ONE Championship delivered another exciting night of action at ONE: Only The Brave on Friday, January 28. The nine-bout card featured exceptional knockouts and the semifinals of the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix.
3 Things We Learned at ONE: Only The Brave
There was plenty to think about after all of the action concluded inside the Singapore Indoor Stadium, and that is what we are here to discuss.
Here are three things we learned following another night from “The Lion City.”
ONE X Will Be Incredible
ONE X was already set to be a sensational show with Angela Lee defending the ONE Atomweight World Championship against Stamp Fairtex and Demetrious Johnson meeting Rodtang Jitmuangnon in a special mixed rules bout. But ONE continues to bolster the card.
Last week, Nong-O Gaiyanghadao was added to the bill to defend his ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Championship against Alaverdi Ramazanov.
At the conclusion of ONE: Only The Brave, the event got even bigger with the announcement that Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong and Chingiz Allazov will conclude the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix at the event as well.
The tenth-anniversary show is getting jam-packed with incredible matches. Although that may have been expected, as it gets closer to reality and the matches are announced, there is an excitement brewing. The full slate of kickboxing, mixed martial arts, and Muay Thai will be on display.
ONE X is going to be a real treat for fans around the globe.
“The Warrior” Can Make Noise At Lightweight
Zhang “The Warrior” Lipeng followed up his ONE debut with a $50,000 performance bonus winning statement at ONE: Only The Brave.
The Chinese star ousted Ruslan Emilbek Uulu within the first minute of their match with a sensational knockout combination. The finish not only earned him the bonus, but it earned him a bullseye on his back because there is no doubt he will be a lightweight to watch in 2022.
2021 saw the rapid rise of Ok Rae Yoon toward the ONE Lightweight World Championship. There is no reason to believe that Zhang cannot have a similar run this year. If he returns with another incredible performance, why couldn’t he be in the title picture?
Zhang has all of the tools, and his KO power could be a difference-maker moving forward.
Brooks vs. Pacio Must Happen
Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks continues to back up his words inside the Circle. After a sterling debut, Brooks returned to take on another top contender in the strawweight division, Hiroba Minowa.
And it was pure domination.
Although Bokang Masunyane sits in the #1-ranked contender spot in the rankings, it is time to strike while the iron is hot and book Brooks’ title tilt against Joshua Pacio. Both men have exchanged words, and the rivalry is in full gear.
It’s the right matchup to make and will give fans one of the most incredible title matchups of 2022. It’s a can’t miss opportunity.
