Martin Nguyen To Face Leonardo Casotti In Latest Switch For ONE Fight Night 7

Martin Nguyen has had a whirlwind week, but the #4-ranked featherweight MMA contender finally has an opponent pinned down for his return to action this Friday, February 24.

Following two late withdrawals, Nguyen will now square off against promotional newcomer Leonardo Casotti at ONE Fight Night 7: Lineker vs. Andrade II on Prime Video.

The former two-division ONE World Champion was originally slated to face #5-ranked Shamil Gasanov at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, but illness forced the unbeaten Russian out of the match.

Then another unbeaten opponent stepped up in the shape of Razhab Shaydullaev, but the Kyrgyz phenom was only in the frame for a short while before pulling out.

Now, Brazil’s Casotti is the man who will stand across the ring from “The Situ-Asian,” bringing a 9-2 MMA record into his promotional debut. 

Casotti was already in Bangkok preparing for action at ONE Friday Fights 6 earlier in the day, but he snapped up the chance to compete live in U.S. primetime against one of his division’s most renowned stars.

After losing his first two professional contests, the 30-year-old is riding a nine-fight winning streak, which includes three knockouts and four submissions. 

Meanwhile, Nguyen has hit a rough patch since losing his ONE Featherweight World Title in 2020, but the Vietnamese-Australian is eager to get back on track after a solid training camp at Kill Cliff FC in Florida, USA.

His clash with Casotti makes for an interesting storyline, with the veteran’s back against the wall, while the surging Brazilian has everything to gain in his first outing on the global stage.