Two undefeated blended martial artists will put their excellent data on the road in the primary occasion of ONE Struggle Night time 42, and when the mud settles, the victor may discover himself staring down a shot at two-division champion Christian Lee’s ONE welterweight MMA world title.
American powerhouse Chase “Mannimal” Mann brings an unblemished 7-0 file into the Bangkok cauldron, having bulldozed via each opponent positioned in entrance of him since turning skilled in June 2023. The 29-year-old shocked followers in his ONE Championship debut this previous January as he dismantled surging Australian-Tongan sensation Isi Fitikefu – the longtime coaching accomplice of former UFC Champion Robert Whittaker – en path to a first-round TKO victory.
Mann’s gritty type is constructed on a ferocious mixture of heavy arms, smothering grappling, and overwhelming physicality. He is left a path of vanquished opponents in his wake, and now he is searching his eighth skilled victory with a watch on Lee’s gold.
However standing throughout from him within the ring is maybe his most harmful take a look at but. At simply 21 years outdated, Dzhabir Dzhabrailov has carved via the competitors with terrifying effectivity.
Watch reside on Sky Sports activities Motion from 2am on Saturday morning.
The Turkish demolition man holds a pristine 6-0 file, and here is the actually scary half – he is completed each single opponent he is ever confronted. Much more remarkably, every of his three promotional victories got here inside two minutes, leaving his rivals crumpled on the canvas earlier than they knew what hit them.
Dzhabrailov applies intense ahead stress, attacking rivals with a tidal wave of punches, kicks, and slams. And when an opponent lastly hits the bottom, he follows up with a nonstop assault of punches till the referee pulls him off.
The bodily distinction between the 2 is stark and imposing. Dzhabrailov’s towering 6ft 2 body looms over the 5ft 9 Mann, and his excellent one hundred pc ending charge marks him as a real risk to shatter the American’s desires of remaining unbeaten.
It is a heart-racing kinds conflict. Mann’s well-rounded method and immense power from his powerlifting background will likely be put to the last word examination towards Dzhabrailov’s explosive ending potential, aggressive offensive entrance, and never-back-down aura. Each warriors know that victory beneath the Bangkok lights may catapult them straight right into a world title showdown.
The 2 rising stars have gold of their eyes and neither are ready to give up a single inch, making this foremost occasion as a completely thrilling affair that would finish within the blink of a watch.
Sam-A defies time in pursuit of fourth world title reign
Two fighters determined for a shot on the ONE strawweight Muay Thai world title meet within the chief help, although they stand at vastly totally different crossroads of their respective careers.
Sam-A Gaiyanghadao could also be staring down his forty second birthday, however the Thai legend stays as harmful as ever. The Buriram native has already etched his title into the historical past books throughout three weight courses – he is the inaugural ONE flyweight Muay Thai world champion, inaugural ONE strawweight kickboxing world champion, and inaugural ONE strawweight Muay Thai world champion.
Now, within the twilight of a glittering profession, he is chasing one closing crowning second.
Sam-A has strung collectively spectacular victories over harmful children Thway Lin Htet and Jaosuayai Mor Krungthepthonburi, emphatically proving he can nonetheless commerce leather-based with fighters half his age. A 3rd consecutive win would thrust him squarely again into title rivalry and defy those that declare time has caught up with the veteran warrior.
However he faces one other youthful adversary in 28-year-old Elmehdi “The Sniper” El Jamari, who is aware of a victory over the Thai icon would catapult him to the higher echelon of the division. The Moroccan even possesses the type that would result in the veteran’s downfall: his boxing-heavy, power-punching acumen.
Up to now opponents with a boxing background have troubled the residing legend, and if El Jamari can pull off the upset and topple considered one of Muay Thai’s all-time greats, then a brand new ONE strawweight Muay Thai world title contender may very well be born.
Watch ONE Struggle Night time 41 reside on Sky Sports activities Motion from 2am on Saturday morning.