Building The Perfect MMA Fighter From ONE Championship Stars

Building the perfect MMA fighter from elements of Garry Tonon, Demetrious Johnson, and Christian Lee

ONE Championship’s mixed martial arts superstars all bring a plethora of skills to the Circle, with everything from world-class striking to elite submission prowess.

Some are powerful forces of nature, others are cerebral game-planners, and most are a combination of the two — yet they all bring their own unique blend to the global stage.

But what would happen if you could make a Frankenstein’s monster of the most potent elements found within The Home Of Martial Arts?

Here, we combine the brains, brawn, and athleticism found in ONE Championship’s elite superstars from all weight classes to create the greatest MMA fighter of all time.

Starting Above The Neck

Christian Lee and TImofey Nastyukhin fight at "ONE on TNT II"

Much of an athlete’s success in mixed martial arts comes from their mental game, and ONE Lightweight World Champion Christian “The Warrior” Lee has this element on lock.

Lee – who has a pair of World Title defenses under his belt – possesses an unrivaled killer instinct, the ability to form a game plan that beats any style of opponent, and a wholehearted commitment to his craft.

Meanwhile, former two-division ONE World Champion Aung La “The Burmese Python” N Sang brings mental toughness, which combines with his granite chin to help him push through adversity and keep plowing forward.

Fists Of Fury

Vietnamese-Australian star Martin Nguyen drops Kazunori Yokota with his overhand right

When it comes to punching power, there are plenty of hard hitters in the ONE ranks, but some stand out from the rest.

Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen’s overhand right is one of the most feared strikes in the sport, and it can end any bout in an instant.

Brandon Vera‘s left hand is just as powerful, and he’s used his left hook to dismantle and dispatch some of the heavyweight division’s top contenders.

And Mark “Tyson” Fairtex Abelardo’s Muay Thai repertoire — notably his scything tomahawk elbow that finished Emilio “The Honey Badger” Urrutia — means that his elbows round off the upper limbs. 



Kicks And Knees

MMA fighter John Lineker squares off against Kevin Belingon in the main event of ONE: INSIDE THE MATRIX III

With a double-threat of crushing low kicks and seismic spinning back kicks, Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon‘s legs get the nod for the lower body.

Meanwhile, Muay Thai legend Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke has the glue that holds them together. His fierce knees were honed by years of success in “the art of eight limbs” and then put to great use in MMA.

Close-Quarter Skills

Scenes from the ONE Heavyweight World Title fight between Arjan Bhullar and Brandon Vera at ONE: DANGAL on 15 May

When it comes to the grappling skills needed to complement our fighter’s striking, Arjan “Singh” Bhullar’s ability to rag-doll fellow heavyweights means his wrestling is the ticket to get things to the ground.

Once a bout is on the canvas, jiu-jitsu star Garry “The Lion Killer” Tonon has an unmatched submission arsenal that puts necks and joints at risk from any position.

Athletic Gifts

Alain Ngalani attempts an axe kick with ease due to his incredible flexibility.

Athletic attributes play a big part in martial arts, especially when they work synergistically with skills.

Alain “The Panther” Ngalani’s superhuman flexibility adds so many dimensions to both offense and defense, while Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu’s ferocious knockout power always gives him the option for a one-hitter quitter.

But if you’re not first in this game, you’re last. And that’s why pound-for-pound great Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson’s speed is such a crucial element for our all-around athlete.

Added Extras

Shannon Wiratchai makes a grand entrance

What is all of this substance without a little bit of style? Perhaps one of the promotion’s young female fighters and two admired veterans could add a little spice.

Itsuki “Android 18” Hirata’s dance moves and Shannon “OneShin” Wiratchai’s grand entrances could rev up the crowd before the match even gets underway, while Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki’s eccentric post-bout antics could put the cherry on top of the cake.

Read more: ONE’s Top 5 MMA Fights From April-June 2021

More in Features

Regian Eersel Dmitry Menshikov ONE Fight Night 11 37
Francisco Lo
Duke Didier walks out at ONE 158
Kade Ruotolo Tommy Langaker ONE 165 29
Valmir Da Silva is declared winner by submission finish at ONE 159
Denis Puric Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat ONE Fight Night 17 18
Tye Ruotolo Magomed Abdulkadirov ONE Fight Night 16 16
Izaak Michell ONE Championship
Alexis Nicolas Magomed Magomedov ONE Friday Fights 47 28
Jackie Buntan Martine Michieletto ONE Fight Night 20 6
NL 4601
Todd Phetjeeja faceoff