MMASucka staff picks are underway for 2024!
Kicking off the exciting year ahead sees ONE Fight Night 18 taking place Saturday, January 13th, from the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. North American viewers can watch the event live tonight, January 12th, on Amazon Prime Video for subscribers beginning at 8:00pm ET (5:00pm PT). Visit ONE Championship’s website to see how to view the entire card in your country.
Stay tuned to MMASucka for results from ONE Fight Night 18.
The weekend comes as a staff picks double-header with UFC Fight Night 234: Ankalaev vs. Walker 2 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday. Stay tuned.
FIGHT ACTION
Five mixed martial arts fights compose the awaiting card. Headlining the night of fights sees a featherweight (155 pounds) pairing between Shamil Gasanov and Oh Ho Taek across three possible five-minute rounds.
Three-time ONE Championship competitor, Gasanov, looks to kick off 2024 in the win column after having his professional run of 13 consecutive victories snapped in July of last year to former divisional title challenger and grappling ace Garry Tonon. The Dagestani talent also brings in his strong grappling and Pankration resume in search of a twelfth stoppage inside the first round. Gasanov’s opponent, Taek Oh, also makes his third appearance with the promotion as he prepares for his 14th MMA walk dating back to his beginnings in January of 2014. A string of seven wins in-a-row from 2018 to 2022 was snapped in March of last year against the still-undefeated Akbar Abdullaev as Taek targets a new run towards the top of the division.
Youthful talents Kwon Won Il and Shinechagtga Zoltsetseg will clash in the bantamweight division (145 pounds). The always entertaining Il Kwon has won in five of his last six outings with all by way of knockout; most recently, his two fight streak over Mark Abelardo in late 2022 and Artem Belakh last June. Standup specialist Zoltsetseg avoided three straight defeats after securing his September split decision victory over Rui Chen.
The aforementioned Artem Belakh looks to bounce back after his loss last year to Il Kwon at bantamweight against opponent Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu who plans for a tenth consecutive win since March of 2019.
Two additional fights will take place at the event. Heavyweights meet between 100% finisher Kang Ji Won and the Netherlands’ Mikhail Jamal Abdul-Latif as seasoned contender Mark Abelardo fights Absolute Championship Akhmat Young Eagles standout Ibragim Dauev in the card opener at bantamweight.
Although not counted towards staff picks, Suablack Tor Pran49 and Stefan Korodi will meet in a Muay Thai exchange at bantamweight (145 pounds) in the night’s co-main event. See further below for our ONE Fight Night 18 predictions.
Locked and loaded 👊💥 Which fight steals the show?#ONEFightNight18 | Fri Jan 12 at 8PM ET
🇺🇸🇨🇦 Watch Live on Prime 👉 https://t.co/LQcP9iyNqW
🇬🇧🇮🇪 Watch Live on Sky Sports
🌍 Live TV broadcast in 190+ countries (check local listings) pic.twitter.com/H38k5lvB2x— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) January 11, 2024
2024 STAFF PICKS
MMASucka staff picks are composed of four of the world’s leading mixed martial arts organization: the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the Professional Fighters League (PFL MMA), ONE Championship (ONE FC), and Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS).
- UFC picks will compose of main card fights ranging from four to six matchups per event.
- PFL MMA picks are to be determined as card structures will likely change following last year’s merger with Bellator MMA.
- ONE FC and DWCS picks will feature all MMA fights from the event with a minimum three matchups.
The individual who picks the most victorious fighters by the end of 2024 will have a choice between receiving a custom-made championship belt from ProAmBelts or a detailed chain from Championship Chains. Staff picks in 2023 was won by Ben Jamieson with a record of 300-148.
Check out our ONE Fight Night 18 staff picks and predictions for the first event of the new year below.
2024 RECORDS
1. Ben Jamieson: 300-148
2. Michael DeSantis: 289-155
3. Nate Freeman: 286-162
4. Jeremy Brand: 282-166
5. Wesley Riddle: 278-170
6. Frazer Krohn: 271-170
7. Julio Monteros Jr.: 248-133
8. Andrew Benjamin: 209-179
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
Mark Abelardo (22-10), +140
vs.
Ibrahim Dauev (8-1), -180
Bantamweight Division
– 145 LBS. ~ 65.8 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Abelardo via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Dauev via Round 2 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Dauev via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Abelardo via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Dauev via Round 1 SUB
Casey Cooper: Dauev via Round 2 SUB
Staff picking Abelardo: 2
Staff picking Dauev: 4
Kang Ji Won (6-2), -345
vs.
Mikhail Jamal Abdul-Latif (3-0), +225
Heavyweight Division
– 265 LBS. ~ 120.2 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Won Kang via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Won Kang via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Won Kang via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Won Kang via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Won Kang via Round 1 TKO
Casey Cooper: Won Kang via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Won Kang: 6
Staff picking Abdul-Latif: 0
Artem Belakh (10-3), -120
vs.
Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu (10-2), -120
Lightweight Division
– 145 LBS. ~ 65.8 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Baatarkhuu via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Baatarkhuu via Round 3 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Belakh via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Belakh via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Baatarkhuu via Split Decision
Casey Cooper: Belakh via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Belakh: 3
Staff picking Baatarkhuu: 3
Kwon Won Il (13-4), -280
vs.
Shinechagtga Zoltsetseg (7-4), +190
Lightweight Division
– 145 LBS. ~ 65.8 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Il Kwon via Round 3 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Il Kwon via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Il Kwon via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Il Kwon via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Il Kwon via Round 3 TKO
Casey Cooper: Zoltsetseg via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Il Kwon: 5
Staff picking Zoltsetseg: 1
Shamil Gasanov (13-1), -910
vs.
Oh Ho Taek (9-3-1), +460
Welterweight Division
– Main Event –
– 155 LBS. ~ 70.3 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Gasanov via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Gasanov via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Gasanov via Round 1 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Gasanov via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Gasanov via Round 1 SUB
Casey Cooper: Taek Oh via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Gasanov: 5
Staff picking Taek Oh: 1
ONE FIGHT NIGHT 18 FEATURED IMAGE:
Shamil Gasanov (left) and Oh Ho Taek (right) on the poster for ONE Fight Night 18 taking place in Bangkok, Thailand on Saturday, January 13th from the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium (photo credits to ONE Championship).
