3 Bouts That Could Steal The Show At ONE Fight Night 48
World-class martial arts firepower returns to the legendary Lumpinee Stadium at ONE Fight Night 48: Erdogan vs. Elliott on Prime Video. Featuring a rich, multi-discipline billing across MMA, Muay Thai, kickboxing, and submission grappling, the stacked card goes down live in U.S. primetime on Friday, October 2.
A battle of heavyweight titans headlines the nine-bout extravaganza, as undefeated Turkish mauler Shamil Erdogan collides with British finisher Paul “King of the North” Elliott. The spoils of victory will move the winner within touching distance of the vacant ONE Heavyweight MMA World Title.
Yet the marquee clash is far from the only reason to tune in. Beneath the headliner, several high-stakes matchups carry every bit as much intrigue, with hungry contenders eager to seize global attention.
Here are three bouts that could have all of Bangkok talking once the dust settles.
#1 Luke Lessei Vs. Charlie Guest
Two completely contrasting styles meet head-on when Luke “The Chef” Lessei faces Charlie Guest in featherweight Muay Thai action. In this highly anticipated war, controlling the distance will likely decide everything.
Raised on the mats of his father’s gym in Dubuque, Iowa, Lessei uses a sharp, piston-like push kick to set up an unorthodox and highly destructive arsenal. The creative American owns three thrilling victories in the promotion, most recently unleashing an unpredictable striking barrage to dismantle “The Eagle” Mohamed Younes Rabah at ONE Fight Night 45 this past July.
Meanwhile, Guest brings a hugely decorated resume into his second ONE appearance. The English standout owns 38 career victories alongside ISKA, WBC European, and WBC British titles.
After grinding for years on the regional circuit to earn his shot in the world’s largest martial arts organization, the Andover native wasted absolutely no time. He dropped Sam Fitzgerald three times en route to a spectacular second-round TKO at ONE Fight Night 44, making an unforgettable first impression.
The matchup inevitably becomes a tactical tug-of-war over real estate. Lessei thrives in open space to snap his teeps and dictate the tempo. The Brit, however, wants it chest-to-chest in the clinch, where he can unleash punishing hooks and elbows at close quarters.
With reigning ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Nico “King of the North” Carrillo watching intently, both men hope to leave an indelible mark on the division. “The Chef” wants another crack at the heavy-handed Scot who previously stopped him, while Guest could immediately leapfrog the queue by taking out one of its most respected mainstays.
#2 Joshua Perreira Vs. Antonio Cesar
Two paths that nearly crossed in July finally converge when undefeated Hawaiian dynamo Joshua “Flyin Hawaiian” Perreira meets blazing Brazilian talent Antonio “The Flash” Cesar in a crucial flyweight MMA clash.
Perreira was originally booked to face Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang at ONE Fight Night 45, but an injury forced him off the card. Cesar filled the void on short notice and made the absolute most of the opportunity.
Fighting out of Immortal Martial Arts, Perreira holds a flawless 6-0 professional record, with every single win coming inside the distance. Remarkably, his 38-second spinning backfist knockout of Gilbert Nakatani at ONE Fight Night 42 marked a triumphant return from a grueling ACL rehabilitation.
Cesar, for his part, rides a blistering nine-fight winning streak alongside a 14-2 career record. Accepting his promotional debut on short notice, the Manaus native outworked the highly credentialed Adiwang over three full rounds to claim a dominant unanimous decision.
On paper, this matchup is a classic sprinter-versus-marathoner affair. No opponent has ever survived to hear the final bell against Perreira, while Cesar methodically breaks foes down piece by piece until they completely wilt.
Whoever successfully imposes their pace should vault up the stacked flyweight MMA ladder. For Perreira, it is a chance to build incredible momentum off his inspiring comeback, while Cesar aims to add another notable scalp to his growing ledger.
#3 Elbrus Osmanov Vs. Yi Yuxuan
Bantamweight kickboxing gets a thrilling twist when Elbrus “The Samurai” Osmanov meets Yi Yuxuan. The Chinese striker steps in for the injured Denis “Denizinho” Souza Jr., determined to turn a late-notice opportunity into a career-defining night.
Osmanov previously reeled off six straight kickboxing wins on ONE Friday Fights before suffering a lone setback against Japanese superstar Yuki Yoza. Otherwise, the Russian striker has looked virtually unstoppable en route to an outstanding 15-1 career record.
Undaunted by the loss, the Dagestani standout pivoted to Muay Thai and violently eradicated three battle-hardened Thai warriors. His first-round TKO of “Left Meteorite” Ratchasiesan Laochokcharoen put the exclamation point on that impeccable run, earning him a life-changing US$100,000 contract.
Now, Osmanov returns to kickboxing with unfinished business against an incredibly accomplished opponent looking to shock the combat sports world. Yi carries a gaudy 56-5-1 professional record, heavily armed with multiple WLF tournament titles and an ISKA 67-kilogram belt.
Few rivals in his weight class have escaped the decorated kickboxer on the regional circuit. Pit Yi’s nothing-to-lose mindset against Osmanov’s ferocious output, and this high-octane clash could easily produce the cleanest highlight-reel finish of the night.
With Jonathan “The General” Haggerty defending his bantamweight kickboxing crown against Hiroki Akimoto at ONE SAMURAI 4 on October 17, the race for the next shot at the World Title is rapidly heating up. A statement win on October 2 either restores Osmanov’s kickboxing momentum toward 26 pounds of gold or thrusts Yi firmly into the global mix.
