ONE Championship brought an absolutely stacked card to Bangkok, Thailand, with ONE Friday Fights 22.
The event featured two title tilts and a who’s who of Muay Thai. Lumpinee Boxing Stadium was deafening from start to finish for one of the year’s best martial arts cards. If you missed any of the action, here is your chance to catch up. This is your recap for ONE Friday Fights 22.
Main Event: Arjan Bhullar vs. Anatoly Malykhin
Main Event
Arjan Bhullar vs. Anatoly Malykhin
Malykhin Winner by TKO
Anatoly Malykhin is now the undisputed ONE Heavyweight World Champion. And he accomplished the task in his typical fashion — utter dominance.
Malykhin walked Bhullar down in each round. If Bhullar attempted to clinch, the Russian heavyweight simply pushed him away and went back to work. As “Sladkiy” attacked the body, he set up bigger shots to the head.
In the third round, he began to overwhelm Bhullar. Finally, Malykhin was able to drag him to the canvas and pummeled him until the referee had seen enough. Malykhin now reigns as the undisputed ONE Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight World Champion and is unquestionably one of the best and most exciting martial artists on the planet.
Main Event: Prajanchai PK Saenchai vs. Sam-A Gaiyanghadao
Main Event
Prajanchai PK Saenchai vs. Sam-A Gaiyanghadao
Prajanchai Winner by Knockout
Prajanchai PK Saenchai put a stamp on his rematch against Sam-A Gaiyanghadao with a brutal second-round KO to become the ONE Interim Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion.
Prajanchai unseated Sam-A two years ago and once again asserted himself as the better man. After a knockdown, the Thai star saw his chance to finish his fellow countryman. But it did not come immediately. Prajanchai reset himself and slowed down to allow the finish to come, and it did.
The deciding blow came while Prajanchai was throwing a flurry of strikes. As Sam-A tried to defend, a beautiful right elbow crashed into his face, putting him out for good. Prajanchai’s stellar performance put the gold back around his waist.
Full Card
Superlek Kiatmoo9 vs. Nabil Anane
Superlek Winner by Knockout
Seksan Or Kwanmuang vs. Nathan Bendon
Seksan Winner by Unanimous Decision
Muangthai PK Saenchai vs. Nico Carrillo
Carrillo Winner by TKO
Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong vs. Eddie Abasolo
Sitthichai Winner by Unanimous Decision
Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon vs. Fariyar Aminipour
Aminipour Winner by Split Decision
Gingsanglek Tor Laksong vs. Kongthoranee Sor Sommai
Kongthoranee Winner by Knockout
Jomhod Auto MuayThai vs. Akram Hamidi
Hamidi Winner by TKO
Thongpoon PK Saenchai vs. Yangdam Sor Tor Hiewbangsaen
Thongpoon Winner by Split Decision
Fan Rong vs. Shamil Erdogan
Erdogan Winner by Knockout
Superlek Kiatmoo9 displayed his excellence in a quick 2-minute victory over Nabil Anane. The long frame of Anane merely gave Superlek more targets to hit as he blasted the body and head. A pinpoint accurate shot to the body put Anane on the canvas, and he could not meet the count. After the match, Superlek called out ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Jonathan Haggerty.
Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong looked outstanding in his three-round victory over Eddie Abasolo. The American was able to open a cut late against the Thai, but it only spurred the talented Thai on to rally. Abasolo’s toughness was displayed, but Sitthichai cruised to a unanimous decision win.
Kongthoranee Sor Sommai weathered Gingsanglek Tor Laksong’s storm in the first round and closed the show in the second. The perfect finish came when Kongthoranee landed a perfect left hook during an exchange between the two warriors. The victory gave him the third win of four bouts between the two and another highlight for his reel.
Thongpoon PK Saenchai and Yangdam Sor Tor Hiewbangsaen threw down for nine minutes in an absolute war. Thongpoon immediately charged his fellow countryman, and the two duked it out. That close-quarters action continued each second of the fight. In the end, Thongpoon’s power shots did enough to win a split decision.