ONE Fight Night 15 will look to continue ONE Championship’s hot streak of events. The action emanates from Bangkok, Thailand, on Prime Video. And it is an action-packed ten-bout lineup.
With another fun night inside Lumpinee Boxing Stadium promised, it is time to look deeper into the card. What will be the key bouts to watch in ONE’s second-consecutive week in U.S. primetime? Here are three amazing matchups that will have you on the edge of your seat.
Thanh Le vs. Ilya Freymanov
The main event is not a must-watch contest because it is for the ONE Interim Featherweight MMA World Championship. It deserves your attention simply for being an incredible stylistic matchup. Thanh Le and Ilya Freymanov are going to throw down.
Both men love to finish fights. Le used his highlight-reel finishes to get to the top of the division and claim the title. In two outings on the global stage, Freymanov has put away his opponents to become the #3-ranked contender in the division. Both men want to keep those narratives rolling to wear gold at ONE Fight Night 15.
Both men hit hard. It may come down to who connects first. However, that is not to suggest it is a pure slugfest. Each man has fantastic overall abilities. It will be telling how their gameplans unfold inside the ring once the bell rings, and when you hear the ding — don’t blink.
Mikey Musumeci vs. Shinya Aoki
ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Champion Mikey Musumeci has dazzled the martial arts world. He will meet Japanese legend Shinya Aoki in an openweight submission grappling contest in Bangkok. It will be a fascinating collision showcasing two unique personalities.
“Darth Rigatoni” is coming off a win against ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Jarred Brooks, where he was the larger man. In this matchup, Aoki will own a height, reach, and weight edge over his American foe. It will be a great opportunity for Musumeci to show why BJJ is all about technique.
But nobody should count out Aoki. He has built his entire career off of his elite-level submission skills. For him, this is a chance to continue to validate his amazing ground game against the pound-for-pound best. Both men have a lot to prove, and with no title on the line, it will be a great match to watch for the pure sporting aspect of BJJ.
Joshua Pacio vs. Mansur Malachiev
Joshua Pacio used to stand on the strawweight mountain. However, after losing to Brooks, he has to press the reset button. However, Mansur Malachiev is trying to prevent him from starting his new trek back up the mountain and usurping his spot atop the contender’s rankings.
Malachiev has been calling for a match with the reigning king, and Brooks has responded that he also wants the match. It stands to reason a victory over Pacio will bring him to that golden opportunity. The Russian has all the motivation in the world to shine under the bright lights of U.S. primetime.
Equally, Pacio has the platform to show the world he is ready for a rematch. It was Brooks’ wrestling that helped tip the scales during their last meeting. If he can shut down Malachiev’s grappling, it will go a long way to proving he’s addressed his weaknesses and could contend with “The Monkey God.”
ONE Fight Night 15 airs live on Prime Video on Friday, October 6. The action begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The event is free for all Amazon Prime members based in the U.S. and Canada.
