On a weekend that boasts a UFC World Title fight on Fight Pass, and Ken Shamrock vs Kimbo Slice, you could be forgiven for overlooking the monthly slice of Asian MMA goodness that is ONE Championship.
They return to China on Saturday with another intriguing card that has feature bouts in three of their marquee divisions, as well as two one-night tournaments packed with Chinese prospects and debutants. Last Word on Sports’ MMA crew have you covered with our staff picks for ONE Championship: Dynasty of Champions’ feature bouts.
Featherweight – Timofey Nastyukhin vs Yusuke Kawanago
Picking Nastyukhin: Stephen Rivers, Jon Shipman, Trent Dozier, Carl Johnson, Matt Creed, Daniel Marino, Michael Hutchinson
Picking Kawanago: None
Creed: “Along with having the potential for one of the best moniker’s in MMA — his last name literally has nasty in it — Timofey Nastyuhkin has been creeping up on MMA’s radar after putting together an eight fight win streak – all by finish. His most impressive win to date came in his last fight against Eduard Folayang — a highlight reel flying knee — which many called one of the best knockouts of 2014. Opposite Nastyuhkin will be Yusuke Kawanago, a more experienced fighter and wrestler who plays it much more conservative, and often relies on his excellent takedowns/takedown defense to outpoint his opponents on the feet and/or the ground. Kawanago was knocked out in his last fight, and I expect that to be the same result here. He has a tendency to carry his hands very low, and given Nastyuhkin’s power and speed advantage I predict an early finish.”
Lightweight – Zorobabel Moreira vs Christian Holley
Picking Moreira: Jon Shipman, Trent Dozier
Picking Holley: Stephen Rivers, Carl Johnson, Matt Creed, Daniel Marino, Michael Hutchinson
Shipman – “Flying the UK Flag Holley is one of only a handful of British fighters on the ONE roster, and is a good prospect. He signed for the organization unbeaten, but was thrown in with MMA and UFC veteran Roger Huerta in his debut. The loss means he needs a win big time to give matchmaker Matt Hume something to consider. Moreira has been with ONE for a while and had mixed success. Starting off with 3 wins he was given a title fight with Kotetsu Boku to crown the lightweight champion. It didn’t go well for Moreira and he then suffered back to back losses in his next fight losing in devastating fashion to Koji Ando. Moreira has the edge on the feet in this one and will no doubt want to get back to winning ways to push his claim for another title fight. Moreira should prove too dynamic in the stand up for Holley, whose bread and butter is on the mat. Moreira takes this by TKO”
Flyweight – Marcos Santana vs Ruel Catalan
Picking Santana: Stephen Rivers, Jon Shipman, Carl Johnson, Matt Creed, Daniel Marino, Michael Hutchinson
Picking Catalan: Trent Dozier.
Rivers: “My enduring image of Catalan will always be him wrapped up, helplessly taking repeated elbows to the side of his head by Gianni Subba — probably my favorite prospect in the region — in June of last year. He’s not fought since then, and barring a monumental improvement in the gym over the past year I don’t see him faring much better here. Subba made him look completely out of his depth on the ground, and when the fight was standing Catalan did little to suggest he could compensate with his striking. Santana on the other hand is a BJJ black belt, won a silver medal at the world championships, and trains at Evolve MMA. That’s a combination that should see him win his pro debut pretty handily. Santana by submission”
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