5 Highlight-Reel Knockouts From The Stars Of ONE 157
Some of the most destructive knockout artists on the planet will be inside the Singapore Indoor Stadium for ONE 157: Petchmorakot vs. Vienot.
And when the action gets underway on Friday, 20 May, fans can expect these skilled strikers to dish out a night of fiery knockouts.
As the stars of the show prepare to deliver more highlight-reel finishes, let’s relive five of their best KOs to date.
#1 Opacic’s Dynamite Fists Demolish Xhaja
Rade Opacic has gone 4-0 since joining ONE Championship, and all four of those victories have come via KO or TKO.
At ONE: ONLY THE BRAVE this past January, the Serbian kickboxing star maintained his 100 percent finishing rate in the Circle with a stellar striking showcase against Albania’s Francesko Xhaja.
In the opening round, Opacic used a stunning six-piece combination to send his opponent down and earn the first eight-count of the contest.
The 24-year-old then ramped up his aggression in the following stanza – and that paid even greater dividends.
First, he sent Xhaja to the ground with a hellish left hook and soon floored him again with an overhand right.
The Albanian showed tremendous willpower by returning to his feet, but another uppercut and hook from the towering Serb knocked Xhaja down for a third time in the round, automatically ending the contest.
Opacic’s truck-like fists and boxing prowess have been unstoppable, but he’ll face an even greater test at ONE 157 against Guto Inocente, who debuted in the organization with a dominant TKO of his own.
#2 Catalan’s Incredible Head Kick Puts Balart To Sleep
Robin Catalan has amassed six finishes in his illustrious MMA career, but none can match his highlight-reel knockout of Gustavo Balart at ONE: MASTERS OF FATE in November 2019.
Long before the finish, the Filipino fighter had to withstand Balart’s nonstop grappling onslaught. The former Cuban Olympic wrestler charged forward with takedowns, body locks, and even wild haymakers that made it hard for Catalan to keep up.
But what looked like a one-sided match in favor of “El Gladiador” came to an abrupt end in spectacular fashion.
As Balart stepped into the pocket, he dropped his guard. And within a split second, “The Ilonggo” uncorked a perfectly timed head kick at the exposed chin and temple that left the Cuban face-first on the canvas.
Next, Catalan will attempt to produce another moment of magic against Elipitua “The Magician” Siregar in a strawweight bout at ONE 157.
#3 Wondergirl’s Aggression Seals 81-Second Debut Win
Nat “Wondergirl” Jaroonsak introduced herself to the global stage of martial arts with a dazzling Muay Thai performance against Brooke Farrell at ONE: NO SURRENDER III in August 2020.
The Thai striking dynamo needed only 81 seconds to record her first win in the organization at the expense of the Australian, who was simply no match for the fired-up youngster.
The 23-year-old walked Farrell down with jabs, left hooks, and straight rights that sent her to the canvas for an eight-count in less than a minute.
That offense continued when the bout resumed, but with even more power and precision. Wondergirl advanced behind a barrage of strikes and eventually dropped the Australian once again with a left hook.
Farrell tried to get up, but she was in no shape to continue, and the referee quickly waved off the contest.
Next, Wondergirl will switch over to MMA and showcase her all-around skill set against fellow strawweight Zeba Bano.
#4 Rodtang’s Chopping Leg Kicks Spell Disaster For Sok Thy
ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon is the most feared athlete in ONE’s all-striking divisions.
His knockout of Sok Thy at ONE: WARRIORS OF LIGHT in May 2019 showed exactly why, as “The Iron Man” broke down every inch of the Cambodian’s defense with damaging shots.
In the first three minutes, Rodtang bruised his foe’s lead leg with powerful kicks. When he was done there, the Thai megastar went upstairs with hooks, one-two combinations, and wild overhands that sent a clear message to the Kun Khmer specialist.
That plot continued in the second frame, as Rodtang hammered the Cambodian Top Team star with a variety of attacks, targeting the chin, midsection, thighs, shins, and everything in between.
The forward momentum never slowed, and a final salvo of stinging leg kicks finally dropped Sok Thy for the emphatic finish at 1:36 of round two.
On 20 May, Rodtang will begin his march toward a second belt in ONE’s flyweight Muay Thai division when he faces Jacob Smith in the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix quarterfinals.
#5 Petchmorakot’s Huge Knees Crush Peters
Before he became the ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion, Petchmorakot Petchyindee went up against Charlie Peters at ONE: EDGE OF GREATNESS in November 2019 and earned a second-round knockout by staying true to his craft.
The Thai striker kept his opponent at bay with huge teeps down the middle, and whenever Peters advanced toward him, he made sure his shin struck the Englishman’s leather, midsection, and chin.
Not one to depend on a single weapon, Petchmorakot also merged elbows and knees with his punches in the second frame. That wore down Peters, who dropped to the canvas after absorbing a flurry of knee strikes to the abdomen.
Sensing the end was near, Petchmorakot followed up with another cruel left knee that forced the English striker on all fours. With that, referee Atsushi Onari officially stopped the contest at 1:48 of the second round.
On 20 May, Petchmorakot will look to add another spectacular finish to his resume and defend his belt against dangerous challenger Jimmy Vienot in the main event of ONE 157.
