What Could Be Next For The Big Winners Of ONE: NO SURRENDER III?
ONE Championship finished off its NO SURRENDER event series with a bang.
The world’s largest martial arts organization premiered ONE: NO SURRENDER III on Friday, 21 August, and there were captivating moments all throughout the show.
Those included a slew of highlight-reel knockouts, some dominant performances, and even a razor-thin split decision.
Before we close the book on this exciting trilogy, let’s take a brief glance into the crystal ball and predict where three of our winning athletes will go from here.
Kulabdam Sor. Jor. Piek Uthai
“Left Meteorite” Kulabdam Sor. Jor. Piek Uthai proved he’s the top contender in the organization’s Muay Thai bantamweight division.
After taking out #2-ranked contender Bobo “The Panther” Sacko in his promotional debut back in September, the Thai scored a shocking knockout of #1-ranked contender “The Million Dollar Baby” Sangmanee Klong SuanPluResort in the first round of their matchup at ONE: NO SURRENDER III.
Kulabdam found his range with his leg kicks, cleverly chained together his combinations while blocking Sangmanee’s high kicks, and then finished “The Million Dollar Baby” with a four-piece combination that ended with a left cross.
Now, “Left Meteorite” advances to the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai Tournament final, where he will face Rodlek PK.Saenchai Muaythaigym.
Rodlek, who is a Channel 7 Stadium Muay Thai World Champion, is known for his hands, his low kicks, and his ability to keep the pressure on his opponents. He’s displayed those attributes in his bouts on the global stage, and his matchup with “Left Meteorite” should make for a fascinating showdown.
With a shot at ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Gaiyanghadao hanging in the balance, it will serve as extra motivation for both of these warriors.
- The Top Highlights From ONE: NO SURRENDER III
- Rodlek To Replace Injured Saemapetch In Muay Thai Tournament Final
- The Best Pictures From ONE: NO SURRENDER III
Shannon Wiratchai
Thai mixed martial arts pioneer Shannon “OneShin” Wiratchai played the role of spoiler on Friday night.
The 31-year-old Bangkok native ruined the mixed martial arts debut of Muay Thai World Champion Fabio Pinca, narrowly sliding by the Frenchman via split decision.
Despite Pinca’s long list of accolades, Wiratchai took the fight to the Lyon native. He fearlessly struck with him, dropped him in the second round with a spinning backfist, and nearly finished him with ground and pound on a couple of occasions.
Now, with the hard-fought victory in his back pocket, “OneShin” will look to continue building momentum and break into ONE’s Athlete Rankings. But he’ll first need to gain a few more wins – and a solid next step could be an exciting clash with another striker in Edward “The Ferocious” Kelly.
The Filipino comes from the famed Team Lakay camp, which is best known for its wushu striking. Like the rest of his stablemates, Kelly has incorporated that style to great success, dispatching the likes of Meas Meul, Sung Jong Lee, and “The Terminator” Sunoto.
Also, a bout with “The Ferocious” would provide even more motivation for Wiratchai, who lost to Kelly’s teammate, Honorio “The Rock” Banario, via razor-thin split decision in February. In this matchup, “OneShin” would have a chance to gain some redemption.
Marie Ruumet
Marie “Snow Leopard” Ruumet looked phenomenal in her main roster debut.
The Estonian used her immense reach advantage, a dominant clinch game, and massive kicks to defeat six-time Muay Thai World Champion Little Tiger via unanimous decision.
It was a marvelous showing for “Snow Leopard” and a great introduction to ONE’s global fan base. Now, an interesting next step would be a bout with Ekaterina “Barbie” Vandaryeva.
Vandaryeva, a three-time Muay Thai World Champion, would certainly pose some challenges for Ruumet.
The Belarusian, who would enter the matchup as the taller athlete, prides herself on having a well-rounded style that she could adapt to attack her rival’s weaknesses. Beyond that, she’s shown an affinity for using her kicks and punches.
This would make for an entertaining battle, especially because both women are eager to break into the division’s rankings.
Read more: ONE: NO SURRENDER III – Full Results And Highlights For Sangmanee Vs. Kulabdam
