5 Biggest Takeaways From ONE Fight Night 38: Andrade Vs. Baatarkhuu
ONE Fight Night 38: Andrade vs. Baatarkhuu closed out 2025 with a spectacular evening of martial arts action at Bangkok’s legendary Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, December 5.
The organization’s final U.S. primetime card of the year had it all, including the crowning of two new World Champions, a classic submission grappling contest between legends, and rising stars announcing themselves as the next ONE World Title challengers.
It was truly an evening to remember, and several of the winners will bring tremendous momentum into their highly anticipated returns in 2026.
As the New Year fast approaches, we take a moment to reflect on the magic from ONE Fight Night 38 and look at the five biggest takeaways from the historic event.
#1 Baatarkhuu Caps A Perfect 2025 As World Champion
“The Tormentor” Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu authored the final chapter to what may go down as the greatest year of his life, as he claimed the ONE Bantamweight MMA World Title and etched his name into Mongolian combat sports history.
Baatarkhuu deployed a patient, suffocating grappling strategy that systematically broke down defending king Fabricio “Wonder Boy” Andrade at ONE Fight Night 38. Though the Brazilian gave the challenger a test unlike any he has faced, “The Tormentor” seized the moment and ended the proceedings with a rear-naked choke that drew a tap at the 1:33 mark of the fourth frame.
With that, the 36-year-old became only the second athlete from his country to claim a ONE World Title, following in the footsteps of his mentor and coach, former ONE Featherweight MMA World Champion Narantungalag “Tungaa” Jadambaa.
It was the perfect way for “The Tormentor” to close out 2025. The Road To ONE: Mongolia winner has now made it three victories in a row this year, barely a month after capturing global attention with his appearance on Netflix’s Physical: Asia.
To sweeten the moment, ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong awarded him a US$50,000 performance bonus. Baatarkhuu now sits at 14-3 overall and rides a four-bout winning streak into 2026.
#2 Reis Proves He Is The Best Flyweight Submission Grappler
Two-time ADCC World Champion and IBJJF Grand Slam winner Diogo “Baby Shark” Reis has now conquered another major summit. And, in the process, he made it abundantly clear why no one can hold a candle to his grappling prowess in the flyweight division.
The 23-year-old overwhelmed the highly touted Daiki Yonekura with relentless pressure to claim the vacant ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Title via unanimous decision at ONE Fight Night 38.
“Baby Shark” moved at lightning speed, chased guard passes with ruthless efficiency, and threatened submissions from every position. The Brazilian barely gave his opponent room to breathe, keeping the IGLOO affiliate on the defensive for long stretches of their 10-minute scrap.
The victory pushed his career record to 94-12 and made sure he kept his perfect ONE Championship run intact after he submitted Japanese standout Shoya Ishiguro in his promotional debut at ONE Fight Night 29 in March.
Reis’ combination of positional control, creative submission setups, and relentless pacing makes him near-unplayable against top opposition, and it’s hard to imagine the Brazilian losing his grip on submission grappling’s most coveted prize anytime soon.
#3 The Emergence Of Two World Title Contenders
ONE Fight Night 38 didn’t just crown new World Champions – it produced two fighters who could, and would, find themselves in World Title fights in 2026.
Thai-Malaysian destroyer Aliff Sor Dechapan systematically dismantled Ramadan “The Scorpion” Ondash to secure a unanimous decision victory and earn his shot at Prajanchai PK Saenchai‘s ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Title.
The 21-year-old faced a stiff challenge right off the bat, but he eventually settled into a rhythm at the midway point of the contest and scored a crucial eight-count in round three to make it four victories on the trot.
Before that strawweight Muay Thai tilt took center stage inside the “Madison Square Garden of the East” at ONE Fight Night 38, reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight Kickboxing World Champion “The Queen” Phetjeeja Lukjaoporongtom made a resounding statement in her return to Muay Thai as she stopped Martyna Dominczak via first-round TKO at 2:46.
She floored the fellow WMC World Champion thrice with a crushing right hand, a sharp left hook to the body, and a right punch-right high kick combination to wrap things up via the three-knockdown rule.
The win improved Phetjeeja’s career record to 210-6 and may have just set her up for her chance at two-sport glory against ONE Women’s Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Allycia Hellen Rodrigues.
#4 BJJ Royalty Delivered As Promised
In a lightweight submission grappling dream match that lived up to every ounce of the hype, Lachlan Giles authored the perfect ending to a legendary career. The 39-year-old submitted Marcelo “Marcelinho” Garcia, widely considered the greatest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitor of all time, with a kneebar at 7:03 of their single-round 10-minute battle.
Garcia, a nine-time BJJ World Champion, attempted to secure mount early, but the Melbourne native deployed his infamous K-guard to neutralize the advance. From that defensive position, the Australian grabbed the Brazilian’s leg and threatened the finish.
Though “Marcelinho” freed himself, Giles remained patient and focused. Then, he grabbed Garcia’s leg once more, rotated his hips with precision, and transitioned seamlessly to the kneebar that forced the tap.
For the Melbourne native, retiring with a victory over the man he considers the GOAT represented the pinnacle of a career spent revolutionizing leg lock systems and proving that technical innovation could challenge even the most decorated champions.
This wasn’t just a regular contest at ONE Fight Night 38. It was a celebration of BJJ evolution, a testament to lifelong dedication, and a reminder that legends recognize legends.
#5 Kholmirzaev Will Be One To Watch In 2026
Uzbek warrior Avazbek “Ninzya” Kholmirzaev has been winning in style since debuting on the global stage. The 25-year-old made it six wins in a row, five coming in highlight-reel fashion, as he dispatched Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado via second-round TKO at ONE Fight Night 38.
While he typically dominates every time he competes, the Filipino knockout machine came prepared to stop the Uzbek’s hype train. Miado dropped him with a huge overhand right in the opening stanza, and he threatened with a D’Arce choke and an ankle lock in round two.
“Ninzya” weathered the storm, however, and unleashed a devastating ground-and-pound attack that forced the referee to stop the contest at 4:53.
The victory improved Kholmirzaev’s career record to 15-2 and extended his active winning streak to six. More importantly, it demonstrated his ability to overcome adversity against a crafty veteran who possesses dangerous finishing instincts.
A high-profile matchup would be the best way for him to start his 2026 campaign. Should he ace that test, the Uzbek could inch closer to the flyweight division’s top-five rankings, bringing him a step closer to challenging reigning ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu.
