3 Bouts That Could Steal The Show At ONE Fight Night 49
A crucial lightweight MMA showdown, five unblemished professional records, and an entire card built for surprises converge on Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium when ONE Fight Night 49: Gabriel vs. Magomedov on Prime Video broadcasts live in U.S. primetime on Friday, November 6.
By the time headliners Lucas Gabriel and Magomed “Muhammad” Magomedov make their walks, they will already know exactly whose gold they are chasing. Less than 24 hours prior, on the same hallowed ground, two-division MMA World Champion Christian “The Warrior” Lee defends his ONE Lightweight MMA World Title against welterweight submission grappling king Tye Ruotolo at The Inner Circle 37.
In the night’s other marquee clash, Kongthoranee Sor Sommai and Taiki “Silent Sniper” Naito meet in an important rematch under kickboxing rules, with the Japanese star riding a three-fight winning streak into his quest for payback.
That said, the headliners tell only part of the story. Late changes have reshaped the lineup and opened fresh rivalries, and with that much brewing, three bouts in particular demand a close watch.
#1 Lee Seung Cheol Vs. Nazareth Lalthazuala
Two red-hot strawweight MMA contenders boasting flawless ONE Championship records collide when South Korean tactician Lee “The Flash” Seung Cheol meets Indian finishing machine Nazareth “The Northstar” Lalthazuala. Both men emphatically punched their tickets to the main roster with six-figure contracts earned on ONE’s weekly proving ground.
Lee has only gathered momentum since signing with the world’s largest martial arts organization. A contract-winning first-round submission of Cueng Naibaho at ONE Friday Fights 136 capped a four-fight winning streak. Since then, the DK Gym product has turned back Brazilian dynamo Fabio “The Giant” Henrique in March and divisional mainstay Bokang “Little Giant” Masunyane in July to move to an impressive 13-1.
Few strawweights can match his overwhelming pace. The 27-year-old currently holds the ONE divisional record for significant strikes in a single fight, with 157, and the second-best single-round tally, with 78.
Lalthazuala, on the other hand, has yet to require the judges’ input. The 25-year-old needed just 17 seconds to knock out Masaki Suzuki, seamlessly submitted Jake “Venom” Bron in the second round, and then stopped Jhon “The Protagonist” Brutas inside the opening frame this past June to earn his main-roster call-up.
In essence, this matchup is a fascinating race against the clock. The Dojang MMA representative has averaged fewer than four minutes to finish his work in ONE, whereas Lee thrives deep into grueling fights. The longer it lasts, the more it leans toward “The Flash.” Until then, every single exchange carries absolute danger against a heavy hitter like “The Northstar.”
Lee can cement his place among the strawweight elite with a signature win, while Lalthazuala has the perfect U.S. primetime stage to announce himself as one of India’s brightest MMA talents.
#2 Nontachai Vs. Felipe Lobo
Some lingering questions do not get settled the first time around. Six months after their initial meeting, Nontachai Jitmuangnon and Felipe “Demolition Man” Lobo run it back in a pivotal bantamweight Muay Thai clash, with each man desperate to rebound from a recent setback.
The Thai’s length and precision made the ultimate difference in May, but Lobo’s heavy punching power looms as the massive X-factor this time around.
Nontachai’s steady rise traces back to Road to ONE: Thailand, where he reeled off four straight victories to claim the 68-kilogram tournament. Since then, the Jitmuangnon Gym standout has gone 6-2 on the global stage.
However, the 27-year-old’s three-fight winning streak was snapped by Kiamran Nabati at The Inner Circle 31. Completely undeterred, he stepped in for the injured Katsuki Kitano, sending a clear sign that he is eager to turn the page immediately.
Lobo, meanwhile, has come a very long way from the favelas of Sao Paulo. The Revolution Muay Thai Phuket representative has twice challenged for ONE gold, even dropping reigning ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Jonathan “The General” Haggerty in their 2024 Muay Thai title clash.
Although the 33-year-old has come out on the wrong side of the scorecards in his last three outings, that statistical slide only makes him more dangerous. With his back firmly against the wall, Lobo has every reason to bite down on his mouthpiece and trade heavy leather, and one clean shot is all he needs to completely change a fight.
That sets the stage for a familiar puzzle equipped with a new twist. The taller Chumphon native leaned heavily on his kicks and probing jab to keep “Demolition Man” at bay last time out. The Brazilian, however, tends to come alive in the later rounds, and a single opening could rewrite the result — and with it, both men’s fortunes.
#3 Kalandar Tabarov Vs. Ilmadi Israilov
Kalandar Tabarov and Ilmadi Israilov arrive in ONE with plenty in common — from spotless professional records to a proven knack for ending fights early. They make their promotional debuts in this bantamweight MMA clash, but only one prospect can leave Bangkok with his perfect resume intact.
On paper, it shapes up as a classic striker-versus-grappler dynamic. Look closer, though, and both men bring far more than their traditional labels suggest.
Tabarov, a 27-year-old hailing from Dushanbe, Tajikistan, brings a flashy, unpredictable striking arsenal to the table, with spinning wheel kicks heavily featured among his weapons of choice. Yet his last two victories actually came by submission, and with four finishes in five pro bouts, he has proven he can end a fight wherever it unfolds.
Israilov, for his part, holds a pristine 9-0 record at just 23 years old, with six of those wins arriving by submission. The Fight Club Akhmat representative builds his grinding game around dragging opponents to the canvas and actively hunting for the finish from top control.
Ultimately, there is absolutely no safe haven for either man in this matchup. On the feet, Tabarov can turn a single strike into a viral highlight. On the mat, Israilov can turn a fleeting scramble into a fight-ending submission. Either way, the finish could materialize at any given moment.
