5 Fights We Want To See At The Historic ONE On Prime Video 10 Fight Card In The USA
The wait is finally over for martial arts fans in the United States.
On May 5, 2023, ONE Championship will touch down in Broomfield, Colorado, to hold its first-ever card on American soil – headlined by arguably the biggest fight in the promotion’s history.
The main event of ONE on Prime 10 will feature the highly anticipated World Title trilogy bout between ONE Flyweight World Champion Demetrious Johnson and former divisional king Adriano Moraes.
But beyond that blockbuster clash, what other exciting matchups could be scheduled for ONE Championship’s big debut on U.S. soil?
Below, we look at five possible fights for the historic event.
#1 Christian Lee vs. Saygid Izagakhmaev
As the protege of MMA legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, Dagestani destroyer Saygid Izagakhmaev is being hailed as a future superstar in the sport.
And ONE’s #3-ranked lightweight contender might already be the most dangerous fighter in the organization without a belt around his waist.
Given his undefeated record inside the Circle, the Russian appears destined for a World Title shot, and that could come against reigning lightweight and welterweight king Christian Lee.
With his 94 percent finishing rate and two World Title belts, the Singaporean-American is one of MMA’s top stars and a fitting representative for ONE Championship in the U.S.
At this point, there’s no doubt that a clash between Lee and Izagakhmaev would have fans salivating.
#2 Kade Ruotolo vs. Tainan Dalpra
California native and ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Champion Kade Ruotolo is constantly searching for his next challenge, and for some time, the 19-year-old prodigy has been calling for a bout against elite BJJ competitor Tainan Dalpra.
Such a matchup – with Ruotolo’s belt on the line – would be enormous in the submission grappling world.
Signed by ONE earlier this year, Dalpra is considered by many as the top pound-for-pound gi grappler on the planet.
He recently announced his intention to compete in no-gi submission grappling, opening the door for a showdown with the ultra-entertaining Ruotolo, who’s been revolutionizing BJJ alongside his twin brother, Tye Ruotolo.
#3 Rodtang Jitmuangnon vs. Superlek Kiatmoo9
Few fighters are better positioned to introduce American fans to world-class Muay Thai than Rodtang Jitmuangnon.
Already an international superstar thanks to his granite chin, thunderous power, and inimitable personality, “The Iron Man” is the face of Muay Thai in ONE Championship, where he’s never lost in the striking arts.
A ONE Flyweight Muay World Title defense against #1-ranked contender Superlek Kiatmoo9 would not only be an incredible display of striking at the highest level, but it would also be the most important Muay Thai fight ever held on U.S. soil.
American fans are more than ready to witness top-tier Muay Thai in person, and Rodtang and Superlek are two of the most entertaining and skilled strikers in the world.
#4 Angela Lee vs. Ham Seo Hee
Longtime ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion Angela Lee is already known worldwide for her unending tenacity and dangerous submission attack, making her one of the promotion’s most popular athletes.
For her first-ever bout in North America, the Hawaii resident could square off with longtime star and #2-ranked atomweight contender Ham Seo Hee.
A veteran of over 30 career fights, the South Korean has earned her reputation as an entertaining action fighter and a brawler who refuses to take a step backward.
A World Title contest between Lee and Ham has the makings of an unforgettable war, and it would be the ideal matchup to showcase ONE’s atomweight division to a live U.S. audience.
#5 Sage Northcutt vs. Halil Amir
American fans would be happy to welcome Sage Northcutt back for his first fight in the U.S. since 2018.
A multiple-time Karate World Champion, “Super” hasn’t competed in nearly three years, but at just 26 years old, the American superstar still has plenty to prove in the fight game.
Northcutt would find a fitting opponent in Turkish standout Halil Amir.
Currently the #4-ranked lightweight contender, Amir made waves in his promotional debut at ONE on Prime Video 2 as he scored a thrilling knockout against veteran brawler Timofey Nasyukhin.
Simply put, a tussle between Northcutt and Amir has fireworks written all over it.