March 8 is recognized as International Women’s Day, a part of Women’s History Month. To honor the day, ONE Championship holds an all-female card this weekend. Action begins at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT on Amazon Prime Video (inside the United States and Canada.) If you’re in the United Kingdom and Ireland, the show airs over Sky Sports at 1 am local time Saturday morning under the title ONE Fight Night 20.
All told, barring any late adjustments between now and Friday night, nine fights across MMA, kickboxing, Muay-Thai, and submission-only grappling will be held. A championship twin-bill tops the evening’s itinerary from Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Atomweight Kickboxing Gold At Stake in ONE on Prime Video 20 Main Event
Immediately after the co-main event of the evening for the ONE Atomweight Muay-Thai Championship, the action stays in ONE’s 115-lb. division (ONE’s weight classes are based upon a competitor’s normal weight and has long-banned dehydration as a method of cutting weight.)
Incumbent ONE Atomweight Kickboxing Champion Janet Todd (39-12 kickboxing, 9-2 ONE Championship) will try to enter retirement victoriously when she fights challenger and interim champ Phetjeeja Lukjaoporongtom (207-6-3 kickboxing, 5-0 ONE Championship) in a unification battle. This main event will be an advertised maximum of five rounds at three minutes per round to close the show.
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ONE on Prime Video 20 Main Event Fighter Comparison
Heading into the ONE on Prime Video 20 main event, both the champion and interim titleholder stand level at 5-foot-3. Janet Todd owns a five-inch reach advantage (68 inches to 63 inches) over Phetjeeja Lukjaoporongtom.
Janet Todd Wants to Ride Off Into the Sunset with Defense of Belt
Champion Janet Todd has posted a record of 4-1 in her last five matches. Most recently, she saw a four-fight winning streak snapped at the hands of current ONE Bantamweight Muay-Thai champion Allycia Hellen Rodriguez (32-6 kickboxing, 2-1 ONE Championship.)
Outcome notwithstanding, Friday night’s bout will be the final one of Todd’s career, as she intends to retire as a competitor after the ONE on Prime Video 20 main event. Recently, she discussed her plan of attack and dream outcome for her last fight with the promotion.
“All I’m focused on is the fight,” Todd began. “So, to me, it’s very easy to compartmentalize because I’m not thinking about retirement. The focus is the fight first and being able to display my skills there. I want to end my career at the top. Be the first woman in our atomweight division to defend the World Title successfully and show age is nothing but a number.”
The reason as to why she’s hanging up her gloves this weekend is simple.
“I’ve got to do so many things in such a short period of time and experience so much and meet so many lifelong friends, but I’m ready to move on to the next chapter after this fight,” she said. “The other aspect of what I want in my life is to start a family, and I’m getting older. I want that part of my life as well.”
Can Todd unify the title and exit kickboxing as a champion? Tune in on Friday for the answer.
Phetjeeja Aiming for 213th Career Win in Combat Sports
In the other corner, Phetjeeja Lukjaoporongtom has gone 5-0 in her last five fights. All told, she’s currently on a 12-fight winning streak in Muay-Thai. Counting her stint as a boxer, she’s won 17 fights in succession.
Last time out, Phetjeeja scored a unanimous decision victory over Anissa Meksen (103-5 kickboxing, 3-1 ONE Championship) after five rounds to capture the interim belt on Dec. 22 during ONE Friday Fights 46 at the same Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok where ONE on Prime Video 20 will be held this week.
She’s a decorated combat athlete with 212 career wins to her credit across the disciplines. A victory here would give her 213 all told at the young age of 22.
Being a successful competitor at that age is no small feat. Only time will tell if she can add another W to the record.
Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction
Much like the co-main attraction directly preceding it, the ONE on Prime Video 20 main event is a classic strength-versus-strength affair. With no clear advantage between the two combatants, this should be an interesting five rounds (or less) of action.
Look For Janet Todd to Kick Her Way to a Win
At times in combat sports, one blow is all it’ll take to end a fight. When it happens, you know it right away. Janet Todd scored a victory by way of a head kick vs. Ekaterina Vanderyeva a few years ago on TNT.
During the second round of an advertised three, Todd absorbed some leg kicks, but upon moving in on Vanderyeva, she connected on a jab. From there, she unloaded with a kick to her opponent’s head, resulting in the knockout victory.
Watch for Janet Todd to try and aim for Phetjeeja’s body in the ONE on Prime Video 20 main event on Friday night. If she gets in one clean shot, it’s a wrap.
Phetjeeja Can Land Punches in Bunches
In the other corner, once the opening bell sounds to begin round one on Friday night, Phetjeeja will be on a mission to seek and destroy. A textbook example of this occurred during her fight against Lara Fernandez. The walkouts for this fight lasted longer than the contest proper.
Immediately after the fight began, Phetjeeja teed off with an unrelenting barrage of strikes. Fernandez never even had anything resembling a chance at defending herself or counterpunching before the referee waved it off in under 30 seconds.
If Phetjeeja comes out with guns blazing from the start of the fight, look out. This one could be over as quickly as it begins.
Final Thoughts
Either one of the two title fights at the top of the bill could have easily served as the headliner on Friday. This should be a cracking fight. One fighter is looking to go out a champion, while her opponent is seeking another highlight for her resume.
Prediction: Phetjeeja Lukjaoporongtom by First-Round TKO.
