With a can’t-miss Interim MMA World Title clash at the top of the bill, ONE Fight Night 24: Brooks vs. Balart on Prime Video offers plenty of explosive mixed martial arts action. That 12-fight event goes down live in U.S. primetime this Friday, August 2, at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. Before the fighters take to the ring, we take a closer look at three MMA bouts that promise to deliver fireworks.
Shamil Gasanov vs. Aaron Canarte, featherweight MMA
At featherweight, #5-ranked divisional contender Shamil “The Cobra” Gasanov hopes to keep his spot in the rankings in a pivotal clash with well-rounded Ecuadorian standout Aaron “Tommy Gun” Canarte.
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With his elite takedown game and savvy submission skills, the Russian has all the makings of a future World Champion and knows that a win here would do wonders for his climb toward featherweight MMA gold.
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Canarte, though, will have something to prove. He comes into this contest following the first loss of his career in his promotional debut and is hungry to bounce back to the win column and live up to the considerable hype surrounding him.
Keito Yamakita vs. Yosuke Saruta Strawweight MMA
In an all-Japan showdown, the highly-touted Keito “Pocket Monk” Yamakita hopes to establish himself as his country’s top strawweight when he squares off with former divisional kingpin Yosuke “The Ninja” Saruta.
A former Pancrase Strawweight Champion, Yamakita is arguably the division’s most powerful grappler. After suffering the lone loss of his career to #2-ranked contender Bokang Masunyane, the 27-year-old phenom bounced back in a big way with a first-round submission win over Jeremy Miado in March.
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“Pocket Monk” could climb the ranks even higher if he’s able to get past the respected veteran in Saruta. For his part, “The Ninja” finds himself on the longest losing skid of his career against top-flight competition and is undoubtedly returning to his winning ways and proving he still belongs among the best of the best.
Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu vs. Carlo Bumina-ang
ONE Friday Fights contract winners Enkh-Orgil “The Tormentor” Baatarkhuu and Carlo “The Bull” Bumina-ang will throw down in a bantamweight scrap that promises white-knuckle action from start to finish.
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Known for his vicious clinch game and gritty, never-say-die style, Mongolian sensation Baatarkhu has earned all three of his wins in ONE against Filipino fighters—including two of Bumina-ang’s Team Lakay training partners.
“The Bull,” meanwhile, boasts a pristine professional record and has looked nothing short of dominant through five appearances in the world’s largest martial arts organization. He’s determined to exact revenge for his teammates and continue his meteoric rise through the talent-laden bantamweight division.