ONE Fight Night 18: Amazon Prime Indulges in Combat Sports

The world of MMA is becoming more prominent again. ONE Championship is now securing deals across the world to broadcast its product. ONE Fight Night will be shown on Amazon Prime in key markets like the United States – but who will emerge triumphant from Bangkok?

What Amazon Means for ONE Championship

MMA breaking news was made when ONE Championship announced that it would be expanding its business operations in 2024 so that its biggest events would be broadcast on Amazon Prime in the United States. At the same time, it was revealed that the promotion had signed a deal with Sky Sports for coverage in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

These brand-new deals mean that ONE Championship will be available to a much larger sports demographic. As well as the additional revenue streams, it also makes the promotion a lot more desirable to fighters looking to sign up with a company as they have a bigger stage to perform.

Lightweight Main Event: Gasanov Fights Taek Oh

While it might not be the height of the lightweight scene in the UFC, the ONE Fight Night 18 main event pits the Russian fighter Shamil Gasanov against South Korean brawler Oh Ho Taek. Gasanov made his ONE Championship debut last year but unfortunately suffered his first career loss as Garry Tonon locked in a kneebar, which forced the debuting combatant to tap out.

It’s a similar story for Oh. He lost his last fight back in March 2023 as Akbar Abdullaev knocked the South Korean out in the first round of the contest. Oh is a fighter who likes to do the rounds across global promotions, having appeared on cards for Top FC, UAE Warriors, and BRAVE CF. Should he win this fight, his third with ONE, he might want to stick around, given the company’s newfound broadcast deals.

Fans of submission-style fighting will be in for a real treat here, as both fighters are very keen on winning by making their opponents tap out. Oh has won over half of his fights by this method, while Gasanov has 69% wins coming by way of submission hold.

Thai Crowd Treated to Suablack Tor Pran49 in Co-Main

Thai MMA news sites and the general Muay Thai media know all about Suablack Tor Pran49. 2023 was a great year for the 27-year-old as he participated in four Muay Thai fights on the Friday Fights program and won all of them. The last was a first-round knockout with a vicious straight right hand to the body. He’s gone on record and said he’s not worried about his upcoming fight against Stefan Korodi.

The Irishman has a rich history, with 32 fights under his belt across different disciplines, including Muay Thai and kickboxing. As the underdog, he has a lot to gain with a victory here. He’s one of the lead trainers at Dublin Combat Academy; if he wins in Bangkok, then he might have a few more inquiries for personal training sessions!

Big Step Up for Abdul-Latif

‘Life begins at 40’ is a common phrase in the United Kingdom. It’s less common to say that MMA comebacks begin at 40. Yet that is exactly what Mikhail Jamal Abdul-Latif is planning. Most MMA records state that the Dutchman has been fighting around the regional promotions in both the Netherlands and Turkey. However, there are large gaps in his fight history. Has he been fighting in car parks in Istanbul or brawling down on the mean streets of Utrecht? Well, he’s back in the big time, where reputable websites log his activity. His official record is 3-0, but he’s facing off against more than a barroom brawler.

Ji Won Kang is 6-2 in his record and has gained notoriety for his wins. All six of those victories have come by knocking out his opponent in the first round of the fights. Nicknamed the Mighty Warrior for his ability to finish fights with tremendous skill and ferocity, the odds will be on the South Korean to send Abdul-Latif back into retirement.

Dagestan Dynasty Comes to ONE

There’s another fighter from Dagestan, Russia, for MMA news websites to get incredibly excited about. Ibrahim Dauev is a very promising fighter from the fabled MMA region. At only 22 years of age, he’s already amassed an 8-1 record. That includes a seven-match winning streak he’s put together in the ACA Young Eagles and World FC promotions. While relatively unknown to the wider MMA audience, he will please fans if he brings the electric pace he displayed in Russia, having won the majority of his fights by KO.

Standing in the way of the Dagestan Dynasty is the experienced Kiwi fighter Mark Abelardo. He’s been one of the most loyal servants to the promotion, having been with them since 2018. While his career had gone off the boil, in 2023 he got back on track by winning two consecutive fights, climbing to a 22-10 record. Does he have the aptitude to defeat an emerging fighter from the richest area for MMA success?

Sitsongpeenong Returns After Tough Loss

Rungrawee Sitsongpeenong is a well-versed fighter with over 200 fights on his resume, winning about 75% of them all. His main focus is Muay Thai, having won gold medals representing Thailand at multiple events. Last year in September, he suffered a loss to Dmitry Menshikov after being knocked down three times. After regrouping, he’s ready to return, stating he will throw many elbows and knees when he gets in the ring. His opponent is the Iraqi fighter, Shakir Al-Tekreeti. Al-Tekreeti won his ONE Championship debut last year but now has a very tall task in his second fight.

Find all the latest boxing news and MMA breaking updates on boxingnews.com.