aung La N Sang's first encounter with Ken Hasegawa in June last year was a five-round thriller, one which the Burmese won in the final moments of a heated battle. The match was awarded "Bout Of The Year" honors at the 2018 Global Martial Arts Awards.

Aung La and Hasegawa will meet once again in a rematch that fans will hope produces the same fireworks.

       

ONE Bantamweight World Championship

(C) Kevin Belingon (20-5) vs. Bibiano Fernandes (22-4)

This will be the third matchup in the rivalry and just the second time in ONE history that two athletes compete in a rubber match.

The two men first met in January 2016, when the Brazilian challenger made quick work of the Filipino, whom he finished via first-round submission. From there, Fernandes continued to establish himself as the most dominant ONE world champion in the company's history with eight successful world title defenses.

After working his way back to title contention, Belingon captured the ONE bantamweight world championship with a split-decision victory over Fernandes last November in Singapore.

       

ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal

Demetrious Johnson (27-3-1) vs. Yuya Wakamatsu (10-3)

Widely considered one of the best pound-for-pound mixed martial artists in history, former UFC champion Johnson makes his ONE debut in the World Grand Prix quarterfinal against Yuya Wakamatsu, who has earned nine finishes in his four-year career.

This will be Wakamatsu's first bout since losing to Danny Kingad last September, while Johnson enters the cage for the first time since defeat to current UFC flyweight champion Henry Cejudo last August.

       

ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal

Eddie Alvarez (29-6) vs. Timofey Nastyukhin (12-4)

After joining ONE in October, former UFC and Bellator champion Alvarez begins a new chapter in his decorated career as he faces the hard-hitting Timofey Nastyukhin in the quarterfinals of the Lightweight World Grand Prix.

This will be Nastyukhin's first bout since losing to Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev in September, while Alvarez competes for the first time since losing to No. 3-ranked UFC lightweight Dustin Poirier last July.

The winner of this bout will face 10-0 Lowen Tynanes, who appeared to call out Alvarez after his quarterfinal win against Honorio Benario, in the last four.

https://twitter.com/brlive/status/1088815575600648193

       

Super Series: Kickboxing

Yodsanklai Fairtex (201-71-4) vs. Andy Souwer (179-19-1)

Muay Thai legend Yodsanklai Fairtex squares off against Dutch world champion kickboxer Andy Souwer.

Yodsanklai is coming off a stunning performance in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, last December, when the martial arts veteran finished opponent Luis Regis with three rapid-fire uppercuts.

Souwer on the other hand is one of the most renowned strikers in the Netherlands and is a two-time kickboxing champion.

       

Preliminary Card

Danny Kingad (11-1) vs. Andrew Leone (8-4), Flyweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal

Tatsumitsu Wada (20-10-2) vs. Ivanildo (8-0), Flyweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal (Winner faces Johnson/Wakamatsu winner)

Kairat Akhmetov (24-2) vs. Reece McLaren (12-5), Flyweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal

Mei Yamaguchi (18-11-1) vs. Kseniya Lachkova (9-2)

Anthony Engelen (8-5) vs. Garry Tonon (3-0)

Rodtang Jitmuangnon (255-41-10) vs. Hakim Hamech (43-0), Muay Thai

Panicos Yusuf (37-7) vs. Mohammed Bin Mahmoud (31-3), Muay Thai

Hiroki Akimoto (20-0) vs. Joseph Lasiri (37-9), Kickboxing

Yoon Chang Min (0-1) vs. Bala Shetty (0-2)

Vitor Belfort is reportedly in "serious negotiations" to sign a multi-fight contract with ONE Championship, according to ESPN.com's Ariel Helwani. 

Helwani added that while the deal hasn't been finalized yet, it is expected to be announced this week if "all goes to plan."

The 41-year-old Belfort is a former UFC light heavyweight champion who last competed in a losing effort against Lyoto Machida at UFC 224 in May 2018.

As a professional, Belfort is 26-14 with one no-contest, but he has struggled in recent years. Over his past seven fights, Belfort is 2-4 with one no-contest. The no-contest was originally a knockout loss to Kelvin Gastelum, but it was changed after Gastelum tested positive for marijuana.

It was unclear if Belfort intended to continue fighting after the loss to Machida, but he told Helwani in December that he wanted to return to the cage.

The native of Brazil reportedly met with Bellator in addition to recently traveling to Singapore in order to meet with ONE Championship officials.

ONE Championship debuted in 2011, and it has generated some major buzz due to the signings of Eddie Alvarez, Demetrious Johnson, Sage Northcutt and others. Belfort will arguably be the biggest name in the promotion despite his lack of success in recent years.

If Belfort decides to fight at the light heavyweight level, a clash with ONE Championship Light Heavyweight and Middleweight champion Aung La Nsang could be in the cards.

Ariel Sexton defeated Amir Khan via third-round submission in the quarterfinals of the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix's Call To Greatness event at Singapore Indoor Stadium on Friday.

Khan was fighting in front of his home crowd, and that advantage appeared to provide an early boost, as he gained momentum as the first round reached the midway point.

"Here comes KING KHAN!" 👑 @amirkhanmma #WeAreONE #CallToGreatness #Singapore #MartialArts pic.twitter.com/VLNXPLqr7H

— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) February 22, 2019

However, Sexton took down his opponent late in the round, though Khan was able to quickly recover and get back on his feet.

The back-and-forth continued into the second round, with a bleeding Sexton ending the round by cornering Khan and launching him off his feet and to the mat in the final seconds. That set the stage for what would go down in the final round.

It would last just 73 seconds, as Sexton quickly forced Khan to tap out with a rear-naked choke.

It was quite the turn of events after Khan appeared to be on his way to victory early on:

Wow. Hell of a performance from Ariel Sexton to earn a come-from-behind submission win over Amir Khan in the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix. He faces the spectacular Turkish contender Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev in the semi-finals. #CallToGreatness

— Simon Head (@simonheadsport) February 22, 2019

https://twitter.com/JamesGoyder/status/1098958793851908097

Sexton noted after the fight that he is a "slow starter," so he stuck to his game and found a way to prevail in the end.

The 37-year-old had nothing but respect for Khan following a hard-fought win, calling his 24-year-old opponent "a beast."

Sexton will face Saygid Arslanaliev in the semifinals.

On Friday, Asia-based MMA promotion ONE Championship holds its latest event, Call to Greatness, in Singapore. Two fighters compete for a newly minted muay thai title belt in the main event.

The combatants, Stamp Fairtex and Janet Todd, are accomplished women in their field. The American Todd, who was training to be an aerospace engineer before pursuing muay thai, is decorated on international circuits. The clear favorite in this one, however, is Fairtex, who is already ONE's atomweight kickboxing champ. The Thailand native has been competing since age five, racking up plenty of accolades along the way.

As convincing as their pedigrees are, that's not what makes this matchup fun. Todd and Fairtex compete in a division unfamiliar to those whose MMA familiarity ends with the UFC. They are both atomweights, the smallest weight class in MMA. In ONE Championship, the atomweight division is home to some of its most exciting fights and perhaps its biggest star outside of recent UFC transplants like Demetrious Johnson and Eddie Alvarez.

The upper weight limit for atomweights in ONE is 52 kilograms, or about 115 pounds. That's the equivalent of the UFC's strawweight division. Fans and promoters in ONE know smaller packages are harbingers of some serious excitement. In pretty much every other promotion, atomweights compete at or around 105 pounds, which is the true lower limit of competition weight in MMA.

So, atomweights are small, yes. That makes for an eye-catching visual for those accustomed to a steady diet of Francis Ngannous. But if your head goes straight to "novelty," you need a little more schooling, because the atomweights can fight and are some kind of fun to watch. Fairtex and Todd are muay thai competitors, but atomweights are in evidence across MMA. There are thriving atomweight divisions around the world, but Asian promotions like ONE are the real hotbed. 

Seo Hee Ham, a former UFC strawweight and an electric striker, is the current champ in South Korea's Road FC. According to MMA ranking website Fight Matrix, she is second at 105 in the world. Road FC also once employed No. 4 on those rankings, Texas native Jinh Yu Frey, who has since gone on to capture atomweight gold in all-female Invicta FC. She has also built serious fan followings in the U.S. and beyond through her social media presence as well as her talent in the cage.

The rightful No. 1 in the weight class is Ayaka Hamasaki, the former Invicta champ who now holds the atomweight belt for Japan's upstart Rizin promotion. Hamasaki, a judoka with 10 wins by stoppage, trains under legendary submission artist Megumi Fujii. 

https://twitter.com/Delisketo/status/1080183328949575687

Interestingly, the most famous atomweight in the world and the longtime ONE atomweight champ is not an atomweight in the strictest sense of the word. Still, Angela Lee has attracted the kind of global attention that eludes many other top fighters her size, including in the UFC.

The 22-year-old Vancouver native has amassed a 9-0 pro record in three years of competition. She defeated the well-regarded Mei Yamaguchi in 2016 to capture the ONE atomweight strap, and she has since defended it three times. Lee was 19 years old when she first hoisted the belt over her shoulder, making her the youngest fighter to ever hold a title in a major MMA promotion.

What's more, she has clicked with the MMA public on a rarefied level, showing business and social media savvy along the way. The daughter of two martial arts instructors grew up in the sport, and that's evident in her well-rounded skill set. That lifelong exposure to the sport has created a high comfort level in the cage, which translates to a fearlessness that stands in contrast to her wholesome image away from it.

"Growing up with my dad, I was able to learn all those styles and incorporate them into the new style of MMA that is fought today," Lee told Karla Cripps of CNN in 2017. "(I learned to use) everything from striking, boxing, kickboxing and Muay Thai to things like wrestling and judo on the ground. I think that's the beautiful thing about this sport. It's constantly forcing you to evolve and improve in all areas."

Understanding the appeal of the sport's smallest competitors can't begin and end with the stoppage. Given their size, simple physics dictates that big knockouts are not in the cards, at least not to the level they are with the big guys. According to Fight Matrix, which is an unofficial but widely recognized MMA statkeeper, strawweights have the highest rate of decisions among all UFC weight classes, with 68.2 percent of all contests going the distance.

But here's the rub: Speed, quickness and sheer output make up for that. In the simplest possible terms, if you like seeing people get hit, you'll like the atomweights. No one keeps statistics on strikes per minute by weight class, but some things don't require numbers to prove. Top atomweights compete at a level of fast-twitch athleticism that the bigger classes cannot match.

UFC fighters are taking notice. Former strawweight champ Carla Esparza has openly called for a 105-pound division in the world's MMA leader. It's not like the UFC couldn't at least try to populate such a division, as current roster members Michelle Waterson and Jessica Penne both held the 105-pound title in Invicta.

For now, however, the atomweights are in large part the domain of the Asian promotions, with Lee remaining at the top of the list despite recent fights, including a dicey decision win in last year's rematch with Yamaguchi that didn't have quite the steam of some of her earlier contests. Even so, behind their global star and the increasing presence of some of the companies that promote them, atomweights across the world could be poised for a renaissance.

Scott Harris covers MMA and is a feature writer for Bleacher Report and CNN.

History could be made this Friday at ONE: Call to Greatness in Singapore, as ONE atomweight kickboxing world champion Stamp Fairtex looks to become the promotion's first-ever two-sport world champion when she takes on American Janet Todd for the inaugural atomweight muay thai world title.

This bout features two likable competitors, but who are Fairtex and Todd? How did they get here? What's on the line for both women?

Here is everything you need to know about Stamp Fairtex vs. Janet Todd.

        

Muay Thai

First, it's important to understand the differences in this match compared to other mixed martial arts bouts. Since it is a muay thai bout, the competitors are focused on striking through punches, kicks, elbows and knees. Grappling on the ground and wrestling are not allowed.

Instead of five-minute rounds, muay thai bouts have three-minute rounds. Because Fairtex and Todd are competing with a championship on the line, this match can go up to five rounds. 

      

Where and How to Watch

This event will be held at Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Those in the U.S. can watch the contest for free on B/R Live.

The main card starts at approximately 7:30 a.m. ET, and preceding it is a four-match preliminary card that begins at 6.

The full card stands as follows:

Main Card

• Stamp Fairtex vs. Janet Todd (atomweight muay thai world championship)

• Amir Khan vs. Ariel Sexton (lightweight world grand prix quarterfinal)

• Ev Ting vs. Saygid Arslanaliev (lightweight world grand prix quarterfinal)

• Nieky Holzken vs. Mustapha Haida (kickboxing)

• Dejdamrong Amnuaysirichoke vs. Jeremy Miado 

• Masahide Kudo vs. Petchdam Academy (kickboxing)

• Kong Sambo vs. Zhang Chenglong (kickboxing)

Preliminary Card

• Regian Eersel vs. Anthony Njokuani (kickboxing)

• Ayaka Miura vs. Laura Balin

• Masakazu Imanari vs. Kwon Won Il

• Rudy Agustian vs. Khon Sichan

       

Stamp Fairtex

Age: 21

Height: 5'1"

Weight: 115 pounds

Stance: Orthodox

Amateur Record: 60-15-5

Professional Record: 1-0

ONE Record: 1-0

Don't let her professional record fool you. Stamp Fairtex claims to be a muay thai veteran, with "about 80 (amateur) fights officially" under her belt, as she told Richard Arthur of Fox Sports Asia. 

Will ONE Atomweight Kickboxing World Champion Stamp Fairtex make history AGAIN when she faces American Muay Thai Champion Janet Todd in a bid to become ONE's first two-sport World Champion? #WeAreONE #CallToGreatness #Singapore #MartialArts pic.twitter.com/nwlL0yCjZG

— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) February 20, 2019

Fairtex loves to put on a show, unafraid to get inside the heads of her opponents during matches. She manages to back up her talk more often than not and has quickly become a fan favorite.

Although she is already the reigning ONE atomweight kickboxing world champion, Fairtex's bread and butter is muay thai. In fact, her title win against Kai Ting Chuang last October was Fairtex's first foray into kickboxing.

The match was rather sloppy on her end as she continuously swept the legs of Chuang, an illegal move in kickboxing, but Fairtex still controlled the majority of the bout, and the judges rewarded her with a unanimous-decision victory in her first professional match.

Fairtex is a physical force, throwing her opponents down with ease by using her long reach to close the distance. She also uses that reach as a defensive advantage, making it difficult for competitors to time strikes and grappling attempts effectively.

This is just the second step of a much larger goal for Fairtex. Not only does she want to become ONE's first two-sport world champion, but she also wants to eventually earn a mixed martial arts title shot.

"It is still a goal for me to win a title in MMA," she told BJPenn.com's Tom Taylor. "I still do mixed martial arts training. I plan to compete under mixed martial arts rules this year, but my team asked if I wanted to compete in a muay thai bout. It's hard to pass on that. ... The goal is to become a three-sport world champion."

The wonderkid has already accomplished plenty in her young career, but she must put her long-term goals to the side for now and continue using her natural attributes to her advantage for the next bout. The question remains: How will she do against an athlete even more physically dominating than she is?

       

Janet Todd

Age: 33

Height: 5'3"

Weight: 115 pounds

Stance: Orthodox

Amateur Record: 32-10

Professional Record: 0-0

ONE Record: 0-0

Although she's represented the U.S. in many different amateur competitions and has won a gold medal for the Stars and Stripes at the Pan-American Games, this will be Janet Todd's first professional match.

Todd contributes that to the lack of professional bouts available stateside and the difficult decision to become professional and risk forfeiting her status on the amateur stage, where most American muay thai bouts are available.

How martial arts helped American Muay Thai star Janet Todd embrace her true self ⤵ #WeAreONE #CallToGreatness #Singapore #MartialArts pic.twitter.com/eRjW7F7p7t

— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) February 20, 2019

If she turned pro, Todd knew that she would also have to give up her career as an aerospace engineer. In fact, she was introduced to muay thai by her husband as she was studying for her master's degree.

After competing in her first bout in 2009, Todd stepped away from the sport for four years to complete her degree. She then decided to continue her training and worked her way up through the amateur ranks. It wasn't until ONE called that she saw a golden opportunity to turn pro and consistently compete.

"Its amazing how much support I've gotten," she told Matt Lucas of InFightStyle.com in 2017. "Without people promoting me, I don't know how I would have gotten to where I am now. My husband, he backs me a lot. We make a lot of sacrifices in the relationship and he doesn't give me a hard time. It's nice to have someone like that."

Todd is a fast, ferocious athlete that is quick to grapple with her opponent and send knees to the body. She has a two-inch height advantage, which Fairtex isn't used to from her opponents. It will also be a level playing field in terms of reach, another usual advantage that Fairtex will no longer have.

Todd's biggest concern will be adapting to Fairtex's style of muay thai, which Todd has said she has struggled with in the past after training in Thailand.

"That was different. I felt like I died multiple times. I didn't know what to expect. I'd never been to Thailand before, I was just on board with the whole thing. ... My opponent just threw things I didn't have an answer to."

     

Prediction

Everything Janet Todd has been able to accomplish with her limited muay thai resources in the U.S. is remarkable and a testament to her passion for the sport. She deserves the spotlight of ONE to showcase what another region of the world relatively unfamiliar to muay thai can bring to the table.

With that being said, Todd's inexperience against the top-tier talent pool in Asia greatly hinders her against Fairtex, who has been molded by said top-tier talent since she started competing. Although Todd is 12 years older than her opponent, it's Fairtex who comes in as a more complete and experienced talent.

The Thai is coming into this bout confident for that exact reason.

"I'm not worried about the bout because the rules are muay thai," Stamp said, per Taylor. "I know I can do well against her under muay thai rules. I will use my knowledge, skills and experience to beat her."

Perhaps Todd's physicality does end up being a mismatch for her, but Fairtex's class should be enough to overcome it.

    

I'm predicting Stamp Fairtex defeats Janet Todd by unanimous decision to become ONE's first-ever two-sport world champion.

Regardless of who wins, both athletes are here for a greater cause: to showcase what women's muay thai is all about.

"I was the only girl in my village's boxing gym," Fairtex shared, per ONE Championship (h/t Yahoo News). "People thought the boxing ring was sacred, and only men should enter it because women should be in school studying. As more women began to compete, people's perceptions started to change. 

"I think I've set a good example for women in the sport. I showed them that they must work hard, train hard, and be patient. I'm happy that I can be a role model to kids and other women.'

"I got these messages from other women asking me for tips, asking me how to prepare for fights. It's really cool to inspire other girls. It really helped me and helps me with my everyday life. It inspires me and makes me want to work harder. I want to show other girls that you can do it too."

      

Related Links

In addition to this piece, B/R Live has also covered the rights agreement between ONE Championship and Turner Sports as well as an in-depth look at ONE.

The inaugural ONE bantamweight muay thai world champion will be crowned at ONE: Clash of Legends on Saturday. Nong-O Gaiyanghadao faces Han Zi Hao in the classic matchup between a decorated veteran and a young star ready to solidify his spot at the top.

But who are Nong-O and Han? How did they get here? What's on the line for both men?

Here is everything you need to know about Nong-O Gaiyanghadao vs. Han Zi Hao.

       

Muay Thai

First, it's important to understand the differences in this match compared to other mixed martial arts bouts. Since it is a muay thai fight, the competitors are focused on striking through punches, kicks, elbows and knees. Grappling on the ground and wrestling are not allowed.

Instead of five-minute rounds, muay thai has three-minute rounds. Because Nong-O and Han are competing with a championship on the line, this match can go up to five rounds. 

       

Where and How to Watch

This event will be held at Bangkok's Impact Arena in Thailand, the same country where the sport of muay thai originated.

Those in the U.S. can watch the contest for free on B/R Live.

The main card starts at approximately 8:30 a.m. ET, and preceding it is a four-match preliminary card that begins at 7.

The full card stands as follows:

Main Card

• Nong-O Gaiyanghadao vs. Han Zi Hao (bantamweight muay thai world championship)
• Kongsak P.K.Saenchaimuaythaigym vs. Alaverdi Ramazanov (muay thai)
• Dae Hwan Kim vs. Shuya Kamikubo
• Mark Fairtex Abelardo vs. Daichi Takenaka
• Shannon Wiratchai vs. Amarsanaa Tsogookhuu
• Smokin' Jo Nattawut vs. Samy Sana (muay thai)
• Gina Iniong vs. Jihin Radzuan
• Superlek Kiatmoo9 vs. Lao Chetra (muay thai)

Preliminary Card

• Chamuaktong Fightermuaythai vs. Charlie Peters (muay thai)
• Emilio Urrutia vs. Yoshiki Nakahara
• Rika Ishige vs. Nou Srey Pov
• Elipitua Siregar vs. Liu Peng Shuai

       

Nong-O Gaiyanghadao

Age: 32

Height: 5'7"

Weight: 132 pounds

Stance: Orthodox

Record: 257-54-1

ONE Record: 2-0

Nong-O will be the people's champion on Saturday as he competes for the belt in front of over 11,000 of his fellow countrymen.

The veteran's record speaks for itself, with an astounding 312 total bouts and a winning percentage of 82. However, Nong-O has had an odd journey to get to Saturday's title match. After dominating the muay thai circuit in Thailand, he took a three-year sabbatical to coach in a Japanese mixed martial arts promotion before returning to the cage last April for his ONE debut. 

Nong-O, considered to be one of the best muay thai athletes of the modern era, has schooled two fellow veterans since his return, earning unanimous decisions in both.

The Thai is known for his clinical leg sweeps, earning points from the judges throughout matches by sending his opponents crashing to the canvas. He's methodical in his approach and doesn't take too many risks, but he is able to rely heavily on his opponent's positioning to use it against them.

"I am really confident I can beat him," Nong-O said at the event's press conference, adding that he had been in intensive training for the world title clash. "I have trained for three months in Singapore. ... I can say that I am 100 percent ready for the fight. I am now mentally and physically fit."

Nong-O has seen it all in his illustrious career, competing against some of the best in the world and constantly training with legends of the sport. The question remains, did his three years away from competition hinder his ability to prepare for the electrifying ball of energy known as Han Zi Hao?

      

Han Zi Hao

Age: 23

Height: 5'9"

Weight: 135 pounds

Stance: Orthodox

Record: 60-15

ONE Record: 3-0

Han is a terrific striker, specifically through punches. He faces his opponents head-on and relies on his power to stun or knock them out. Just look at this finish from his most recent bout last October: 

Han Zi Hao KOs Ryan Jakiri with a THUNDEROUS 👊 at 1:39 of Round 1! #WeAreONE #PursuitOfGreatness #Yangon #MartialArts pic.twitter.com/i88rRMYcBc

— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) October 26, 2018

During the press conference, Han couldn't help but heap praise on the legend. 

"I've heard about Nong-O since I was a kid," the Chinese said. "He is a legend of the muay thai world. I grew up watching his matches. Naturally, he became one of my idols. ... Now, I finally have a chance to compete with him and, even better, I will challenge for the gold belt. This is such an honor for me."

However, Han did not mince words when discussing his plans for the bout.

"I hope to finish him with this move so the result is indisputable," Han said. "I admire and respect you very much, but I have to point out that your era is about to end. I will take your place and be the new legend of muay thai."

Han's biggest concern will be his positioning after throwing punches. Nong-O lives for taking advantage of unbalanced strikers, sweeping them to the mat and racking up points. If Han isn't careful and comes into the match too intent on an early finish, Nong-O could put on yet another master class. 

      

Prediction

Han has proved he can lead a promising future for muay thai. Earning a win over a legend like Nong-O, especially by knockout, would truly be a passing of the torch.

He could very well be the next big thing. However, it's still the era of Nong-O. The 11-time world champion is keen to remind us all he's still the guy. 

Han has proved he can end a match in an instant, but Nong-O's technical ability is the perfect counter to his striking. If Han goes for the knockout blow throughout the match, Nong-O will surely earn enough takedowns to negate him entirely. On the other hand, if Han decides to pick and choose his punches more often, he runs the risk of going the distance with Nong-O and hoping the Thai doesn't pile on small but effective strikes himself. That's a tough ask. 

If Han is going to win, it will likely be through a knockout. The problem with that? Nong-O hasn't been finished in almost nine years. The legend continues.

Prediction: Nong-O Gaiyanghadao defeats Han Zi Hao by unanimous decision to become the inaugural ONE bantamweight muay thai world champion.

      

Related Links

In addition to this piece, B/R Live has also covered the rights agreement between ONE Championship and Turner Sports as well as an in-depth look at ONE.