It is all about the heavyweights today in Singapore, setting up a huge unification bout later this summer. Neither Kirill Grishenko nor Anatoly Malykhin have ever known the sting of loss, but that will change in their interim title fight atop the card presented by ONE Championship today. Stay tuned right here as MMA Sucka brings live ONE: Bad Blood results.
Main Event
Originally planned to feature the long-awaited return of bantamweight Bibiano Fernandes defending his title against John Lineker, Lineker had to drop out during fight week due to a positive COVID-19 test. The cancellation bumped the interim title fight between Grishenko and Malykhin to the main billing.
So why is ONE putting an interim heavyweight title up for grabs? Canadian Arjun Bhullar and his management at CAA have had a frustrating negotiation with ONE to work out a new contract for Arjun, rendering the champ inactive. While it appears that the two sides have recently come to terms, the promotion opted to keep the division moving and elect an interim champion in case the situation with Bhullar didn’t improve.
While ONE’s heavyweight division is not particularly deep, this title fight features two undefeated European heavyweights that have impressed so far in their ONE tenure. Iranian Amir Aliakbari seemed like a shoe-in for the next run at the belt until he was upset by Malykhin last September.
The Russian had other plans, however, knocking out Aliakbari three minutes into the fight. Grishenko, of Belarus, also stifled the hype of a fearsome prospect when he took out Senegalese fighter Oumar Kane in his ONE debut. Despite only having five pro fights, Grishenko has impressed in every outing on the road to a world title fight in fight number six.
Rest of the Card
In the co-main event, fan-favorite Brit Jonathan Haggerty battles Mongolpetch Petchyindee, who is undefeated at 3-0 in ONE. The former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai champion sat out for 2021, but makes a return and another run towards the bantamweight title.
Heavyweight prospects load the prelims at ONE: Bad Blood, with Thomas Narmo fighting Odie Delaney and Brazilian Hugo Cunha making his debut against Canadian Dustin Joynson.
ONE: Bad Blood Results
Main Card (Bleacher Report YouTube, 7:30am EST / 4:30am PST)
Anatoly Malykhin def. Kirill Grishenko via KO (Right Hook) at 3:42 of round 2 to become the ONE Interim Heavyweight Champion
Muay Thai: Jonathan Haggerty def. Mongkolpetch Petchyindee via Unanimous Decision
Chen Rui def. Mark Abelardo via Unanimous Decision
Jihin Radzuan def. Mei Yamaguchi via Unanimous Decision
Woo Sung Hoon def. Yodkaikaew via Knockout (Right Hook and Uppercuts) at :18 of round 1
Danial Williams def. Dejdamrong via Knockout (Body Punch) at 1:35 of round 1
Prelims (ONE Facebook, 5:30am EST / 2am PST)
Dustin Joynson def. Hugo Cunha via Split Decision
Lin Heqin def. Bi Nguyen via Unanimous Decision
Odie Delaney def. Thomas Narmo via Submission (Shoulder Lock) at 1:06 of round 1
Sunoto Peringkat vs. Tial Thang rule a No Contest (Accidental Low Blow) at 1:37 of round 1
