ONE Championship is back inside Lumpinee Boxing Stadium on Friday, February 26. ONE Fight Night 19 features nine exciting matchups live from Bangkok, Thailand. The event, free on Prime Video, will kickstart the weekend with a wealth of martial arts action.
MMA and Muay Thai will hit U.S. primetime with 18 athletes looking to make a name for themselves. But which ones should you specifically keep an eye on? Here are three matches to be sure to watch at ONE Fight Night 19.
Jonathan Haggerty vs. Felipe Lobo
There is no doubt what the key bout to watch on Friday night will be. ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing and Muay Thai World Champion Jonathan Haggerty is at the peak of the sport. Getting to watch him start his 2024 campaign in defense of the Muay Thai title is a treat.
But nobody should count out Felipe Lobo. The Brazilian has tremendous power and incredible heart. He has already shown his ability to stun as the underdog. He will walk to the ring without any pressure and attempt to quickly dethrone Haggerty after his impressive run last year.
In a five-round duel, this match could be an early entry into Fight of the Year. Both men are aggressive but both also have grit. This tremendous title tilt will get your weekend started with a bang.
Luke Lessei vs. Eddie Abasolo
American Muay Thai will get a little spotlight at ONE Fight Night 19. Luke Lessei and Eddie Abasolo will go toe-to-toe in a pivotal featherweight collision that will elevate the sport domestically while showing the Thai audience what they bring to the table. After each man battled Thai icons, Smokin’ Jo Nattawut and Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong, respectively, they earned a lot of respect.
Now they will try to earn a major spot among the elite. With Lessei holding the #5-ranking in the division, the winner will unquestionably be a factor in 2024. There is no lack of motivation for either man to step inside the ring and look for a highlight-reel KO.
Most importantly for fans, their last outings show how exciting these two athletes can be in action. If they begin trading shots in the center of the ring, another Fight of the Night is sure to follow. American Muay Thai has arrived and will be a great encapsulation of the excitement they can bring.
Mansur Malachiev vs. Yosuke Saruta
Mansur Malachiev was one win away from challenging Jarred Brooks for the ONE Strawweight MMA World Title. After coming up short against Joshua Pacio, he will try to get back in the win column against former divisional king Yosuke Saruta.
Saruta is out for his own redemption story. After dropping the belt to Pacio, he quickly got back to his winning ways. However, after a two-year layoff he has yet to regain his footing, losing back-to-back bouts against Pacio and Gustavo Balart.
This strawweight scrap will have plenty of action, and more importantly for the division, it will have a significant impact for the winner of Brooks vs. Pacio at ONE 166. Keep a close watch on this sleeper bout in Bangkok.
ONE Fight Night 19 airs live from Bangkok on Friday, February 16. The action begins at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST on Prime Video. The event is free for all Amazon Prime subscribers in the U.S. and Canada.
