ONE Championship is back on the Prime Video marquee on Friday, December 2. ONE on Prime Video 5: De Ridder vs. Malykhin will take place at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila. The excited Filipino fans are ready to explode when the bell rings as ONE returns for the first time since January 2020.
The card is headlined by two championship bouts and features nine action-packed matches across three sports. As winter creeps in and the temperature drops, ONE will help close out its 2022 schedule by bringing the heat. There is no fluff on the card, and it should be a continuation of the fun we have already seen in their four previous Amazon events.
Ready? These are three bouts you will need to be in your seat for when ONE returns to Prime Video on Friday.
What to Watch at ONE on Prime Video 5
Reinier De Ridder vs. Anatoly Malykhin
The main event is often a given and can be skipped over in lieu of a sleeper on the card. However, it cannot be ignored when the main event is two undefeated World Champions going head-to-head. That is why it is paramount to tune in to see two-division champion Reinier De Ridder defend the ONE Light Heavyweight World Championship against interim heavyweight king Anatoly Malykhin.
The gameplan for De Ridder will not change. He wants to impose his grappling on his opponent and submit them on the ground. But that will not be such an easy task against Malykhin. The Russian’s base is in wrestling, and he is a thick, stocky heavyweight. If Malykhin’s wrestling defense is on point, he can use his power to shake the bones of “The Dutch Knight” in the stand-up exchanges.
Perhaps one of the biggest question marks heading into this matchup is what will happen to the man who does not set the tone. As undefeated athletes, neither man has really been sent to the brink of defeat. Are either of them frontrunners who fade, or do they have the ability to overcome the adversity needed to stay on top? How will they respond to that pressure? That is a very big question that will be answered for at least one of the two on Friday night.
Both men have made waves in the sport over the past year, and this main event matchup will help them close out 2022 on top. They are each worthy of the praise they receive and wear that confidence in and out of the Circle. This marquee title tilt will be a fantastic way to usher in the new year.
Roberto Soldic vs. Murad Ramazanov
There was no way this welterweight bout would be left off the list of matches to circle on the bout lineup. Roberto Soldic will make his highly-anticipated ONE debut against unbeaten Murad Ramazanov. The bout is elevated by the fact that it is likely the winner will earn a shot at ONE Welterweight World Champion Christian Lee.
Soldic’s recruitment on the free agency scene was well-documented. The Croatian chose ONE, and now he embarks on the first step of the journey he has planned. But Ramazanov has just as much to prove. Already thinking he deserves a title shot, Ramazanov can take all of the momentum away from “Robocop” and emerge as a much bigger star with a massive win at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Soldic will get tested right away in his ONE career as he steps up in competition. He says he wants to win world titles in multiple divisions and multiple sports. But Ramazanov has been singularly focused on the welterweight division. Only one man will come out of Manila with their plan still intact for 2023.
Oumar Kane vs. Jasur Mirzamukhamedov
This heavyweight matchup was originally planned for Saturday, December 3, at ONE 164: Pacio vs. Brooks. However, they found their way onto the U.S. primetime stage when Janet Todd was forced off the event due to COVID-19. And that is a win for heavyweight mixed martial arts fans and the aura of “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane.
The Senegalese wrestling phenom is a fan favorite and gets plenty of love on social media. But he will meet the undefeated Jasur Mirzamukhamedov, who has a solid attacking ground game. As the heavyweight division is still working itself out, the winner of this matchup could become a major player for 2023.
This is a match that could have flown under the radar during the weekend but is now under the spotlight. That is important for both men but also crucial for where they hope to go in the heavyweight division. A win will not earn them a title shot right away, but they can add a legion of fans who will champion them along the way as they enter the discussion for who comes next.
December 2 | ONE on Prime Video 5: De Ridder vs. Malykhin | 8 p.m. EST | 5 p.m. PST
Fans in the U.S. and Canada can watch for free with an Amazon Prime subscription!
