The dust has settled on ONE’s groundbreaking U.S. debut, and the blockbuster card was a resounding success.
We ponder the futures of Demetrious Johnson, Rodtang, Stamp, and more after ONE's historic U.S. debut last Friday.
The dust has settled on ONE’s groundbreaking U.S. debut, and the blockbuster card was a resounding success.
With three dramatic World Title contests, many of the organization’s biggest stars, several electrifying finishes, and some shocking outcomes, ONE Fight Night 10: Johnson vs. Moraes III on Prime Video might have been the most important event in ONE’s history.
Looking back at all the action from 1stBank Center in Colorado, we’re left with five burning questions in the aftermath of this unforgettable show.
At 36 years old, MMA GOAT Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson was still in top form throughout his successful ONE Flyweight World Title defense against former divisional king Adriano Moraes.
But with his rivalry against “Mikinho” behind him, the modern-day legend is weighing his options.
On one hand, DJ could retire from mixed martial arts and happily ride off into the sunset with his legacy firmly cemented.
On the other hand, Johnson has a dangerous challenger waiting for a crack at gold – former divisional king Kairat Akhmetov, who picked up his sixth consecutive victory on Friday night.
This is certainly the match to make if “Mighty Mouse” wants it.
In the co-main event, longtime ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon put on an epic show for American fans, scoring a highlight-reel knockout of challenger Edgar Tabares.
Now 14-0 in Muay Thai and kickboxing bouts under the ONE banner, “The Iron Man” has plenty of potential opponents in front of him.
Just minutes after his latest KO, Rodtang called for a fight with newly crowned ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Jonathan Haggerty. The Thai star already holds a pair of wins over “The General,” but a third victory – this time at bantamweight – would make him a two-division titleholder.
If it’s two-sport glory he’s after, Rodtang could challenge flyweight kickboxing king Superlek Kiatmoo9. This matchup – which was previously scheduled for ONE Fight Night 8 – would feature two of Thailand’s most beloved and dominant strikers.
Finally, “The Iron Man” could take on newly signed Takeru Segawa – a multiple-time K-1 World Champion and Japan’s top pound-for-pound striker.
ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Champion Mikey Musumeci was dominant from start to finish in his rear-naked choke victory over Osamah Almarwai – a man many thought to be “Darth Rigatoni’s” stiffest test yet.
With two sterling World Title defenses under his belt, the 26-year-old BJJ prodigy has firmly established himself as one of the planet’s best pound-for-pound grapplers, and finding him a challenging opponent is becoming more and more difficult.
Rather than asking who the New Jersey native should face next, the question is now how long Musumeci’s reign at the top will last – and if there’s any flyweight grappler capable of taking him out.
Former ONE Atomweight Muay Thai and Kickboxing World Champion Stamp Fairtex introduced herself to American fans in style, knocking out Alyse Anderson with an epic body kick in their atomweight MMA clash.
Already the division’s #1-ranked contender, Stamp is now set to face South Korean superstar Ham Seo Hee for the ONE Interim Atomweight MMA World Title.
If she can get past “Hamzzang,” the 26-year-old Thai would etch her name in the history books as the first athlete to hold ONE World Titles in three different sports, elevating her to the status of a true combat sports icon.
After four years away from competition, American MMA phenom “Super” Sage Northcutt hardly broke a sweat in scoring a heel-hook win over dangerous Pakistani Ahmed Mujtaba.
The spectacular performance largely erased memories of the 27-year-old’s disappointing ONE debut, but what now?
Despite his layoff, Northcutt – with his unmatched natural athleticism and all-around skills – is among the most promising talents on ONE’s roster and certainly gunning for a shot at the lightweight elite.
Does the surprising submission victory over Mujtaba land him in the division’s top-five rankings? And if so, does “Super” Sage have what it takes to compete with the best of the best?