3 Intriguing Matchups That Could Steal The Show At ONE Fight Night 15
The world’s largest martial arts organization will soon touch down at the legendary Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, for a bout card loaded with fan favorites and intriguing matchups.
ONE Fight Night 15 on Prime Video goes down this Friday, October 6, and it will air live in U.S. primetime to more than 190 countries around the world.
Fans are naturally looking forward to the World Title main events, but beyond those battles for gold, the lineup offers no shortage of compelling action and guaranteed fireworks.
With that said, here are three contests that could end up stealing the show at ONE Fight Night 15.
#1 Mikey Musumeci Vs. Shinya Aoki
Never one to back down from a challenge, reigning ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Champion Mikey “Darth Rigatoni” Musumeci will give up at least 30 pounds in weight to take on Japanese icon Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki in an openweight submission grappling showdown.
Musumeci will look to earn his third straight submission victory and extend his undefeated five-match winning streak in ONE, but he’ll face his toughest test yet against the former ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion.
Widely regarded as perhaps the finest submission specialist in MMA history, Aoki has never been submitted in the all-around sport. He will also show no fear in engaging with the BJJ superstar – making for a high-paced ground battle that’s sure to entertain.
#2 Joshua Pacio Vs. Mansur Malachiev
Undefeated Russian prodigy Mansur Malachiev aims to continue his rapid climb up the strawweight MMA ranks when he squares off with former divisional king and current #1 contender Joshua “The Passion” Pacio.
Malachiev burst onto the scene in June, scoring a spectacular first-round submission win over perennial tough out Jeremy Miado at ONE Fight Night 11.
The 31-year-old has everything it takes to become a World Champion, from his prodigious athleticism to his dangerous blend of all-around skill. Pacio, though, hopes to derail the hype train and earn a chance at redemption against reigning divisional king Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks.
With each man having something to prove – along with high-level finishing abilities – fans can expect an all-out war in this crucial contest.
#3 Timofey Nastyukhin Vs. Zhang Lipeng
Over the course of their combined 68 professional MMA fights, Timofey Nastyukhin and “The Warrior” Zhang Lipeng have established themselves as all-action entertainers. With that in mind, their lightweight MMA showdown is bound to produce white-knuckle thrills for as long as it lasts.
A participant in some of ONE’s most unforgettable brawls, the 33-year-old Nastyukhin finds himself with his back against the wall after losing his last three fights against elite opponents.
On Friday, the former ONE Lightweight MMA World Title challenger will need that extra push of motivation against the Chinese veteran.
Known for his ruthless finishing abilities, “The Warrior” could prove he belongs among the lightweight top five with a strong showing, so fans can expect him to come out swinging.
