3 Fights That Could Steal the Show at ONE Fight Night 18

ONE Championship will soon touch down in the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium for its first North American primetime show of the year, and fans won’t want to miss a moment of the action. Topped by a pivotal featherweight MMA showdown, ONE Fight Night 18: Gasanov vs. Oh on Prime Video goes down this Friday, January 12.

With nine fights across three different combat sports disciplines, the card promises action from the opening bout to the last. Before the action gets underway in Bangkok, we take a closer look at three contests that could steal the show this Friday night.

#1 Kwon Won Il vs. Shinechagtga Zoltsetseg and #2 Liam Nolan vs. Ali Aliev

Each athlete is revered for his explosive striking, so fans can expect an electrifying stand-up battle when these two clash. What’s more, the bout carries high stakes. For “Pretty Boy,” an impressive win here could secure him a coveted crack at reigning ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion Fabricio “Wonder Boy” Andrade, giving him plenty of motivation to score another knockout and keep his 100 percent finishing rate in ONE alive.

In yet another bout, in lightweight Muay Thai action, “Lethal” Liam Nolan will make his much-anticipated return nearly 14 months after his last appearance. He is known for his well-rounded skill set and big power in his hands and feet.

The 26-year-old British sensation is on the rise and hungry to prove he belongs among the planet’s best strikers. He’ll be put to the test against promotional newcomer Ali Aliev. The Dagestani knockout artist will be looking to make a splash in his ONE debut and take out one of the division’s most feared contenders.

#3 Mark Abelardo vs. Ibragim Duaev

The opening bout of ONE Fight Night 18 is designed to produce fireworks. Twelve-fight ONE veteran Mark “Tyson” Abelaro, fresh off back-to-back highlight-reel knockouts, will aim to give a rude welcome to undefeated Russian newcomer Ibragim Duaev in an intriguing bantamweight MMA tilt.

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Abelardo has firmly established himself as one of the division’s most thrilling athletes, owning a number of memorable knockouts in the world’s largest martial arts organization. But Duaev, with his powerful wrestling and knack for finding the submission, boasts a flawless professional record for a reason, and is sure to bring the fight to the battle-hardened veteran.

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