ONE Championship brings 11 incredible martial arts bouts to U.S. primetime on Friday night. On November 8, three title tilts headline ONE 169: Malykhin vs. Reug Reug. With so much action going on, what should really capture your attention?
The main event has all the eyes on it for good reason: three-division World Champion Anatoly Malykhin defends the ONE Heavyweight MMA World Title against “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane in a massive matchup. But there is much more to unpack. Here are three bouts outside of the main event to highlight on the bout card.
Jackie Buntan vs. Anissa Meksen
The marquee is taken up with the heavyweights, and Rodtang will be in the co-main event. However, in the inaugural ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Title is equally worthy of the praise. Jackie Buntan and Anissa Meksen could steal the show in their epic battle.
Buntan is coming from the world of Muay Thai, but she has been chomping at the bit to enter kickboxing. Getting one of the all-time pound-for-pound greats in her first bout for a title is a tall order. However, her size and power could be the ultimate difference maker.
Equally as intriguing, Meksen has the veteran savvy to out-duel the Californian. This matchup could begin as a tactical battle before devolving into an all-out war. Buntan vs. Meksen is set up to be a five-round classic.
Kade Ruotolo vs. Ahmed Mujtaba
Kade Ruotolo had a successful entry into the world of MMA against Blake Cooper. At ONE 169, he returns for a sophomore showcase against Ahmed Mujtaba. It is a matchup that should push the American along his journey and give Mujtaba a chance for a statement win.
The ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Champion has the edge on the ground, but this is MMA. Mujtaba has shown fight-ending power in his hands and the ability to shock grappling on the mat. Ruotolo has to be mindful throughout, and any small opening could give the Pakistani the window he needs to finish.
Facing a dangerous challenger will test Ruotolo’s Fight IQ. We will get to see his tactics come out. This matchup has a lot of intrigue as to how it plays out, and it also has big implications for the lightweight division as a whole.
Marcus Almeida vs. Amir Aliakbari
While the main event is getting all the attention, this heavyweight collision is just as enticing. Top contenders Marcus Almeida and Amir Aliakbari collide with a possible title shot on the line. Undoubtedly, both main event athletes will be watching this bout when the bell rings.
“Buchecha” is a certified BJJ legend. His MMA career got off to a solid start, but a three-round war with “Reug Reug” proved to be a necessary learning experience. This matchup will show how much he has grown since that last outing and potentially see the Brazilian emerge as a terrifying top contender.
Aliakbari got off to a rough start in ONE, but he has rebounded with four consecutive victories. While he still has his highly credentialed wrestling to rely on, Aliakbari has been showing off his immense striking power. Fans should expect this one to end emphatically one way or the other.
ONE 169 airs live on Prime Video on Friday, November 8. The action begins at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST. The event is free to all Amazon Prime members in the U.S. and Canada.
