3 Bouts That Could Steal The Show At ONE Fight Night 22: Sundell vs. Diachkova On May 3
Every matchup at ONE Fight Night 22: Sundell vs. Diachkova on Prime Video is designed to deliver action.
Set to go down in U.S. primetime this Friday, May 3, the 11-fight card is topped by a massive ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Title contest between two of the planet’s top strikers.
Beyond that, the supporting bill offers no shortage of high-stakes fights and fan-favorite athletes, all competing in intriguing contests across four different combat sports disciplines.
With that in mind, here are three bouts that could steal the show at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
#1 Sinsamut Klinmee Vs. Dmitry Menshikov
In lightweight Muay Thai action, two of the sport’s most devastating knockout artists are set to collide in a clash that could determine the division’s next World Title challenger.
Thai sensation Sinsamut Klinmee owns three highlight-reel stoppages across four victories in the world’s largest martial arts organization, showcasing terrifying power in both his hands and feet.
His only two losses in ONE have come at the hands of reigning ONE Lightweight Muay Thai World Champion Regian “The Immortal” Eersel.
The 28-year-old is undoubtedly hungry for another crack at gold, but standing in his way is the heavy-handed Dmitry Menshikov.
Now riding a two-fight first-round knockout streak, the Russian is a ruthless finisher with thunderous power in both hands. Like Sinsamut, he came up short against Eersel in his bid for 26 pounds of gold and knows that a win here could secure another World Title shot.
Simply put, the judges likely won’t be needed in this electrifying showdown.
#2 Hiroki Akimoto Vs. Wei Rui
Multiple-time K-1 World Champion Wei Rui – a man widely regarded as one of the planet’s top pound-for-pound kickboxers – will make his promotional debut against former ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Hiroki Akimoto.
Renowned for his explosive, sanda-based kicking game, the Chinese superstar will come into this contest riding an incredible 20-fight winning streak that dates back to 2018.
Wei’s fan-friendly style of striking will be put to a stiff test against the division’s former titleholder.
The 31-year-old Akimoto is a master technician with truly elite fight IQ, equally capable of picking his opponents apart from the outside as he is engaging in a close-quarters brawl.
Stylistically, this matchup is a striking fan’s dream.
Wei is perhaps the division’s speediest fighter and a flashy kicker, while Japanese star Akimoto, with his background in Kyokushin Karate and a seemingly granite chin, is sure to present some new problems for the much-hyped ONE newcomer.
#3 Thongpoon Vs. Zakaria El Jamari
Beloved Thai scrapper Thongpoon PK Saenchai will throw down with Moroccan phenom Zakaria El Jamari in a strawweight Muay Thai tilt that has fireworks written all over it.
Fresh off a spectacular knockout win in February at ONE Fight Night 19, the flamboyant Thongpoon is the epitome of fearless aggression, rightfully earning his reputation as a can’t-miss performer each and every time he enters the ring.
On Friday, the 26-year-old brawler will meet a like-minded foe in El Jamari.
Long considered one of the Middle East’s most talented and entertaining strikers, he hopes to employ his world-class boxing attack to take out Thongpoon in enemy territory and secure his first win in ONE.
