ONE: ‘A New Tomorrow’ Preview (Pt. 1)
ONE: “A New Tomorrow” is set for the Impact Arena on Friday (Jan. 10, 2020) and as you would expect from a fight card in Bangkok, it is stacked with Muay Thai and kickboxing bouts.
In the main event, Rodtang Jitmuangnon defends his flyweight Muay Thai title against Jonathan Haggerty in a rematch. Two of the top fighters in the sport today will also be in action with Saengmanee Sathiangym and Muangthai PKSaenchaigym on the card.
MMA interest is provided by a potential strawweight title eliminator between Maira Mazar and Ayaka Miura. The winner of the featherweight fights between Thanh Le and Ryogo Takahashi could also be in contention for a shot at the belt.
Here’s my preview of the first six fights:
Yohan Legowo vs. Roel Rosauro (Featherweight)
Yohan Legowo (8-8) is a veteran with nearly two decades of pro experience and a background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). But his ONE results have been disappointing and looks short on both form and fitness.
Rosauro (4-3) is a southpaw who will be going in search of his first ONE Championship win. This looks like it could go either way.
Maira Mazar vs Ayaka Miura (Strawweight)
Maira Mazar (6-2) was selected to join Evolve MMA after a successful tryout last year. The Brazilian has a loss to Weill Zhang on her record and might want to keep this one standing.
Ayaka Miura (9-2) has a background in judo and is very dangerous with arm and wrist locks. Her strength is clearly her ground game and the winner of this could be in contention for an immediate title shot.
Muay Thai: Han Zi Hao vs Mehdi Zatout (Bantamweight)
Han Zi Hao has spent a lot of time training in Thailand and mixes the western style with the Thai style. He can attack with straight punches and low kicks but also knows how to use his knees and elbows at close quarters.
Mehdi Zatout has been in with some elite fighters like Saenchai PKSaenchaigym, Fabio Pinca and Liam Harrison but rarely comes out on top in these contests. The Frenchman is highly experienced and likes to use his hands.
Ma Jia Wen vs Shinechagtga Zoltsetseg (Featherweight)
Ma Jia Wen (6-2) established himself as one of the top Chinese prospects on the roster in 2018 but hasn’t fought for 18 months after suffering a hand injury and taking time out from the sport to get married.
Meanwhile Shinechagtga Zoltsetseg (5-2) has been involved in some absolute wars on the ONE Warrior Series and has fought four times since Wen last competed. The Mongolian’s fights are never dull and this is definitely one to watch out for.
Kickboxing: Victor Pinto vs Adam Noi (Bantamweight)
Victor Pinto has a background in Muay Thai although he did fight seven times for Glory, with mixed results. These days he and his brother are better known for their TV appearances than their fighting careers.
Adam Noi is making his ONE Championship debut. He hails from Algeria and fights out of the Venum Training Centre in Thailand, which has produced some successful fighters in recent years.
Raimond Magomedaliev vs Joey Pierotti (Welterweight)
Raimond Magomedaliev (5-1) has an unusual but exciting striking style. He’s got a diverse arsenal if kicks but doesn’t appear to be much of a wrestler, which definitely cost him on his ONE Championship debut.
Joey Pierotti (12-1) was scheduled to fight for the vacant CFFC 170lbs title but instead finds himself joining ONE Championship’s welterweight division. He has been in with some solid opponents on the competitive U.S. regional scene.
The entire ONE: “A New Tomorrow” fight card will be available to view live and free in some territories using the newly launched app which you can download here.
