Fans around the globe will be treated to a heart-pounding evening of martial arts battles when ONE Championship returns to the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, for ONE Fight Night 35: Buntan vs. Hemetsberger on Prime Video.
The event, which will broadcast live in U.S. primetime this Friday, September 5, promises to deliver another unforgettable card that features elite striking and high-level mixed martial arts action from start to finish.
While all of the attention will be on the headline attraction between strawweight kickboxing queen Jackie Buntan and Austrian dynamo Stella Hemetsberger for the vacant ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Title, the rest of the talent-stacked lineup offers no shortage of compelling matchups destined to produce fireworks.
With that said, here are three bouts that could steal the show at ONE Fight Night 35.
#1 Bampara Kouyate Vs. Shadow Singha Mawynn
In a featherweight Muay Thai contest that could have major World Title implications, French destroyer Bampara Kouyate will square off against Thai striking sensation Shadow Singha Mawynn in a bout that has all the makings of an instant classic.
Kouyate enters this pivotal matchup riding tremendous momentum, having delivered back-to-back highlight-reel knockouts over Luke “The Chef” Lessei and former ONE World Title challenger “Smokin’” Jo Nattawut. That earned him the #2 spot in the divisional rankings.
The Team Mehdi Zatout standout’s tall, rangy stature and devastating high kicks have proven to be a nightmare for opposing strikers. And it could prove troublesome for his rival in Bangkok.
Standing across from the Frenchman will be Shadow, a product of Bangkok’s prestigious Singha Mawynn Gym who has overcome tremendous adversity to establish himself among the division’s elite.
The 24-year-old phenom recently enjoyed a five-bout winning streak that included his spectacular second-round knockout of Hassan Vahdanirad at ONE Friday Fights 100. That incredible run earned him a coveted six-figure contract to compete on the promotion’s main roster, as well as the #3 spot in the rankings.
With reigning ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai watching closely, both men know that an impressive victory could pave the way for a shot at 26 pounds of gold.
#2 Adrian Lee Vs. Tye Ruotolo
One of the most intriguing stylistic clashes on the entire card unfolds when undefeated American star Adrian “The Phenom” Lee takes on ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Champion Tye Ruotolo, who will be making his professional MMA debut.
Lee carries the legendary lineage of his family name into this high-stakes matchup. As the youngest member of the Lee clan, “The Phenom” follows in the footsteps of his older siblings – ONE Lightweight and Welterweight MMA World Champion Christian “The Warrior” Lee and former atomweight MMA queen “Unstoppable” Angela Lee.
His remarkable versatility across multiple disciplines has already earned him praise from Christian, who hailed Adrian as a “future World Champion in the making.”
However, Ruotolo represents the most dangerous test of Lee’s young career. A first-stripe black belt under legendary BJJ World Champion Andre “Deco” Galvao, Ruotolo has established himself as one of the most prominent grapplers on the planet.
Lee possesses vastly more MMA experience, having been immersed in the sport since childhood. But Ruotolo’s dangerous grappling skills make him a formidable opponent in his professional MMA debut.
Simply put, this clash between two of America’s most talented young fighters is guaranteed to produce pulsating action inside the ring.
#3 Akbar Abdullaev Vs. Ibragim Dauev
Fans will witness a battle between two explosive featherweight monsters when Kyrgyzstani wrecking machine Akbar “Bakal” Abdullaev collides with Russian bruiser Ibragim Dauev in a showdown that could determine the next challenger for Tang Kai‘s ONE Featherweight MMA World Title.
Abdullaev enters this bout as one of the most fearsome finishers in the entire organization. He is riding a massive wave of momentum following his seismic fifth-round TKO victory over Tang at ONE Fight Night 27 in January.
While “Bakal” wasn’t eligible to win the belt due to missing weight, his dominant performance over the divisional titleholder was telling, and it established him as the #1 contender.
Abdullaev carries a perfect 12-0 record and 100 percent finishing rate into this contest, but Dauev is a dangerous man who has recently shattered two athletes’ flawless records in back-to-back showings.
The Fight Club Akhmat product splits his time between Chechnya and Phuket, exposing himself to elite-level training in both the striking and grappling arts. With his diverse skill set, the 24-year-old has proven time and again that he can adapt to any situation and find a way to victory.
Both men enter this contest unbeaten in ONE, but only one will emerge with the all-important win and a clear path toward featherweight MMA gold.
