ONE Fight Night 41 Muay Thai And Kickboxing Results: Woolliss, Hyu, And Yu Score Destructive Finishes
The striking action at ONE Fight Night 41 in U.S. primetime on Friday, March 13, delivered no shortage of fireworks across the Muay Thai and kickboxing battles.
A British promotional newcomer stunned one of the most dangerous punchers in the sport with a pair of calf kicks, announcing himself as a contender in the bustling featherweight kickboxing division.
Meanwhile, an undefeated Japanese sensation authored a three-knockdown masterclass to earn a performance bonus, and a Hong Konger ended a beloved Thai superstar’s comeback – and career – with a single left hook to the body.
If you missed any of the kickboxing or Muay Thai action at ONE Fight Night 41, here’s what went down at the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Woolliss Drops Lineker With Calf Kicks
Ben “The Problem” Woolliss made an instant impact in his promotional debut, stopping John “Hands of Stone” Lineker in their featherweight kickboxing bout with a calf kick to earn the TKO victory at the 1:57 mark of round one.
Lineker, a former ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion, was making his featherweight kickboxing debut. But the 31-year-old Brit refused to let the magnitude of the event and star power of the opponent overwhelm him.
Woolliss stayed disciplined on the outside, using his reach to keep the dangerous Brazilian at bay and declining every invitation to brawl.
When Lineker pressed forward to close the distance, Woolliss sent a hard calf kick whistling into his shin that made the Brazilian wince. He threw another, and the 35-year-old juggernaut crumpled to the canvas.
“The Problem” moved his career record to 30-6 with the victory, announcing himself to the featherweight kickboxing division with a clinical display in his very first ONE Championship appearance.
Hyu Sends Suablack Down Three Times In Spectacular Finish
Hyu Iwata remained perfect in his flyweight kickboxing thriller, as he knocked down Thai muscleman Suablack Tor Pran49 three times to secure the TKO victory at the 2:35 mark of round one. That flawless performance also earned him a US$50,000 bonus from ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.
Just 75 seconds after engaging in a feeling-out process, the undefeated 23-year-old Japanese sensation spun into a back kick that drilled Suablack in the midsection and sent him tumbling down for an eight-count.
The Thai returned to his feet visibly hurt, but that didn’t stop Hyu. He went straight back to work, hammering rapid-fire left and right hooks to the body until Suablack crumpled to the canvas again.
It looked like a formality, but the 29-year-old Thai refused to quit. He beat the second eight-count and began snapping Hyu’s head back with straight rights, threatening to turn the tide in dramatic fashion. But the Japanese stud had one more answer. In the midst of a wild exchange, he sprang into a left knee that blasted Suablack’s liver and sent him down for good.
The victory upped Hyu’s slate to 13-0, extending his knockout streak to four and firmly planting his name among the flyweight kickboxing division’s elite.
Yu Retires Supergirl With Devastating Body Shot
Yu Yau Pui extinguished Anna “Supergirl” Jaroonsak‘s comeback in shocking fashion, stopping the Thai superstar with a body shot to earn the TKO victory just 75 seconds into their women’s atomweight Muay Thai bout.
The 33-year-old Hong Konger had to survive a dangerous opening salvo from Supergirl, who marched forward and drove her world-famous stabbing knees into her rival’s body.
But once Yu weathered the storm, she found her range and made the 22-year-old pay. The two traded shots in a brutally close exchange, but the Hong Kong striker eventually sunk a powerful left hook deep into Supergirl’s ribcage, which shut her down completely.
The first-round TKO victory improved her career record to 29-4 and silenced any doubts after back-to-back losses. Meanwhile, Supergirl announced her retirement following the match and laid her gloves down in the ring.
