ONE Championship is ready for the spotlight once more as their U.S. primetime showcase continues on Wednesday, April 14, with ONE on TNT II.
3 Questions for ONE on TNT II
The main card will feature a monster clash for the ONE Lightweight World Championship that should garner the attention of martial arts fans around the world. But there are still questions we have before the bell rings for that title tilt.
Do you want to get primed for the next edition of ONE on TNT? Then let’s kick off the week on the right foot.
Here are three questions we have for ONE on TNT II.
Can Lee Extend His Own Record For Finishes?
Christian “The Warrior” Lee currently owns the record for most finishes in ONE Championship history with 13. Will he be able to push it to 14?
Timofey Nastyukhin is a tough Russian with dynamite in his hands. He is a finisher in his own right who will leave it all on the line for greatness. The meeting of two men always looking for the finish opens the door for the possibility. Neither man plans to coast to a decision.
The extraordinary thing about Lee is that he is only 22-years-old. “The Warrior” is already a World Champion, already holds records, and is still not at his peak. Each time Lee competes, fans see a better version.
That’s an exciting prospect for ONE on TNT II. What new version of Lee will we see, and will his killer instinct only grow under the bright lights? Fans could be witnessing something unique with Lee’s title run, and if he can finish Nastyukhin, it will only help to cement the fact that he is doing something special.
What Comes Next At Lightweight?
No matter who comes out victorious at ONE on TNT II, the big question will be what’s next for their next bout.
Eddie Alvarez and Iuri Lapicus were set for a possible title eliminator at ONE on TNT I, but a truncated disqualification finish did not clear the air as to who could take that top spot. But that doesn’t mean there is a lack of contenders.
Marat Gafurov, the former ONE Featherweight World Champion, looked impressive against Lowen Tynanes at ONE: Collision Course last December. Former World Champion Shinya Aoki has gotten back to his winning ways since he lost the gold. And nobody should forget #1-ranked contender Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev. “Dagi” remains at the top.
The lightweight division is loaded with talent, but there has yet to be a clear separation as to who is next. An answer will come soon enough, but the champion has options no matter who walks out with the gold.
Will JT Stamp Her Title Ticket?
Janet “JT” Todd is attempting to become a two-sport World Champion and capture the elusive ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Title to go along with the kickboxing crown. But standing in her way is Anne “Ninja” Line Hogstad.
Todd has been on a roll, and she already has a big Muay Thai victory in 2021 over fellow contender Alma Juniku. A second top-five victory would surely put her in the cat bird’s seat for the title shot, but can the performance be enough to secure it?
Ultimately, Stamp Fairtex is still the #1-ranked contender in the division. While she prepares for the ONE Atomweight World Grand Prix, the door is open for Todd to usurp her position within the division and grab the shot. But she still needs to continue her streak.
The American is bringing Muay Thai to the primetime stage. She is helping to grow the sport domestically, and if she can punch her ticket to a meeting with Allycia Hellen Rodrigues, Todd can kill two birds with one stone.
Watch the ONE on TNT II main card on TNT or the Watch TNT app at 10 p.m. EST at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST. The West Coast can watch the main card on TNT on a delay at 10 p.m. PST.
The event will also be available on Bleacher Report and the B/R app at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST. Fans will need to log in with their cable subscription credentials.
Prelims will be aired on the B/R App, B/R Live, Bleacher Report, B/R Live YouTube, and B/R MMA Twitter at 8:30 p.m. EST/5:30 p.m. PST.
