Dec 6, 2019

Ali Motamed Wins Contract At ONE Warrior Series 9

Iran's Ali Motamed wins big at ONE Warrior Series 9 in December 2019

Ali Motamed became the latest athlete to graduate from Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series to the global stage for martial arts.

The Iranian warrior picked up his seventh professional victory, and third in OWS, in Singapore on Wednesday, 4 December.

He defeated Hikaru “The Painter” Yoshino via split decision at OWS 9 to earn a six-figure contract with ONE Championship and a spot on the main roster, as well as a Warrior Bonus for his efforts.

“That was a long journey. And a hard one,” the 28-year-old bantamweight said. “I’ve been here since ONE Warrior Series 1. This experience made me a better fighter. I’m ready.”

Motamed began his journey with the promotion’s developmental league back in March 2018, when he scored a thrilling second-round knockout victory over Dawoon Jung on the inaugural live show.

However, he did not have a perfect run. He suffered defeats against New Zealand’s Mark “Tyson” Fairtex Abelardo in the unofficial “Bout Of The Night” at OWS 2 and Mongolia’s Shinechagtaga Zoltsetseg at OWS 4.

Despite being on the losing side, those matches showed his incredible heart and excitement, and both opponents are now main-roster stars.

Motamed rebounded from the two-bout skid with back-to-back victories over Zechariah Lange in August, and then Yoshino in his most recent contest.

Against Lange, the 28-year-old’s crisp striking and takedown defense earned him the unanimous decision nod after three rounds in what was another “Bout Of The Night” contender.

As for his match against Yoshino this past Wednesday, it was his powerful stand-up arsenal that once again granted him a close victory, as he ended the Japanese man’s seven-bout winning streak.

Iran's Ali Motamed kicks Mark Fairtex Abelardo

The relentless style and never-quit attitude he has displayed in all of his bouts, combined with his impressive run of form, helped to convince Rich Franklin, CEO of ONE Warrior Series, that he was ready for the big show.

“Ali Motamed did not fail to deliver another exciting war, earning not only a Warrior Bonus, but a ONE Championship contract as well,” Franklin stated.

The bantamweight has achieved an incredible amount in a short space of time. He only discovered combat sports in 2012, but now he is set to compete on the biggest platform there is in the world’s largest martial arts organization.

Motamed’s time in OWS has exposed him to a new legion of fans, and it also allowed him the chance to learn and evolve so he will be ready to make an impact in 2020.

“Now, when I go to ONE Championship, the main show, I’m ready to give all I have and to perform at my best – to go for that gold,” concluded Motamed, who will join fellow OWS alumni and former opponents in the Circle in the near future.