ONE Championship returns to Prime Video and U.S. primetime with ONE Fight Night 12. The exciting nine-bout lineup will take place at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok on Friday, July 14. It should be nonstop action from bell to bell.
The event is headlined by a flyweight Muay Thai showdown between Superlek Kiatmoo9 and Tagir Khalilov, but there is more to keep an eye on. Which matches should you be gearing up for when ONE returns? Here are three bouts to watch from Bangkok.
Garry Tonon vs. Shamil Gasanov
#2-ranked featherweight contender Garry Tonon and Shamil Gasanov will meet in the co-main event of the evening. It is a matchup of two different attacking grappling styles that should be a thrilling bout for fans. And the high stakes only add to the drama.
Tonon is on record saying he feels that Gasanov is more like a BJJ grappler than a Dagestani wrestler. That is due in part to how he constantly looks for submissions. However, he still has tremendous top pressure and positional awareness. That should make this a tremendous battle when the action hits the floor.
The winner will come out of this matchup as one of the top contenders in the division. Will they get a title shot? That could be unlikely, with Tang Kai and Thanh Le still at the top of the division. However, it could make them a backup plan. Regardless, the winner is right at the top of the division and will have a chance to garner more support with a showing in U.S. primetime.
Xie Wei vs. Yuya Wakamatsu
A flyweight contender’s bout is flying under the radar in Bangkok. #5-ranked contender Xie Wei meets Yuya Wakamatsu in what could be a sleeper for Fight of the Night. Both men will be motivated to show out inside Lumpinee Boxing Stadium.
Wakamatsu showed himself well in a losing effort against Demetrious Johnson back in 2019. After that performance, “Little Piranha” went on a five-bout winning streak to make him one of the top stars in the division. However, back-to-back losses by finish has put his back against the wall.
Xie may be feeling the pressure as well. After moving up in the division with three-straight wins, the Chinese talent was beaten by Reece McLaren. The loss put a stop to his momentum and took him back to the drawing board.
Unquestionably, both men will come out hot from the opening bell. Each athlete has a point to prove, and a huge performance will keep their name among the top five of the division. With no wiggle room in the deep end of the division, fans should expect a fast-paced encounter in this match.
Aaron Canarte vs. Akbar Abdullaev
The other featherweight mixed martial arts bout on the docket is also worth a special look. As the division continues to get deeper, these two talents are trying to break through to the next level. Undefeated rising stars Akbar Abdullaev and Aaron Canarte meet to see who can take a big step forward in the division.
Abdullaev’s ONE debut lasted just 44 seconds. The Kyrgyzstan star finished Oh Ho Taek inside a minute for an impactful debut. If he can replicate that result or simply add another dominant showing to his resume, his stock will take a massive leap.
Similarly, Canarte can steal his position. The unbeaten Ecuadorian wants to be the face of the sport back home. He can do so with a big showing on Prime Video. Wearing the hopes of a nation on his shoulders may be the spark he needs for a tremendous debut.
ONE Fight Night 12 airs live on Prime Video on Friday, July 14, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The event is free for all Amazon Prime members 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.
