ONE: “Inside the Matrix” Part IV will be broadcast this Friday evening (local time). There are three MMA fights on the card with two featherweight contenders going head-to-head inside Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Ryogo Takahashi and Yoon Chang Min will both be looking to move a step closer to securing a shot at newly-crowned featherweight champion Thanh Le. The latter is one of two undefeated Koreans on the card.
Here’s my preview:
Maira Mazar vs. Choi Jeong Yun (Catchweight)
This catchweight contest is set to take place a few pounds under the flyweight limit. Maira Mazar (6-3) was submitted by Ayaka Miura in her most recent fight and the Brazilian’s three losses have all come by way of submission.
Choi Jeong Yun (2-0) is an unknown quantity. The 22 year old’s two wins both came at the expense of debutants and she hasn’t fought since 2017.
Ryogo Takahashi vs. Yoon Chang Min (Featherweight)
Ryogo Takahashi (13-4) was stopped by Thanh Le last time out but everyone gets stopped by the newly crowned featherweight king. That win snapped an eight-fight winning streak for the Japanese fighter who is known for his low kicks, even if he hasn’t had a chance to use them much in his ONE Championship career.
Yoon Chang Min (4-0) has won four fights out of four for ONE Championship but has never been in with an opponent of Takahashi’s calibre. Three of his four wins have been by submission but he was able to pick apart an exhausted Trestle Tan with some sharp boxing.
Bruno Pucci vs Kwon Won Il (Bantamweight)
Bruno Pucci (7-4) holds a BJJ black belt and has been on the roster since 2013. He is particularly dangerous with chokes and will want to get this fight to the ground.
Kwon Won Il (8-3) has won three fights out of six for ONE Championship. His losses have all come at the hands of Japanese opponents and the Korean has been submitted twice.
Muay Thai: Rocky Ogden vs. Joseph Lasiri (Catchweight)
Rocky Ogden went the distance with reigning strawweight Muay Thai and kickboxing champion Sam-A Gaiyanghadao in Febuary. That should give the Australian, who is a protegee of John Wayne Parr, a lot of confidence heading into this fight.
Joseph Lasiri’s ONE Super Series record stands at 1-4. He took Mongkolpetch Petchyindee to a majority decision last time out which was an achievement in itself but the Italian tends to come up short against top tier opposition.
Kickboxing: Aslanbek Zikreev vs. Wang Junguang (Strawweight)
Aslanbek Zikreev won gold medals at the European Muay Thai Championships in 2018 and 2019 and a bronze medal at the 2017 World Games. Beyond that there is very little information about the Russian who doesn’t appear to have much kickboxing experience.
Wang Junguang has been in with some Muay Thai and kickboxing royalty in Sam-A Gaiyanghadao and Takeru although he dropped a decision to both fighters. He has been competing in kickboxing since at least 2014 and is currently ranked No. 2 in the division.
The entire ONE: “Inside the Matrix” Part IV fight card will be available to view live and free in some territories using the newly launched app which you can download here.