When ONE Championship touches down at the historic Lumpinee Stadium this Friday, June 27, it will bring a talent-laden fight card loaded with compelling matchups.
ONE Friday Fights 114 is one of the most intriguing installments of ONE’s weekly Asia primetime series in recent memory, and martial arts fans around the globe have plenty to be excited about.
Before the fighters descend upon Bangkok to throw down in front of a raucous Thai crowd, we look at five reasons why ONE Friday Fights 114 is a must-watch event.
#1 Main Event Strikers With Something To Prove
The new headline attraction will see dangerous knockout artist Suablack Tor Pran49 square off with exciting young athlete Sangarthit Looksaikongdin in a pivotal 140-pound kickboxing clash. Both Thai strikers will have something to prove.
After rattling off six straight wins, including four highlight-reel finishes, to begin his ONE tenure and earn a six-figure main roster contract, Suablack has struggled to find his footing against elite opposition.
He’ll now come into this bout with his back against the wall after losing three straight.
Sangarthit, meanwhile, looks poised to take ONE by storm.
The brother-in-law to former longtime ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon, the 21-year-old impressed in his promotional debut at ONE Friday Fights 100, and he now hopes to score a statement victory over one of Thailand’s most respected fighters.
While Sangarthit is hungry to prove he belongs among the best of the best, Suablack is determined to halt his losing skid, take out a much-hyped rising star, and re-establish himself as a top name to watch.
#2 Veteran Brawlers Continue Their Rivalry
Before that, beloved Thai scrappers Seksan “The Man Who Yields To No One” Or Kwanmuang and “Elbow Zombie” Muangthai PK Saenchai will throw down in a 140-pound Muay Thai contest. These former World Champions have met four times previously outside of ONE, and fans should buckle up for another barnburner.
The 36-year-old Seksan has spent the past year and a half in ONE cementing himself as one of the most entertaining fighters to ever compete in “the art of eight limbs.”
His all-action approach has garnered him legions of fans, but he enters this fight following just his second promotional defeat – and his first stoppage loss in ONE.
For his part, Muangthai has lost all four previous battles to Seksan. However, the 31-year-old elbow specialist is currently riding a two-fight winning streak and looks to be in the finest shape of his incredible 256-fight career.
If “Elbow Zombie” can put it all together and finally take out his rival, he could secure a sought-after US$100,000 contract.
#3 A Pair Of Massive Promotional Debuts
Beyond a number of established ONE superstars competing at ONE Friday Fights 114, there will be two promotional debuts that fans won’t want to miss.
Accomplished Thai hero PTT Apichart Farm will take on fellow ONE newcomer Elies Abdelali in a featherweight Muay Thai tilt. With a lengthy winning streak that dates back to early 2023 and numerous titles across his native country, PTT could be poised to make immediate waves in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
Lower on the card, 17-year-old Muay Thai prodigy Younis Anane will square off with China’s Liu Junchao at strawweight.
Many fans will recognize the Anane surname, as Younis is the brother to current ONE World Champion Nabil Anane. The younger Anane possesses many of the same preternatural skills as his sibling and is motivated to follow in Nabil’s footsteps and rocket his way to the top.
#4 A Showcase Of ONE’s Youth Movement
Elite young talent will be on full display at ONE Friday Fights 114, giving fans a peek into the future of ONE’s Muay Thai landscape.
While Anane, with his famous family name, has plenty of hype behind him, so does his 20-year-old opponent. Liu came up short by the narrowest of margins in his ONE debut earlier this year but proved he owns the world-class skills and raw athleticism needed to hang with the best.
Also, undefeated Uzbekistani phenom Aslamjon Ortikov returns in search of his fourth straight victory in ONE when he battles respected Thai veteran Petsukumit Boi Bangna. Still just 22 years old and with a 21-0 pro record, Ortikov has all the makings of a future global superstar, and he’s eager to earn a spot on ONE’s main roster.
Fans are also excited about the return of 18-year-old standout Ramadan “The Scorpion” Ondash. The heavy-handed Lebanese striker will face his toughest test yet in the form of Thai knockout artist Chartpayak Saksatoon, who is 7-0 at ONE Friday Fights.
For his part, Ondash boasts a 3-0 record at ONE Friday Fights, captivating crowds with his brash confidence, crisp combination striking, and shocking power. “The Scorpion” is already knocking on the door of a six-figure contract, and if he’s able to hand Chartpayak his first defeat in ONE, he will erase any doubts that he’s ready for even bigger opportunities.
Additionally, the lineup will feature five more rising stars – all 22 or younger – who are looking to make strong impressions. Those young athletes are Sangarthit Looksaikongdin, Elies Abdelali, Kongchai Chanaidonmueang, Petphupa Aekpujean, and Jurai Ishii.
#5 The Return Of Japanese Superstar Nadaka
Nadaka Yoshinari is widely recognized as the best-ever Muay Thai fighter to come out of Japan, and he’s now set for his sophomore appearance in ONE. He’ll face red-hot Thai striker Banluelok Sitwatcharachai in an explosive atomweight tilt.
Nadaka arrived at ONE with a jam-packed trophy case and a reputation as one of the planet’s most technically proficient strikers. The 10-time World Champion quickly lived up to the hype with a dazzling third-round stoppage win over Rak Erawan at ONE 172.
The Japanese sensation is now hoping to impress again, but he’s been given no easy task. After all, Banluelok has looked nothing short of dominant in his three-fight ONE tenure, scoring a trio of highlight-reel finishes.
If he’s able to deliver another sterling performance, Nadaka could find himself once again fighting in front of a hometown crowd at ONE’s blockbuster return to Japan – ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri on November 16.
