April is here, and ONE Championship has a full slate of action prepared. But none more enticing than ONE Fight Night 9. The event returns to Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok on Friday, April 21, on Prime Video.
Although anticipation builds to ONE’s epic U.S. debut on May 5, ONE Fight Night 9 brings the masses a fun night of martial arts action. This is an amazing appetizer as ONE plans to shake up the U.S. scene. Here are three bouts you simply cannot miss at ONE Fight Night 9.
Nong-O vs. Jonathan Haggerty
Even without a significant threat for a challenger, ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Hama is must-see television. He has been virtually unstoppable during her reign in ONE. However, he faces a former ONE titleholder in Jonathan Haggerty in the main event of ONE Fight Night 9.
Haggerty moved up in weight and believes his power will be fully displayed at bantamweight. He also believes the speed advantage will allow him to become a champion. That gets tested against Nong-O, and everyone will see if his prophecy can be fulfilled.
The main event of ONE Fight Night 9 has all the excitement and intrigue a fan could want. If Haggerty makes his dream come true, it will be an epic night. But Nong-O’s string of knockouts also means the legendary Muay Thai striker could add another big name to his resume as he circles around GOAT status.
Meng Bo vs. Dayane Cardoso
If there is a sleeper for Fight of the Night, it is the strawweight battle between Meng Bo and Dayane Cardoso. These two women will slug it out, and it is unlikely to see the judges. This is one match fans will want to have highlighted on the bout sheet.
Cardoso made her ONE debut last April. She toppled Ayaka Miura by second-round TKO and announced her presence on the global stage. Meng has established herself as one of the hardest hitters in the sport and returned to the win column with a victory over Jenelyn Olsim last December.
That should be more than enough to get the juices flowing. But even though the matchup itself promises to be a banger, the implications add a little extra spice. With Xiong Jing Nan continuing to reign, don’t be surprised if the winner jumps into title contention and poses a threat to “The Panda.”
Ferrari Fairtex vs. Felipe Lobo
Ferrari Fairtex leaped onto the global stage with a mass of hype. After defeating Han Zi Hao in his debut, the hype grew. But the walls came tumbling down unexpectedly in February when Fabio Reis pulled off a shocking knockout upset.
Ferrari has a chance at redemption against another Brazilian at ONE Fight Night 9. Felipe Lobo has not graced the ONE stage since losing a title bid against Nong-O in March 2022. His return will help push him back into the hunt or elevate the young Thai star to a new level.
This is a fantastic clash of elite strikers, but more so, it is a chance for both to erase the bitter taste of defeat in a major way. This is not a rebound fight for either man. They are kept in the fire and given a prime opportunity to show what they can do on a massive platform, giving them a quick path back to the top end of the division.
ONE Fight Night 9 airs live on Friday, April 21, from Lumpinee Boxing Stadium. The action hits Prime Video at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT in U.S. primetime. The event is free for all Amazon Prime members based in the U.S. and Canada.
In a recent episode of the Couch Warrior Podcast, host Mike welcomed Charalampos Grigoriou, who recently won a contract during season 7 of Dana White's Contender Series after knocking out Cameron Smotherman one minute into the fight. The conversation delved into Grigoriou's martial arts journey, his feelings on representing Cyprus and Greece, and future plans.
