On Friday, Dec. 6, ONE Championship brings a slate chock full of martial arts action to your living rooms, live and free on Prime Video.
ONE Fight Night 26: Lee vs. Rasulov satisfies your need for MMA, Muay Thai, kickboxing, and submission grappling. But what are the biggest reasons to tune in on Friday night?
Here are four huge reasons to make sure you don’t miss the next installment of ONE Fight Night on Prime Video.
The Return of Christian Lee
It has been a long time since ONE Lightweight and Welterweight MMA Champion Christian Lee has been on the global stage. The two-year hiatus will end inside Lumpinee Stadium against his toughest test to date.
Alibeg Rasulov debuted with a victory over Ok Rae Yoon, showcasing his well-rounded arsenal in the process. Lee cannot get overly emotional and careless against Rasulov, making for an intriguing title tilt.
The pressure is all on the incumbent. “The Warrior” has to prove ring rust will not be an issue and that his evolution as an athlete is ongoing. Two years is a long time away, and jumping right back into a five-round war is a tricky proposition.
Regardless of the outcome, it will be amazing to see Lee back in action. As ONE’s most prolific winner and finisher, he returns to defend the title and gets to show the world he hasn’t missed a beat.
Flyweight Contenders Go To Battle
There are two key flyweight MMA matchups on the docket. Adriano Moraes, coming off a spectacular submission win at ONE 169, will put pressure on all four men to perform to the highest degree as everybody pushes to challenge for the vacant ONE Flyweight MMA Title.
#2-ranked contender Yuya Wakamatsu will try to defend his position and turn away newcomer Gilbert Nakatani. However, facing the second-ranked contender gives the American a premier opportunity to debut and jump right into the title mix.
#4-ranked Reece McLaren squares off against ONE Interim Strawweight MMA Champion Jarred Brooks in a battle of two of the best personalities in the game. If Brooks can dominate as he has at strawweight and prove size isn’t an issue, his position may be undeniable. However, McLaren can prove his improved grappling defense is worthy of a shot against Moraes at the top of the mountain.
As the throne sits open, each of these four men can stake their claim and assert their place as one-half of the 2025 title match for the vacant crown.
A Changing of the Guard?
Petchtanong Petchfergus and Nabil Anane collide in the evening’s co-main event, which could tell the tale of where the bantamweight division is going in the future.
Petchtanong is a former ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing Champion looking to reclaim his gold, but Anane is a 20-year-old phenom coming into his own and is ready to make a splash in kickboxing after thrilling results in Muay Thai.
The story here is simple: the old guard must defend against the upstart and rebuke Father Time.
Watching from his throne, ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing Champion Jonathan Haggerty will be able to see who may be his top challenger heading into 2025: the 39-year-old former king or the fierce 20-something ready to bring forth a new era.
New Grappling Stars Arrive
Highly touted grapplers Cole Abate and Dante Leon will both hit the canvas at ONE Fight Night 26.
Leon will meet Bruno Pucci in a lightweight contest early on the card. Both men are highly decorated no-gi competitors, but Leon has been much more active on the scene in recent times. Pucci may be considered a sizable underdog, but the Brazilian has all the tools to stun the Canadian talent.
Later in the evening, Abate meets Japanese legend Shinya Aoki in another lightweight contest. Aoki has no fear of anyone, and this is a chance for Abate to step out against a notable name in U.S. primetime.
Both matches should serve as good introductions for the grapplers while pushing them to be at their best as they get tested by talented opposition. If you are a fan of submission stylists, be sure to tune in on Dec. 6.
ONE Fight Night 26 airs live and free on Prime Video on Friday, Dec. 6, at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST to all Amazon Prime subscribers in the U.S. and Canada.