2024 was a huge year for ONE Championship. They delivered weekly combat sports spectacles such as Muay Thai, Submission Grappling, Mixed Martial Arts, and Kickboxing at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok while promoting sensational pay-per-view cards from across the globe. Their huge roster of stars showcased some absolutely thrilling bouts including epic matches such as Tawanchai vs Superbon, Rodtang vs Denis Puric, and Superlek vs Jonathan Haggerty just to name a few.
ONE’s matchmakers aren’t taking time to rest on last year’s laurels. They are kicking off 2025 with three huge cards featuring some of their biggest stars and most anticipated matchups. While every bout is sure to be a spectacle, there are a few Kickboxing and Muay Thai bouts that stand out as having the ability to become instant classics.
So, let’s take a moment to look at six of the most electrifying matches that ONE Championship has already released for 2025.
The Thai superstars first met at ONE: Friday Fights 46 when Superbon made the transition from Kickboxing to challenge the reigning Featherweight World Champion for his golden Muay Thai Title. In this outing, Tawanchai was able to utilize his trademark lead teep and powerful left leg to kick his way to victory in one of the best Muay Thai matches of 2024.
The two men are set to face again as the headline bout on ONE:170 on January 24th. Both men look to be in fine form, coming off the back of victories over imposing Muay Mat, “Smoking” Jo Nattawut in the latter half of last year where they showcased new takes on their well-defined styles. This leads us to believe that this rematch will be more than a mere rewind of their previous clash.
The headline bout of ONE:172 between Rodtang and Japanese kickboxing superstar, Takeru Segawa, is toted to be a thrilling battle of fire versus fire. Rodtang requires no introduction, his effective and efficient brand of Muay Mat has defeated nearly every opponent ONE has thrown at him.
His opponent, Segawa, is a 3-time K1 World Champion who has built an imposing reputation from his heavy-handed forward aggression. Expectations for this match are high, and the winner will be the man whose fire burns the brightest on March 23.
3) Nabil Anane vs Nico Carillo
Fans were devastated by the news that Superlek had to withdraw from his highly anticipated title clash with Scotsman, Nico Carillo, later this month but the disappointment didn’t last long.
Towering Bantamweight contender, Nabil Anane has stepped up to compete in what is now an interim championship bout and the clash of styles has pundits speculating of an instant classic. Carillo is known for stalking forward and demolishing his opponents with his tremendous punches while Anane has built a reputation as an intelligent kick-and-knee fighter who uses his range and intellect to dismantle opposition.
No one can be certain of how this clash of Muay Mat power versus immense Muay Thai IQ will unfold.
4) Jonathan Haggerty vs Wei Rui
Former two-sport World Champion, Jonathan Haggerty, recently lost his coveted Muay Thai title through a devastating knockout loss at the hands of Superlek. He looks to regain momentum and retain his remaining belt, when he faces Chinese sensation, Wei Rui in Qatar at ONE 171.
He may be a newcomer to ONE Champsionship but fans would be remiss to underestimate Wei Rui; a prodigious southpaw with a stunning record of 70-3. Rui defeated former Kickboxing World Champion, Hiroki Akimoto, in a tightly contested fight in his ONE debut, earning himself a shot at the Bantamweight crown.
Will Haggerty be able to use his footwork and devastating right hand to return to winning ways and remain the Bantamweight Kickboxing Champion? Or will Rui’s lethal left kick and elite kickboxing experience propel him to champion status in just his second ONE bout? Fans will have to wait just over a month to find out!
5) Seksan vs Soe Lin Oo
Most fans regard Seksan as the most prolific Muay Bouk in the current era of Muay Thai and for good reason; his aggressive, walk-forward style has secured him an almost immaculate record on ONE with his most recent victory being a high-octane knockout against “The Hitman” himself, Liam Harrison.
Soe Lin Oo is a superstar from Thailand’s neighboring country, Myanmar. His experience in Lethwei, a sport where the only way to win is via KO, has forged him into a relentless and brutal warrior. Having achieved three stoppage wins out of four outings on ONE, Oo has secured a reputation that rivals his Thai opponent.
“The Man of Steel” is set to face “The Man Who Yields To No One” at ONE: 170, in a bout that has the potential to be the most action-packed and brutal bout in Muay Thai history.
6) Superlek vs TBA
Superlek may have had to withdraw from his highly anticipated clash against Nico Carillo on ONE: 170 due to a knee injury but fans won’t be waiting too long to see “The Kicking Machine” on the ONE stage again. The king of the Bantamweight Muay Thai division has already been preliminarily matched on ONE’s massive 172nd show that is set to be held at the Saitama Sports Arena in Japan on March 23rd.
His opponent will be the winner of this month’s Interim-Championship bout between Nico Carillo and Nabil Anane, both of whom are in the prime of their fighting careers. Carillo’s tremendous power gives him the ability to end a fight with a single punch and while Superlek may have previously defeated Anane in the Thai-Algerian’s ONE debut, he has since proven that he can use his towering size and incredible IQ to adapt to a myriad of fight styles.
Both contenders will certainly bring their own unique challenges to Superlek if given the chance, but first, they must meet at ONE:170 to determine who is most worthy of the opportunity to test themselves against the champion.
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