The word of the month for ONE Championship is prime.
Why? Because they will make their much-anticipated debut on Prime Video in U.S. primetime on Friday, August 26, with a loaded card featuring two title tilts and the semifinals of the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix.
From a pure action standpoint, ONE on Prime Video 1: Moraes vs. Johnson II is phenomenal. But when you throw in the stakes at hand, it becomes can’t miss. And what storylines will you want to keep an eye on before the date arrives? That’s why we’re here.
Here are three storylines to keep an eye on when ONE debuts on Prime Video.
Will Another Win Make Moraes The Flyweight GOAT?
Demetrious Johnson is the undisputed greatest flyweight of all time, and many believe he is the greatest athlete in the entirety of mixed martial arts. But he is 0-1 against Adriano Moraes.
Moraes was not just dominant against Johnson. He became the first man to knock him out.
Johnson’s legacy is already secure, but can he really lay claim to being the greatest flyweight if Moraes goes up 2-0 against “Mighty Mouse”? Or does “Mikinho” take over that moniker and assume his spot in the sport’s history books?
It may all come down to how the fight plays out inside the Circle. It may be too hard to ignore if it’s another dominant showcase for the Brazilian. However, if it’s a closely contested battle, then Johnson will still have a claim to the title no matter the result.
Can Anyone Outshine Rodtang?
The ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix guarantees the winner of the tournament a shot at the gold, if it is not the reigning king himself, Rodtang Jitmuangnon.
Can anybody rise to the occasion and look the part of the man to dethrone “The Iron Man”?
Savvas Michael has the most direct chance as he battles Rodtang in the semifinal. If he can defeat the Thai superstar, he will have proof that he can take the gold down the road. In the other semifinal, Walter Goncalves and Superlek Kiatmoo9 will try to put on a show to inch closer to becoming the tournament favorite.
And nobody can ignore Jonathan Haggerty in the alternate bout against Amir Naseri. The former champion is ready for another run at the title, and he can throw his shadow over the field with a dynamic performance.
Is Buchecha Next In Line?
Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida is not your typical newcomer to mixed martial arts, and he is not being treated as such either. The undefeated Brazilian will meet former title challenger Kirill Grishenko on the main card to see where he stands in the division.
And Buchecha has been nothing but dominant thus far.
The multiple-time BJJ World Champion has finished everybody he has faced and is continually improving his striking and wrestling. He is an imposing figure who is inching closer to the title picture at a quicker pace than even he expected.
If that trajectory continues at ONE on Prime Video 1, is it inevitable that he is the next man in line for a title shot? It would be hard to argue as Almeida was already one of the world’s greatest heavyweight athletes before the transition, and now he is proving it with jaw-dropping performances.
ONE on Prime Video 1: Moraes vs. Johnson II will air live on Friday, August 26, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
