5 Reasons To Watch ONE Fight Night 20: Todd Vs. Phetjeeja On March 8
ONE Fight Night 20: Todd vs. Phetjeeja on Prime Video is a monumental card that promises to deliver exciting action from start to finish at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Nine battles are lined up for the show in U.S. primetime this Friday, March 8, with seven exciting contests ready to prime the crowd for the World Championship doubleheader.
With fight night just days away, here are five of the biggest reasons to tune in live.
#1 An All-Female Card On International Women’s Day
ONE Championship has always been a massive advocate for women’s martial arts, and ONE Fight Night 20 will offer up another all-female card on International Women’s Day 2024.
The lineup will showcase the best of the best in two World Title contests, along with rising stars who are eager to push themselves through the ranks.
In the main event, Janet “JT” Todd and “The Queen” Phetjeeja will each aim to unify the ONE Women’s Atomweight Kickboxing World Title, while Allycia Hellen Rodrigues will defend her ONE Women’s Atomweight Muay Thai World Title against Cristina Morales in the co-headliner.
Athletes from across the planet will give this showcase a truly global feel, with North and South America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East all represented.
Finally, the event will feature action of all styles, from strikers to grapplers and mixed martial artists that combine every element.
#2 Janet Todd Looks To Retire On Top As Undisputed Queen
Todd has been an exemplary role model for younger women throughout her ONE tenure. Now, the 38-year-old American veteran is ready to call time on her amazing career.
As the reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight Kickboxing World Champion and a former ONE Interim Women’s Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion, Todd has reached the highest highs in the striking world.
As a final farewell, she wants to go out on the right note by unifying the kickboxing gold – but in true “JT” fashion, she’s doing it the hard way.
That’s because Phetjeeja has been a wrecking machine since her ONE debut last year, posting a perfect 5-0 slate with four knockouts.
In her last match, the 22-year-old Thai phenom defeated legendary striker Anissa ”C18″ Meksen to take the interim kickboxing belt, and she wants to unify the crown on March 8.
It would be a fitting ending for Todd to overcome her toughest challenge yet before she bows out, but “The Queen” will try to spoil the party with her ferocious punching power.
#3 The First Mom Vs. Mom Fight For ONE World Title Gold
There’s always something impressive about mothers who manage to raise their children while still competing at the elite level, and there will be two of them in the ONE Women’s Atomweight Muay Thai World Championship co-main event this Friday.
After giving birth to her son in 2021, reigning queen Rodrigues returned from the hiatus in fine form last year, while Morales won a Kickboxing World Championship outside of ONE after having her two sons.
The pair will now face off in the first all-mom World Title clash in ONE history, proving to their peers around the globe that anything is possible with dedication and hard work.
Rodrigues and Morales both take a lot of motivation from their children, and that will make their battle even more intense as they each try to make their family proud on the biggest stage.
#4 Jackie Buntan Resumes Quest For Redemption
Jackie Buntan worked hard to earn her first ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Title fight against Smilla “The Hurricane” Sundell back in 2022, and the American star is doing everything in her power to earn a rematch.
Buntan will meet Martine “The Italian Queen” Michieletto in a 130-pound catchweight tilt this week, and a victory would likely put her right back in the mix.
It took her three straight victories to get the call last time, and the 26-year-old has now earned back-to-back wins since coming up short against Sundell.
Another impressive outing could be the final step to earn a shot at redemption, so the Filipino-American sensation will be fired up for an impressive performance.
However, Michieletto is not heading to Bangkok to be anyone’s stepping stone. Instead, she’ll hope to leapfrog Buntan in the pecking order with her second straight ONE win.
#5 The Debut Of BJJ Superstar Mayssa Bastos
When it comes to true greats of the game, Mayssa Bastos stands out as one of the modern-era icons in women’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Winning one IBJJF World Championship is incredibly difficult, but the Brazilian has seven to her credit across gi and no-gi competitions.
Bastos is now bringing that elite-level experience to the global platform of ONE Championship, and with more eyes on her than ever before, the 26-year-old will be eager to shine in her first appearance.
On the other side, Japanese wrestler and fellow BJJ black belt Kanae Yamada has a tough test ahead of her, but she has everything to gain.
Taking a scalp like Bastos would instantly elevate Yamada to the pinnacle of submission grappling, and that’s all the inspiration she’ll need to bring her best in U.S. primetime this Friday;
