5 Big Reasons To Watch ONE 168: Denver
ONE 168: Denver looks set to deliver one of the most entertaining cards of the year as the promotion returns to North American soil with a star-studded lineup.
Some of the biggest names in combat sports will battle alongside home favorites and rising stars live in U.S. primetime this Friday, September 6.
With a passionate crowd packed into Colorado’s Ball Arena and massive viewership tuning in around the globe, all of the athletes will be looking to impress on the enormous platform they’ve been given.
Here are five of the biggest reasons to watch the action.
#1 A World Title Fight Between Pound-For-Pound Greats
Although Jonathan “The General” Haggerty and “The Kicking Machine” Superlek Kiatmoo9 met previously in 2018, that was before both men were global megastars in the striking world.
Six years later, Haggerty is the reigning ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai and Kickboxing World Champion, while Superlek holds the ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Title and is now challenging for two-sport, two-weight gold.
Both athletes are on hot streaks, with Haggerty unbeaten in seven straight fights and Superlek riding a 12-fight winning run. They’ve taken out some elite names in that time, but this will be an incredibly tough test on both sides.
Haggerty is eager for redemption following his controversial TKO loss to “The Kicking Machine” in their first meeting, while Superlek wants to bring the bantamweight Muay Thai belt back to its spiritual homeland.
With incredible skills, heart, and stopping power between a pair of pound-for-pound greats, this main event is a must-see matchup for all striking fans.
#2 Liam Harrison Returns In Dream Match With Seksan
For a while, it looked like Liam “Hitman” Harrison might never step foot in the Circle again due to a serious knee injury, but he’s now back in business and planning to remind fans why he’s one of the most exciting fighters on the planet.
Opposite him in a 140-pound catchweight Muay Thai bout is an opponent who will oblige in the kind of war the Brit wants to deliver – Thai sensation Seksan “The Man Who Yields To No One” Or Kwanmuang.
Harrison calls Seksan one of his heroes in the sport, and it was the one fight he wanted above all else when he knew he could return.
Both legends are always ready to charge forward and throw down with anybody, but it’s not always the case that their opponents will do the same.
This time, nobody will take a backward step, and that can only lead to a show-stopping battle between former Muay Thai World Champions that will live long in the memory.
#3 John Lineker’s Muay Thai Debut
John “Hands of Stone” Lineker has long built his reputation as one of the most feared punchers in MMA, and he’ll now bring his arsenal to the Muay Thai ranks.
The Brazilian slugger will face Asa “The American Ninja” Ten Pow in a bantamweight clash that pits his KO power against the slick skills of a striking specialist.
As a former ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion, Lineker’s heavy hands have taken him to the top of one sport, but the real intrigue is whether they will be enough against a man who’s spent his life honing his game toward that format.
For Ten Pow, it’s an opportunity to face off against a huge name as he looks to bolster his two-fight knockout streak and hunt for the division’s elite.
There’s so much that could happen and so many unknowns – but the one guarantee is a thrilling throwdown.
#4 Teenage Phenoms Take The Spotlight
While there’s plenty of anticipation for the seasoned veterans on the lineup, a pair of teen phenoms could steal the show in Denver.
Johan “Jojo” Ghazali will take on Josue “Tuzo” Cruz in a flyweight Muay Thai clash, and after tasting his first ONE defeat last time out, the 17-year-old is hungrier than ever.
The Malaysian-American burst into ONE with five straight wins and four knockouts in 2023. His streak was snapped by the experienced Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat this past June, but “Jojo” believes he can knock out Cruz and get back on track.
In the lightweight MMA ranks, 18-year-old Adrian “The Phenom” Lee will face Denver’s own Nico “The Steel City Kid” Cornejo.
Coming from ONE’s most famous fighting family as the younger brother to a pair of World Champions, Lee lived up to expectations with a second-round finish in his June debut.
However, Cornejo can steal some of the hype and launch himself into prominence if he can engineer a winning performance this Friday.
#5 More American-Based Stars Flood The Card
ONE is bringing plenty of local favorites along for its second outing on U.S. soil.
Florida resident Ten Pow, Hawaii native Lee, and Colorado’s Cornejo are joined by more athletes who call the United States home.
Although he was born and raised in Myanmar, Aung La “The Burmese Python” N Sang has lived in the U.S. for the past 21 years. He started his MMA career there in 2005, so his fan base has always been split between his ancestral homeland and his adopted one.
The former two-division ONE World Champion will face unbeaten Turkish wrestler Shamil Erdogan in a crucial middleweight MMA clash as he looks to earn another shot at gold.
Plus, Michigan’s Alyse “Lil’ Savage” Anderson is set for an atomweight MMA duel with Brazil’s Victoria “Vick” Souza, while California’s Sean “The One” Climaco will duke it out with undefeated Colombian Johan Estupinan in a flyweight Muay Thai battle.
