ONE X is just around the corner. ONE Championship’s 10th-anniversary showcase comes to you on Saturday, March 26, with a 20-bout card featuring the best athletes from around the world.
5 Matches to Watch at ONE X
The event emanates from the Singapore Indoor Stadium and will have bouts contested under mixed martial arts, kickboxing, Muay Thai, and grappling rules sets. The spectacle is a celebration of martial arts and the ten years of action ONE has brought to your doorstep.
Which of those 20 matches should you highlight? That’s what we are here to talk about.
Here are five matches you must see from this incredible event.
Demetrious Johnson vs. Rodtang
The special rules superfight between Demetrious Johnson and Rodtang Jitmuangnon is getting most of the attention, but there is no way not to include it on the list. The unique ruleset, alternating between Muay Thai and mixed martial arts, is compelling.
It would be an interesting ruleset regardless of who would be competing, but ONE putting in two of the most dynamic and exciting flyweights makes this more special than it already would be. Johnson, arguably the greatest mixed martial artist ever, and Rodtang, the reigning Muay Thai king, are at the tippy top of the sport.
This is a must-see matchup.
There is a reason it is the talk of the town and why it has captured the attention of fans. Johnson vs. Rodtang is something that will be remembered. It’s a perfect match for this anniversary spectacular.
Adriano Moraes vs. Yuya Wakamatsu
Johnson’s special rules match is under the microscope, but the man who knocked him out in his last match is also on the card defending the gold. ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano Moraes returns to the Circle against Yuya Wakamatsu on the Grand Finale.
Moraes is finally getting his due, but he has another tough challenge awaiting him to prove he’s the top flyweight in the world. Wakamatsu has been on a tear since losing to Johnson during the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix. That learning experience has paid dividends for the contender who now stands five rounds away from wearing gold.
With Johnson’s presence on the card, this match is even more interesting. He could be the next challenger, especially if he defeats Rodtang, and the champion would be set to stay active on the same timeline as “Mighty Mouse.”
Everything about this match is exciting. Moraes’ ground game against Wakamatsu’s power, colliding inside the Circle for the newly redesigned ONE Flyweight World Title. You cannot ask for much more.
Kim Jae Woong vs. Tang Kai
Thanh Le defended the ONE Featherweight World Championship in dominant fashion against Garry Tonon. So, who is next for the crown? The winner of Kim Jae Woong vs. Tang Kai sure seems like the answer.
Woong is currently the #1-ranked contender in the division, and Kai is not far off at #4.
But even more important than their rankings, this match is exciting because of their styles. Woong has a 75% finishing rate and has back-to-back knockouts under his belt, including a stunning first-round finish over Martin Nguyen. Tang Kai has won eight straight with an 85% finishing rate.
Thanh Le is still in Singapore, and it seems like this is a title eliminator. Will we see a staredown between Le and the winner? Who knows, but this featherweight battle is one of the most exciting scraps on the card.
Stephen Loman vs. Shoko Sato
There are five World Championship bouts on this card and a treasure trove of names to be excited about, but there is an interesting bantamweight battle on the bill that could set up a future title challenger.
Stephen Loman and Shoko Sato will meet in quite possibly the sleeper match of the night. It could be a darkhorse for Match of the Night, which is saying a lot.
Loman is on a nine-bout winning streak and defeated Yusup Saadulaev in his ONE debut. The impressive start to his ONE tenure pushed him to the #3 ranking in the division. Sato, a Shooto World Champion, will be another litmus test for him and a chance for the Japanese athlete to insert himself into the title picture.
With John Lineker ushering in a new era and Fabricio Andrade pushing his way up the ladder, Loman vs. Sato has heavy implications for the bantamweight division.
Danielle Kelly vs. Mei Yamaguchi
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ONE celebrating every martial art will be on display early as atomweight veteran Mei Yamaguchi welcomes American Daniel Kelly to the global stage for the first time.
Kelly has garnered a lot of hype with her comeuppance in the grappling scene. Perhaps most notably, a sensational 17-second submission over Cynthia Calvillo shocked mixed martial arts fans. The youngster now moves to a global organization to test her skills.
And while she is an accomplished grappler, Yamaguchi will be a test for her. The Japanese star is compact and strong. If Yamaguchi gets top position, it may be difficult for Kelly to submit her.
We’ll get a chance to see how Kelly performs under these bright lights on the year’s best card. As a transition into mixed martial arts looms in the future, this will help Kelly get acclimated for what awaits her.
ONE X airs live on Saturday, March 26, beginning with ONE X: Part I at 1:00 a.m. ET/10:00 p.m. PT on watch.onefc.com.
ONE X: Part II begins at 5:00 a.m. ET/2:00 a.m. PT.
ONE X: Grand Finale concludes the evening on pay-per-view on watch.onefc.com at 8:00 a.m. ET/5:00 a.m. PT.
