Tag: ONE Championship News

Giorgio “The Doctor” Petrosyan is taking on “Smokin” Jo Nattawut for the second time and wants to go two-for-two. The two tango in the semi-finals of the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix at ONE: DREAMS OF GOLD this Friday, 16 August at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.

Despite his previous victory over the Bangkok Boxing representative, the Italian warrior won’t leave anything to chance as he is aware of the progress his opponent has made in between their bouts. Petrosyan remains unfazed and confident that he will be unstoppable in his pursuit of a spot in the final round of the tournament.

“I know my opponent all too well, as I defeated him the first time around,” Petrosyan says.

“Following our bout, he has clearly gotten better because [he has won] four more bouts. Then again, I don’t think he has gotten that much better in a year and a half.”

“The Doctor” is hot off a victory over Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy just last month. He plans to put forth yet another impressive performance but wants a more decisive win against Nattawut.

“I changed my game plan [against Petchmorakot], and I was less aggressive. I played more of a waiting game, my legs did much of the work, and that’s how I won that bout,” he explains.

“Of course, when a rematch is coming up, my training regimen is just the same. Then again, I mix up my game plan, because I suppose my opponent will be mixing up his own game plan.”

“My strategy will be different, and we will see in the ring what he is capable of.”

Petrosyan respects Nattawut’s striking power and technical skills most especially after witnessing his most recent outings against Yohann Fairtex Drai and Sasha Moisa. Though he was able to beat Nattawut before, Petrosyan won’t underestimate his opponent’s tenacity and fortitude and expects nothing but the best from “Smokin’ Jo”.

“In my first bout against Smokin Jo,’ I was very aggressive right off the bat. I was on the offensive for all three rounds, I tried to land hard shots, and that was my game plan,” he explains.

“I remember his leg work being very powerful. He is an all-around opponent, who is good at throwing punches, kicking and kneeing, so I will need to be alert to all of that.”

“He is a very powerful opponent, and he is quick with his legs. I am also powerful, so I am not sure which of us is the most powerful. We are going to find out in the ring.”

The Armenian-Italian striker’s top priority is putting on a bulletproof performance against Nattawut and winning what could potentially be Bout of the Year to earn himself a shot at the US$1 million for the overall winner of the tournament.

“Anything can happen in the ring, so the favorites may not always be a sure bet to win – just like we saw with Yodsanklai and Sana,” he concludes.

“I would rather focus on the bout than on the $1 million. I’m only focused on my opponent for the time being, and the winner will be heading to the finals.”

“I know that he will have prepared very well for this. I too am preparing well for this bout, and I am sure it will be a war.”

The post Giorgio Petrosyan Confident He Can Beat Jo Nattawut Again appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

ONE Atomweight Muay Thai and Kickboxing World Champion Stamp Fairtex is not in a rush to bring her mixed martial arts skills on par with Asha “Knockout Queen” Roka and the rest of the stacked atomweight division in preparation for August 16.

When ONE Championship founder and CEO Chatri Sityodtong made an announcement on his Facebook page that Stamp is eyeing a belt in another sport, she was in the middle of her Muay Thai training in preparation for her title defense against Alma Juniku. She was also learning and training in additional martial arts disciplines.

“When the announcement of my quest for an MMA world title was made I was busy with the preparations for my ONE Super Series title defense,” Stamp said. 

“The team and I made sure to squeeze in mixed martial arts and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training a couple of times in a week so I will not forget the techniques. After my match with Alma, we focused all our time and efforts training for MMA.”

The women’s atomweight division is filled with experienced athletes who are experts in multiple disciplines. For Stamp, relying on her Muay Thai and Kickboxing skills won’t be enough if she intends to be the first athlete to hold titles in three different sports.

“Since I will be competing in a mixed martial arts event I had to learn other disciplines,” Stamp said. 

“My punches and kicks are already sharp so I have to put a little more focus on wrestling. I know that everyone will think that my ground game is weak because I have spent my entire career in Muay Thai and Kickboxing so they will try to take me to the mat. I also practiced how to get the match back to a stand up since I know I can dominate the match from there.”

Anything can happen in combat sports, that is why Stamp and the rest of the Fairtex team started her mixed martial arts training even before the announcement was made. Preparing early allowed her to train efficiently in the hopes of making history yet again.

The post Why Stamp Fairtex is not rushing her mixed martial arts training appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

ONE Atomweight Kickboxing and Muay Thai World Champion Stamp Fairtex have her sights set on a mixed martial arts title when she returns to Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, 16 August for ONE: DREAMS OF GOLD. She faces off with undefeated athlete Asha “knockout Queen” Roka of India.

“I’m happy to compete at home, there will be a lot of people there to provide motivation and cheer me on,” she said. 

“I definitely feel there is an advantage to fighting in Thailand, but that there is also extra pressure too. I don’t want to lose in Thailand!”

Born from a family of fruit farmers in Rayong, Thailand, Stamp learned the meaning of hard work at an early age. She started in martial arts when she was five in her father’s gym, but left them a couple of years ago to train in Fairtex Training Center in Pattaya so that she can pursue her dream of becoming a world champion.

She made an impressive debut in mixed martial arts in July 2018 with a first-round knockout using a head kick in a bout that lasted only 19 seconds. She then returned to compete in Muay Thai and Kickboxing to win two titles in ONE Super Series. 

Now, Stamp will compete again in mixed martial arts against Roka, a boxing champion and an undefeated mixed martial artist whose wins have come within the distance. 

“I’m not 100-percent comfortable in mixed martial arts yet, but when an opportunity like this comes along, you just have to take it,” she said.

“I’ve been practicing mixed martial arts for two years now, and I feel like it is time to test my skills on a bigger stage. I really like the diversity of the sport, and the new challenge it presents for me.”

Roka, who was unbeaten as a boxer, is a well-rounded athlete with lethal striking power. She holds a perfect mixed martial arts record of 4-0 with a 100% finishing rate, half by striking and the other half by submission.

“I think my opponent’s striking isn’t as advanced as the opponents I am used to facing,” Stamp explained. 

“However, her boxing will be her biggest threat. I plan to counter her punches with my elbows. When you fight a boxer, you want to use the leg kicks to avoid punches and counter with elbows.”

“I am more comfortable standing, so I want to keep the fight in my comfort zone, but will be ready to take the fight to the ground if need be,” she added. 

“I just want to win this fight. I haven’t really thought too much about showing my skills as a mixed martial arts fighter yet.”

Despite her advantage in striking, Stamp knows she needs to improve her skills more and work harder and smarter in her training to be prepared for whatever the “Knockout Queen” throws her way.

“My goal is to also become a mixed martial arts World Champion with ONE Championship,” she concluded. 

“There are a lot of really talented women in my division, and it is going to take a while to get to the top. Hopefully, in about three or four fights, I’ll be ready for a World Title challenge.”

The post Stamp Fairtex: My Goal is to Also Become Mixed Martial Arts World Champion appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

When it comes to accolades in the striking world, few have collected as many in as short a space of time as Thai phenom Petchdam Petchyindee Academy.

‘Baby Shark has experienced a meteoric rise to the heights of the arts of Muay Thai and kickboxing, claiming the prestigious Lumpinee Stadium and WBC Muay Thai World  Championships, as well as the Toyota Marathon Tournament Title, all within the space of three years.

Deciding to cross over to kickboxing, he stepped into the bright lights of the planet’s most talent-rich striking promotion at ONE Super Series, immediately making an impact with a string of knockouts with his trademark lethal left-kick.

That culminated in a fourth-round victory over Elias Mahmoudi in his native Bangkok back in May at ONE: Warriors of Light to clinch the ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Championship.

It’s staggering to think he accomplished all of this before his 23rd birthday. But if it had been up to his protective mother, we may not have been privileged to witness those prodigious skills and their rapid development.

Having identified Muay Thai as a way out of poverty for his struggling farming family, Petchdam showed immediate promise and was soon eager to take his abilities to the next level, and fortunately, his father was able to persuade his concerned mother that this is what their son was destined to do.

“My dad was the one who encouraged and supported me. My mum was worried about me and didn’t want me to continue – but my dad fought for me and we won,” Petchdam recalled. “It was what I wanted to do.”

In hindsight, it was a life-changing decision for both he and his family. He’s gone from strength to strength since, and is now preparing to take on Ilias Ennahachi in his first title defense at ONE: Dreams of Gold in Bangkok on August 16.

The Dutch-Moroccan star is the latest world-class talent to be acquired by ONE Championship and he’ll be put straight to the test in a tough promotional debut against the prodigious Thai.

Petchdam won his belt on home soil and now he wants to make his first defense at the very same venue, and he’s calling on his countrymen to come out in droves and help power him to victory.

“I want to ask the Thai people to come and cheer for me once again. In my last fight, the support I received from Thai people helped me win,” said Petchdam. Also in action at Impact Arena will be two mouthwatering ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix semi-final bouts between Giorgio Petrosyan and Smokin’ Jo Nattawut, as well as Samy Sana against Dzhabar Askerov in the race for the US $1 million prize.

The post Petchdam Had to Convince His Parents That Muay Thai Was The Career He Wanted appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

BY Dan Paulo Errazo

Ramon “The Bicolano” Gonzales has nothing but respect for “Wolf Of The Grasslands” Hexigetu as they meet at the Impact Arena in Bangkok on August 16 at ONE: DREAMS OF GOLD.

More than practicing the Bushido code, he always wants to give honor and pride to the Philippines through his actions.

“I’m honored to represent the Philippines in Thailand,” Gonzales said.

“I always keep in mind that the way I act, what I say during interviews, how I interact with people, and my performance inside the ring represents my country. That is why I always make sure that I hold everyone in high regard and respect.”

Gonzales has prepared for this match by studying Hexigetu’s disciplines and has formed a strategy from there. He is clearly preparing for a match that will show his respect for the man from China.

“Hexigetu is a great athlete,” Gonzales said.

“His Mongolian wrestling is something rare we see in the international stage and he is really good with that. He also trained in Sanda so that makes him an even more dangerous opponent. He can take the match to the ground or in the standup and that will keep me on alert for the entire duration of the fight.”

Gonzales is not underestimating his opponent and has spent every waking hour preparing for a match that fits a true ONE athlete.

“I really do not tend to look at an individual and break down their strengths and weaknesses,” Gonzales said.

“I treat each and every match as a very difficult bout where I am the underdog which pushes me to train even harder. I have seen athletes who underestimated their opponents only to lose and I don’t want to be that person. Hexigetu being a part of ONE Championship means that he is one of the world’s best and it will be a great honor and opportunity for me to share the same stage.”

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