3 Biggest Fights to Make After ONE 167

ONE 167 delivered a sterling collection of drama, action, and excitement this past weekend. Fans watching live inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Impact Arena, and those tuning in from over 190 countries around the globe were treated to a ten-fight slate that showcased some of the world’s best fighters across four different martial arts disciplines.

The evening’s results threw up a litany of questions regarding what comes next for the victors. And now that the smoke has cleared, we can look at three fights that need to be made after ONE 167.

Tawanchai vs. Nattawut III

After a nail-biting three-round kickboxing war at ONE Fight Night 15 last October, Tawanchai PK Saenchai and “Smokin’” Jo Nattawut picked up where they left off in Friday’s main event. However, the stakes were much higher this time, with Tawanchai’s ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title on the line, and Nattawut fought as his life depended on it.

The back-and-forth affair had everyone guessing who would emerge victorious when the final bell sounded, and many were shaking their heads when Tawanchai was deemed the winner. Even ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong expressed his disbelief, though he made it clear he supported the judges’ call. Nonetheless, it’s obvious this rivalry hasn’t yet concluded, so a trilogy bout should be in the works as soon as possible.

Rodtang vs. Takeru

Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon was sidelined by injury for an extended period before his return to action at ONE 167, but he showed no signs of ring rust when he stepped back into the Circle. The ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion took care of business against a feisty Denis “The Bosnian Menace” Puric, edging him out via unanimous decision while reminding the world how dangerous he can be.

Now that Rodtang’s back in the winner’s column, it may be time to rebook his fight with Japanese striking superstar Takeru Segawa. The pair was supposed to square off earlier this year at ONE 165, but “The Iron Man” was forced to pull out due to injury. Superlek Kiatmoo9 stepped in to face Takeru instead and emerged victorious after five rounds of action.

“The Natural Born” killer has been recovering well from injuries he suffered in his promotional debut, so once he’s healthy enough, ONE should put him on a collision course with Rodtang.

Denice Zamboanga vs. Stamp Fairtex

Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga was initially set to challenge Stamp Fairtex for the ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Title at ONE 167, but the reigning queen had to pull out after injuring herself in training. The Filipina star squared off with Thai-French fighter Noelle “Lil’ Monkey” Grandjean instead, and she showed the world why she deserves a shot at gold by dominating her last-minute foe en route to a unanimous decision win.

Zamboanga is now on a three-fight streak in ONE Championship. She is also confidently sitting in the #2-ranked position in the atomweight MMA rankings, meaning a World Title clash is all but guaranteed.

That said, the 27-year-old will have to wait patiently for her day in the sun, as Stamp must first recover from surgery and then prepare to challenge Xiong Jin Nan’s ONE Women’s Strawweight MMA World Title at ONE 168: Denver in September. Patience is a virtue for a fighter, though, and Zamboanga will undoubtedly keep her eyes on the prize until her time comes.