ONE Championship: A New Tomorrow Review
ONE Championship has had their first event of the 2020’s and the card looked fantastic on paper but did it live up to expectations? Personally, I don’t know yet, I’ve not seen it yet but I’d imagine it does. I can’t wait so let’s get into it!
Liam Harrison Vs. Mohammed Bin Mahmoud (Muay Thai; Bantamweight)
Round 1: This a bantamweight Muay Thai contest. Harrison is the more experienced fighter. Mohammed is much younger at the age of 23. Jordanboy composing himself well as he lands a good combination. Harrison is trying to cut Jordanboy off but Mohammed continues to land his leg kicks but he gets hit with a massive left hook! Harrison continues to apply the pressure and nails Jordanboy with a cracking elbow! To Mohammed’s credit, he got back up but he quickly goes back down after Liam Harrison continue to rain down strikes for the first round stoppage.
Thoughts: Liam Harrison turned back the clock there and it was a excellent performance! That was Harrison from years ago and it was phenomenal!
Thoughts: Liam Harrison turned back the clock there and it was a excellent performance! That was Harrison from years ago and it was phenomenal!
Thanh Le Vs. Ryogo Takahashi (Featherweight)
Round 1: Le lands a swift body kick but Takahashi catches it and throws a left hook however it doesn’t connect. Takahashi lands a 2 punch combination. They trade and separate. Takahashi catches another body kick but can’t get the left hook. Le sweeps Takahashi and as soon as Takahashi gets up, Le knocks him down. Takahashi gets back up immediately but Le just overwhelms him with offence to get the win.
Thoughts: Thanh Le has a lot of power! He’ll be big in the featherweight division with power like that!
Thoughts: Thanh Le has a lot of power! He’ll be big in the featherweight division with power like that!
Sangmanee Sor Tienpo Vs. Kenta Yamada (Muay Thai; Bantamweight)
Round 1: It’s a back and fourth start to begin with. Sangmanee starts to land good shots. He lands a nice body kick. Yamada catches a body kick and lands ab elbow. Sangmanee just misses a head kick. Yamada continues to catch the body kicks. Sangmanee puts Yamada to the floor with a trip. Sangmanee hits some body kicks and switches it to head kicks. He lands a straight left and is starting to land straight body kicks. Yamada lands a knee to the body and they go back and fourth to conclude the round.
Thoughts: That was a really entertaining first round. Sangmanee’s body kicks are working really well for him so I expect to see more of that in the second round.
Round Winner: Sangmanee (10-9)
Round 2: Sangmanee starts showing off his head movement by making Yamada miss a lot of shots. He continues to go to the body with kicks. Yamada can’t keep eating them. The referee calls for a quick timeout. Yamada moves his head backwards so he doesn’t get hit with a Big head kick. Sangmanee is just so relentless and just doesn’t stop!
Thoughts: Sangmanee is proving this to be a massive mismatch! Let’s see if he gets a stoppage.
Round Winner: Sangmanee (10-8)
Round 3: Sangmanee continues to pressure Yamada and just keeps going to the body with brutal kicks. I don’t know how Yamada is taking these. Yamada lands some shots but with 90 seconds left, I think it’s too late. Sangmanee moves out of Yamada’s way and keeps his distance with the strikes. It’s Yamada who’s looking for a finish but it’s about 3 rounds too late.
Thoughts: This was a really great fight that Sangmanee won on points and I definitely agree with the result, it was just a dominating performance from him. He showed the levels in Muay Thai and clearly showed that he’s on a much higher level than Yamada.
Round Winner: Sangmanee (10-9)
Thoughts: That was a really entertaining first round. Sangmanee’s body kicks are working really well for him so I expect to see more of that in the second round.
Round Winner: Sangmanee (10-9)
Round 2: Sangmanee starts showing off his head movement by making Yamada miss a lot of shots. He continues to go to the body with kicks. Yamada can’t keep eating them. The referee calls for a quick timeout. Yamada moves his head backwards so he doesn’t get hit with a Big head kick. Sangmanee is just so relentless and just doesn’t stop!
Thoughts: Sangmanee is proving this to be a massive mismatch! Let’s see if he gets a stoppage.
Round Winner: Sangmanee (10-8)
Round 3: Sangmanee continues to pressure Yamada and just keeps going to the body with brutal kicks. I don’t know how Yamada is taking these. Yamada lands some shots but with 90 seconds left, I think it’s too late. Sangmanee moves out of Yamada’s way and keeps his distance with the strikes. It’s Yamada who’s looking for a finish but it’s about 3 rounds too late.
Thoughts: This was a really great fight that Sangmanee won on points and I definitely agree with the result, it was just a dominating performance from him. He showed the levels in Muay Thai and clearly showed that he’s on a much higher level than Yamada.
Round Winner: Sangmanee (10-9)
Stamp Fairtex Vs. Puja Tomar (Atomweight)
Round 1: This fight will allow us to see just what Stamp Fairtex is capable of in the world of MMA - she’s 3-0 trying I get to 4-0. She’s going for body kicks. She’s already a kickboxing and Muay Thai so she’s really dominating the combat world. Pujar Tomar catches her leg and takes her down. Tomar, is a southpaw fighter from India. Fairtex is trying to get a rear naked choke. Stamp has back mount now but Tomar isn’t allowing herself to get caught in a choke hold. Tomar rolls herself over and Stamp has full mount now. Tomar is making it difficult for Fairtex to get the advantage. Stamp Fairtex returns to the back mount as she wrestlers with full mount or back mount hit she’s here with back. She starts throwing shots to Puja Tomar who can’t do anything other than to take these punches. Fairtex is punching for the first round stoppage and as soon as she starts landing elbows, she gets the win as the referee has seen enough!
Thoughts: That was a fantastic performance from Stamp Fairtex. She is now 4-0 and honestly, I’m glad she’s having to run through the division before getting a title shot rather than just being handed it like some people do. Fairtex has some of the best striking that you will ever see and by adding a great ground game, she’s only going to be a better fighter and will be a big threat when she’s in title contention.
Thoughts: That was a fantastic performance from Stamp Fairtex. She is now 4-0 and honestly, I’m glad she’s having to run through the division before getting a title shot rather than just being handed it like some people do. Fairtex has some of the best striking that you will ever see and by adding a great ground game, she’s only going to be a better fighter and will be a big threat when she’s in title contention.
Rodtang (C) Vs. Jonathan Haggerty (ONE Flyweight Muay Thai Championship)
Round 1: Rodtang starts with his leg kicks. Haggerty misses a round house kick. He comes in with a great elbow but accidentally eye pokes Haggerty. Haggerty keeps going for head kicks but can’t get them. Rodtang goes low with a body shot and gets it. He pressures Haggerty then hits him with 2 shots to the body and Haggerty goes down! Rodtang keeps going for the body shots and Haggerty starts to come forward. Haggerty lands a good front kick to Rodtang’s head.
Thoughts: Haggerty should keep using his distance but instead he’s coming forward, he should keep using that reach.
Round Winner: Rodtang (10-8)
Round 2: Both men land leg kicks. Haggerty goes to the body with a kick. They clinch against the ropes but it gets broken up. Rodtang continues to go to its leg kicks. Rodtang clips Haggerty and Haggerty goes down but I don’t know if it was the camera angle so I can’t confirm if it was a knockdown or not. Haggerty tries to sweep Rodtang’s leg but Rodtang jumped over it. Both men land good strikes to end the round.
Thoughts: That was a really good round of action - Haggerty has recovered well since the opening round.
Round Winner: Rodtang (10-9)
Round 3: Rodtang throws Haggerty down. Rodtang lands fantastic punches but Haggerty withers the storm. Haggerty complains and the fight stops for about a minute but the fight is resumed. Both men exchange strikes and Rodtang is getting the better of it and he drops Haggerty with body strikes and Haggerty is also cut open! Rodtang keeps applying the pressure and Haggerty landed abuse right hand however the power is just too much for Haggerty as Rodtang drops him and then drops him again to end the fight!
Thoughts: This was a dominant victory from Rodtang. He showed off his power and he did exactly what he had to do and what people thought he would. His elbows and leg kicks did him wonders and his body work was fantastic.
Overall Thoughts: This event from ONE Championship was really great. I enjoyed every bout on the card and I can’t wait for Fire & Fury at the end of the month!
Thoughts: Haggerty should keep using his distance but instead he’s coming forward, he should keep using that reach.
Round Winner: Rodtang (10-8)
Round 2: Both men land leg kicks. Haggerty goes to the body with a kick. They clinch against the ropes but it gets broken up. Rodtang continues to go to its leg kicks. Rodtang clips Haggerty and Haggerty goes down but I don’t know if it was the camera angle so I can’t confirm if it was a knockdown or not. Haggerty tries to sweep Rodtang’s leg but Rodtang jumped over it. Both men land good strikes to end the round.
Thoughts: That was a really good round of action - Haggerty has recovered well since the opening round.
Round Winner: Rodtang (10-9)
Round 3: Rodtang throws Haggerty down. Rodtang lands fantastic punches but Haggerty withers the storm. Haggerty complains and the fight stops for about a minute but the fight is resumed. Both men exchange strikes and Rodtang is getting the better of it and he drops Haggerty with body strikes and Haggerty is also cut open! Rodtang keeps applying the pressure and Haggerty landed abuse right hand however the power is just too much for Haggerty as Rodtang drops him and then drops him again to end the fight!
Thoughts: This was a dominant victory from Rodtang. He showed off his power and he did exactly what he had to do and what people thought he would. His elbows and leg kicks did him wonders and his body work was fantastic.
Overall Thoughts: This event from ONE Championship was really great. I enjoyed every bout on the card and I can’t wait for Fire & Fury at the end of the month!
