Eko Roni Saputra Steps In To Face Hu Yong At ONE Fight Night 15 After Danny Kingad Withdraws
Surging flyweight “Wolf Warrior” Hu Yong has a new assignment for his MMA matchup at ONE Fight Night 15 on Prime Video.
The Chinese athlete was scheduled to meet #2-ranked contender Danny Kingad at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, but the Filipino veteran has withdrawn due to an ankle injury.
As a result, Hu will meet a fellow rising star in Eko Roni Saputra on Friday, October 6, live in U.S. primetime.
“Wolf Warrior” has looked impressive during his four-fight run in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
He initially earned a contract with a perfect 4-0 slate in ONE Hero series and then notched up a debut win over Yodkaikaew Fairtex in March 2021.
A decision loss to #4-ranked Yuya Wakamatsu briefly halted Hu’s progression, but since then, the 27-year-old has picked up victories over former ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Geje Eustaquio and top South Korean flyweight Woo Sung Hoon.
Another victory could propel “Wolf Warrior” into the top-five rankings, but Saputra has all the tools to make it a tough night.
The Indonesian wrestling sensation snapped a lengthy winning streak against Kingad in February, but he showed that he can compete with the elite over the course of three rounds.
Before that, the Evolve representative had earned seven first-round finishes in a row, showcasing the leaps he has made in his striking and grappling.
Saputra is hungry to get back on the winning track and reaffirm his status as the best burgeoning talent in the division – although Hu is one of his main challengers in that race.
A win in Bangkok will propel one man into the upper echelon of the flyweight ranks, while the other will have to wait longer for their opportunity.
Neither wants to go backward as they dream of World Championship gold, so expect both athletes to bring the heat on October 6.
Stay tuned to onefc.com for more news about ONE Fight Night 15 on Prime Video, which is headlined by the ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title bout between Tawanchai PK Saenchai and Superbon Singha Mawynn.
