ONE 162: Zhang vs. Di Bella brought the heat with its nine-bout card on Friday, October 21. The event began ONE Championship’s latest double header and gave the world a new ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion. It was an exciting evening inside the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur.
Following the final performance of the night, the confetti was swept away. Before the next event rolled through, it was enough time to pause and reflect on what this card meant. Here is what we learned after ONE 162 came and went on October 21.
Canada’s Kickboxing King
Jonathan Di Bella stepped foot into ONE Championship for the first time at ONE 162, and he proved he was worthy of the main event slot by defeating Zhang Peimian for the vacant ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Championship. The bout was competitive into the championship rounds. Finally, a bout-altering head kick shifted the tides for good in his favor.
Di Bella remained unblemished in his kickboxing career with a perfect 11-0 record. To knock off “The Fighting Rooster” in his debut was impressive enough, but to close the bout with a knockdown in the final frame showed he was deserving to wear the crown. Technique, cardio, and heart are all qualities of a champion, and Di Bella demonstrated all in this performance.
This was a huge moment for Canada’s kickboxing scene. Di Bella can become a source of inspiration for future generations who can point to him carrying a world title belt across his shoulders. He is proof that they can achieve anything they want with hard work. As Di Bella wears that honor, he now has to transition into becoming a defending champion. Heavy is the head that wears the crown.
McLaren Makes The Right Moves
Reece McLaren has been a long-time contender in the flyweight division. However, wearing the gold has eluded him to date. Knowing that he needed to make some adjustments, McLaren switched camps and began learning from John Wayne Parr.
The Aussie pair have gotten along swimmingly, and the improvements in McLaren’s striking are evident. Following his second-round TKO win over Windson Ramos, McLaren put everyone on notice that the latest version of “Lightning” is the most dangerous to date. McLaren has always been well-rounded, but by elevating his striking, he can hit the next stage of his career.
It is difficult to change camps, especially when you are already a top contender. But McLaren’s move shows how crucial it is to recognize when you have stagnated and need change. He deserves praise for making the call and taking on a new challenge to chase the gold. Time will tell if he can reach the ultimate goal, but the improvements that he needed are showing to be paying off under Parr’s instruction.
Saputra Is Ready For The Next Stage
Eko Roni Saputra has been quietly moving up in the flyweight division. His development has been incremental, and his ground work has led the way during his unbeaten run. At ONE 162, that unbeaten run continued with a spectacular first-round submission over Yodkaikaew Fairtex.
The victory marked his seventh in a row and his seventh first-round finish. The Indonesian called for a ranked opponent in his next outing, and it’s clear that is what he deserves. The streak of first-round finishes, the longest in ONE history, should earn him a bout against a top-ranked contender. Saputra may have had a silent rise, but he has been making more noise as of late.
Now that he is on the brink of breaking through to the ranked party, Saputra’s star will begin to shine a little brighter. His steady improvement has Saputra ready to battle anyone, no matter where the action will take place. As 2023 nears, Saputra has set himself up to be one of the most dangerous contenders in the division.
