Masunyane vs. Malachiev, Kongthoranee vs. Khalilov Added To ONE Fight Night 25
ONE Fight Night 25: Nicolas vs. Eersel II on Prime Video is starting to take shape, and a pair of intriguing matchups featuring hungry contenders have been added to the card.
Topped by a massive ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title rematch between Alexis Nicolas and Regian Eersel, the event will air in U.S. primetime on Friday, October 4, live from the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
In one of the newly announced battles, two exciting strikers will look to prove they belong among the flyweight Muay Thai division’s upper echelon, as former Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai World Champion Kongthoranee Sor Sommai takes on ruthless Russian knockout artist “Samingpri” Tagir Khalilov.
Renowned for his heavy punches and precise technique, Kongthoranee has put together an epic run at the ONE Friday Fights event series, winning eight of ten bouts to earn a six-figure contract and a spot on ONE’s global roster.
That run included an incredible seven-fight unbeaten streak, but the 27-year-old most recently dropped a decision to reigning ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion and pound-for-pound great Superlek Kiatmoo9.
Kongthoranee now hopes to bounce back and restart his meteoric rise, but he’s in for a dangerous test against Khalilov.
A decorated striker with vicious finishing instincts, “Samingpri” has fought the best of the best in ONE, including Superlek and long-reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon.
Like his upcoming foe, Khalilov will enter this contest following a difficult defeat, but he knows that a strong showing at ONE Fight Night 25 could earn him a top-five contender next.
Also on the card, top-five strawweight MMA contenders Bokang “Little Giant” Masunyane and Mansur Malachiev will lock horns in a high-stakes showdown.
Currently ranked #2 in the division, South Africa’s Masunyane has lost just once in his career, and that came against current interim titleholder Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks.
With Brooks expected to face ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua Pacio for the undisputed gold, Masunyane is aiming to solidify himself as the next man up.
An explosive wrestler with shocking power in his right hand, “Little Giant” is now set for an interesting stylistic challenge against a Dagestani destroyer.
Just like the South African, Malachiev’s only career defeat came against a strawweight MMA titleholder in ONE, as he lost a hard-fought decision to Pacio last October at ONE Fight Night 15.
He then returned to top form with a gritty showing against former ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Yosuke Saruta to keep his hunt for gold alive and claim the #5 spot in the divisional rankings.
If he can earn his second straight win on October 4, Malachiev will position himself well for a potential World Title shot.
Given his elite takedown and grappling abilities, the Russian is likely to engage with Masunyane where they are both the most dangerous, giving fans what promises to be a high-paced battle for as long as it lasts.
Stay tuned to onefc.com for more news about ONE Fight Night 25 on October 4.
