ONE Championship has seen its heavyweight waters become more shark-infested over the past year. Another matchup within the division is poised to deliver fireworks at ONE: Battleground II, a previously recorded event, on Friday, August 13.
Alain Ngalani vs. Thomas Narmo Preview
Alain “The Panther” Ngalani, a fan favorite, will attempt to get back in the win column when he welcomes Thomas “The Last Viking” Narmo to the Circle for the Norweigian’s promotional debut.
The Hulking Cameroonian has been a mainstay of the promotion for years and one of its most charismatic figures. “The Panther” is a fascinating athlete with his incredible dexterity and power, which has helped lead him to multiple kickboxing and Muay Thai world titles.
Ngalani is the definition of fearless. He could have stuck to his roots in ONE Super Series action, but as a true martial artist, he has repeatedly tested his skills in mixed martial arts as well.
The star power Ngalani has also brought an opportunity to Narmo’s doorstep. The Frontline Academy and Team Narmo MMA athlete gets to make his organizational debut against a central figure and potentially kickstart his ONE journey with a significant victory.
Narmo has been flawless to date.
The Norweigian not only holds a perfect professional record, but he has done so with a perfect 100% finishing rate after finishing his last three opponents by knockout. Undoubtedly, Ngalani will be his toughest task to date, but if he can continue his streak, he will be an immediate presence in ONE’s heavyweight division.
Europe has already seen a rise in its mixed martial arts scene. Iuri Lapicus stormed his way into lightweight contention, and Reinier De Ridder has ascended into being one of the top athletes in the sport by winning the ONE Middleweight and Light Heavyweight World Championships.
Narmo could be next, and this upcoming bout will go a long way to answering that question.
And this matchup could be a battle of distance management.
While Narmo has knockout power and has some Muay Thai experience, he will likely not want this to be strictly a stand-up affair against a striker the caliber of Ngalani. His reach advantage may be used more defensively to keep “The Panther” at bay.
For Ngalani, his kicking game will be as important as ever to do damage while outside of Narmo’s length, but he will need to be cautious of any takedown attempts. Those elements of the matchup make what is sure to be an exciting clash also have a cerebral element.
The term “don’t blink” is often overused in the sport, especially for heavyweights, due to the nature of their power. In this matchup, however, it will likely be a split-second decision that turns the tide for either man in what is sure to be a stunning heavyweight clash.
Either a veteran will get back in the win column, or the fresh face will continue the trend of new heavyweight contenders. This is an exciting time in the sport.
ONE: Battleground II airs on Friday, August 13, at 8:30 a.m. EST/5:30 a.m. PST on all Bleacher Report platforms.
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