5 Burning Questions Ahead Of ONE Fight Night 28 On February 7

This week, the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok will play host to another action-packed U.S. primetime event featuring plenty of compelling matchups.
Set to air live on February 7, ONE Fight Night 28: Prajanchai vs. Barboza on Prime Video is topped by a high-stakes World Title showdown that’s sure to garner attention from fans worldwide.
From the massive headliner to pivotal bouts with World Title implications to hungry rising stars aiming to make waves on the global stage, the lineup is designed to deliver drama from start to finish.
These are five key questions that will be answered at ONE Fight Night 28 this Friday.
#1 Can Barboza Shock The World And Dethrone Prajanchai?
The main event will see legendary Thai superstar Prajanchai PK Saenchai put his ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Title on the line against hard-hitting Brit Ellis “El Jefe” Badr Barboza.
For the challenger, this represents a chance to defeat one of the best overall strikers that Thailand has ever produced. A reigning two-sport ONE World Champion who boasts numerous prestigious accolades outside of the promotion, Prajanchai is an undeniable pound-for-pound great who hasn’t lost since 2022.
However, Barboza thinks he is the man to end the battle-tested veteran’s reign of terror.
While he’s a former WBC European Muay Thai Champion with dynamite in his hands, feet, and elbows, the 24-year-old hasn’t yet reached his full potential and will enter the contest as a sizable underdog.
Considering his show-stopping power and brash confidence, could Barboza score the stunning upset and take 26 pounds of gold from Prajanchai?
#2 Can Nong-O Keep Up With The New Generation?
Former long-reigning ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Hama will move down a division and make his flyweight debut against #4-ranked divisional contender Kongthoranee Sor Sommai.
Nong-O ruled the bantamweight Muay Thai division in dominant fashion for years, but he’s gone 1-3 in his last four, suffering defeats against young stars like Jonathan Haggerty and Nico Carrillo.
The 38-year-old Thai hopes for a fresh start and a run at gold in the flyweight division, but he’s facing another dangerous young gun in Kongthoranee.
The Sor Sommai representative is a master of striking technique who has lost just twice across 12 appearances in ONE, cementing himself among the flyweight Muay Thai division’s upper echelon.
Can Nong-O turn back the clock, prove he can hang with the new generation, and climb his way back to one more World Title shot?
#3 Can Adiwang And Dauev Crash The Rankings?
Crucial MMA bouts featuring talented upstarts will also be on tap at ONE Fight Night 28.
First, undefeated Russian destroyer Ibragim Dauev aims to catapult himself into the ONE Bantamweight MMA World Title picture when he squares off with #5-ranked contender Jeremy Pacatiw.
Dauev, with his prodigious physical gifts and all-around skill set, looks to be a future global star, but he’ll face the stiffest test of his career against Pacatiw, who has submitted his last two opponents.
After that, Filipino standout Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang could make it four in a row and land himself in the strawweight MMA rankings with a victory over #4-ranked divisional contender Keito Yamakita.
A ONE veteran since 2018, Adiwang has garnered legions of fans thanks to his explosive striking and fearless approach. He’s undoubtedly motivated to rejoin the top five and prove himself as a legitimate World Title threat.
Will these two athletes rise further in Bangkok, or will the ranked contenders defend their respective spots in the pecking order?
#4 Will Saemapetch Get His Revenge Against Lobo?
In bantamweight Muay Thai action, Thai hero Saemapetch Fairtex and Brazilian slugger Felipe “Demolition Man” Lobo will throw down in a rematch of their unforgettable 2023 clash.
In their first encounter, Saemapetch seemed well on his way to securing a hard-fought decision win – only for Lobo to roar back with an epic third-round knockout that left the Thai fans stunned.
Notably, Saemapetch is no stranger to rematches.
The 30-year-old has run it back with two men in ONE – Mohamed Younes Rabah and Rittewada Petchyindee – and each time, he’s delivered the knockout win after suffering a defeat in the first fight.
Fans can expect the Thai to come into his rematch with “Demolition Man” with extra motivation and revenge on his mind, setting the stage for an all-out war.
#5 Will ONE Newcomers Make A Splash On The Global Stage?
Friday’s event will feature the hotly anticipated promotional debuts of top American talents Diego Paez and Gianni Grippo.
Paez is set to battle fellow California native Sean Climaco in an explosive flyweight Muay Thai contest. With his dynamic striking style and deep bag of tricks, the ONE newcomer knows that a victory over “The One” would immediately establish him as a contender.
In featherweight submission grappling action, three-time IBJJF No-Gi World Champion Grippo aims to impress against gritty Brazilian grappler Gabriel Sousa.
While the New Jersey native has long been regarded as one of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s elite competitors, he’s yet to make his mark on the biggest platform for martial arts.
Fans can look forward to seeing Grippo employ his aggressive guard game and trademark arm-triangle choke against the fast-paced style of Sousa.
Can these ONE newcomers pick up statement-making victories at Lumpinee Stadium?