ONE Championship is set for ONE: Battleground on Friday, July 30, from the Singapore Indoor Stadium, but due to an injury and COVID-19 issues, there have been changes on the bill.
Ryuto Sawada and Gustavo Balart Added to ONE: Battleground
Tayfun “Turbine” Ozcan suffered a broken hand leading to his removal from the event, and a cornerman for Saemapetch Fairtex tested positive for COVID-19, taking him from his ONE: Battleground III main event. Instead, their prior opponents Sitthichai “Killer Kid” Sitsongpeenong and Tawanchai PK.Saenchai Muaythaigym will now headline that event.
What does that mean for the hole at ONE: Battleground? Strawweights Ryuto Sawada and Gustavo Balart got the call to fill the void on the live card.
Ryuto Sawada, a winner of two of his last three inside the Circle, is attempting to break through the stacked strawweight rankings while the three-time Pan-American Greco-Roman Wrestling Champion is seeking his first win on the global stage.
The bout is a pivotal matchup for both men and will help shape the division’s second half of 2021.
While Joshua “The Passion” Pacio sits atop his throne, the contenders vying for a title shot are opening windows of opportunity.
Ryuto Sawada and Gustavo Balart may still be multiple wins away from challenging the king of the division, but a victory in the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Friday will push them closer to a top-five opponent where anything can happen.
Sawada has also already gone three hard rounds against one of the top contenders in the division, Bokang Masunyane. After proving he can hang with the elite, Sawada is now set out to prove he has improved enough to topple the upper echelon and launch himself into contendership.
The matchup will not be an easy one for the Japanese athlete.
Balart’s wrestling credentials give him a chance against anyone in the division. The Cuban can utilize his grappling to neutralize opponents and impose his will. But his Japanese counterpart will not shy away from the ground game with his eight career submission finishes.
The 25-year-old from Tokyo has a 79% finishing rate in his young career, with four of his submission wins coming inside the Circle during his ONE tenure.
The addition to the ONE: Battleground card provides fans with a look at one of the most exciting divisions in the sport today, and it has a significant impact on the future of the division. The loss of the ONE Super Series bout is filled by one of equal merit for what it means and the action both men will bring.
The strawweights have continued to shine under the lights of ONE. Sawada and Balart should continue that trend in a hotly contested battle to see who will inch closer toward the top.
ONE: Battleground airs live on Friday, July 30, at 8:30 a.m. EST/5:30 a.m. PST on Bleacher Report, Bleacher Report YouTube, and the Bleacher Report app.
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