This summer, ONE Championship will showcase some of the organization’s biggest stars – both literally and figuratively – as a trio of pivotal light heavyweight and heavyweight battles will go down over an eight-week period.
Every martial arts fan loves a clash of skilled big men, and these three bouts will bring just that in addition to high-stakes drama.
Let’s look ahead to these mammoth matchups, each featuring some of the world’s heaviest hitters and most powerful athletes.
#1 Arjan Bhullar Vs. Anatoly Malykhin
First on June 23 at ONE Friday Fights 22, reigning ONE Heavyweight World Champion Arjan Bhullar will make his much-anticipated return when he faces undefeated interim heavyweight king Anatoly Malykhin in the World Title unification bout fans have long been waiting for.
“Singh” captured the belt back in 2021, but injuries and other complications left him on the sidelines for more than two years.
In the meantime, the heavyweight MMA division went on without him, and in February 2022, the hard-hitting Malykhin secured the interim crown with another devastating knockout.
Never afraid of calling out Bhullar for his inactivity – and also the reigning ONE Light Heavyweight World Champion – “Sladkiy” will finally fight for undisputed heavyweight gold in this monumental showdown.
#2 Roman Kryklia Vs. Francesko Xhaja
On July 14 at ONE Fight Night 12 on Prime Video, longtime ONE Light Heavyweight Kickboxing World Champion Roman Kryklia will defend his crown against surging Albanian striker Francesko Xhaja in a main event that has fireworks written all over it.
Widely regarded as the planet’s most terrifying kickboxer, Kryklia stands at a towering 6-foot-7, hasn’t lost in more than five years, and won the ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix silver belt in addition to his light heavyweight gold.
Xhaja, though, is a behemoth in his own right.
Following a thrilling victory over former ONE World Title challenger Andre Stoica in his last outing, the man known as “Smile” seems to be in peak condition and ready for the truly massive test that is Kryklia.
#3 ‘Buchecha’ Vs. ‘Reug Reug’
Finally, ONE Fight Night 13: Allazov vs. Grigorian on Prime Video will feature a heavyweight MMA clash of titanic proportions, as undefeated submission specialist Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida will take on explosive Senegalese Wrestling Champion “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane.
Fans have been salivating over this potential matchup for years, and they’ll finally get their wish on August 4.
A legendary 17-time BJJ World Champion, “Buchecha” has looked unstoppable in his MMA career thus far with first-round finishes in all four appearances.
However, “Reug Reug’s” ever-evolving striking and absurdly powerful wrestling should give the Brazilian icon his toughest test to date.
To make matters more exciting, the winner of this bout could find himself challenging for the ONE Heavyweight World Title in his next outing – whether that’s against Bhullar or Maylkhin.
