ONE Championship has announced two explosive matchups spanning heavyweight MMA and flyweight Muay Thai for ONE Fight Night 40 on Friday, February 13, broadcasting live in U.S. primetime from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The card is topped by a World Title rematch, as Muay Thai queen Stella Hemetsberger goes for two-sport glory against ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion Jackie Buntan.
Canadian powerhouse Ben Tynan will seek to rebound from his first career defeat when he faces Ryugo Takeuchi in a heavyweight mixed martial arts clash featuring contrasting styles. The card also showcases Thai veteran Black Panther attempting to extend his four-bout winning streak against Colombian-American striker Diego Paez in flyweight Muay Thai action.
Both matchups carry significant divisional implications, as Tynan looks to re-establish himself as a heavyweight threat while Black Panther seeks to solidify his status among flyweight Muay Thai’s top contenders.
Canadian Heavyweight Seeks Redemption At ONE Fight Night 40
The 31-year-old Tynan arrived at ONE Championship with a perfect finishing rate, immediately validating his credentials with a submission victory over South Korean powerhouse Kang Ji Won in his November 2023 debut. His next appearance at ONE Fight Night 21 saw him crush Australia’s Duke Didier via TKO, though the bout was subsequently declared a no contest.
The Canadian’s momentum hit a wall last August when former ONE Interim Heavyweight World Championship challenger Kirill Grishenko handed him his first career defeat last August.
Now planning his return to winning ways at ONE Fight Night 40, the Canadian heavyweight aims to showcase the finishing ability that initially announced his arrival while showing everyone why he is a legitimate threat in the division’s upper echelon.
The 22-year-old Takeuchi brings world-class striking but has endured a mixed promotional campaign with just one victory across three appearances. The heavyweight showdown at ONE Fight Night 40 will test whether Takeuchi’s striking can overcome Tynan’s wrestling or if the Canadian’s grappling pressure proves too overwhelming for the Japanese fighter.
Thai Veteran Seeks Fifth Consecutive Victory
Black Panther bounced back impressively from his promotional debut loss to Russian fighter Tagir Khalilov, compiling four consecutive victories that positioned him among flyweight Muay Thai’s rising contenders. His 80-17 career striking record shows consistent excellence throughout a lengthy professional campaign.
The Thai veteran’s current winning streak has established momentum heading into this matchup at ONE Fight Night 40 against an opponent seeking to build his own promotional consistency.
Black Panther’s experience advantages and home-region familiarity make him the favorite, but Paez’s recent triumph provides confidence heading into hostile territory.
Colombian-American Star Ready To Stun The Panther
The 31-year-old Paez owns an 8-3 career record built through competition across the Americas. His February 2024 promotional debut against Filipino-American rival Sean Climaco ended in heartbreaking split-decision loss despite a competitive performance.
The Colombian-American striker rebounded emphatically in June by defeating teenage phenom Johan Ghazali to claim his first promotional victory. The impressive performance against one of ONE Championship’s most popular young talents validated Paez’s track record and now, he hopes to build more steam next month in Bangkok.
ONE Fight Night 40 airs live on Prime Video on Friday, February 13. The action begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The event is free for all Amazon Prime subscribers in the U.S. and Canada.
