SPORTS | February
16, 2018
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| (Image Source: ONE Championship/ABS-CBN Sports |
ONE Championship, the largest and most valuable sports brand in Asia
today, has officially announced the establishment of a professional kickboxing
league which aims to provide a platform for the world's best martial artists to
showcase the beauty of Asia's fine striking arts, and it is set to be launched
as part of ONE: Heroes of Honor which will be held on April 20, 2018 at the SM
Mall of Asia Arena.
"Over the years, ONE Championship has earned its reputation as the
home of martial arts by showcasing the most authentic martial arts action on
the planet," said ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong. "Asia has
been the home of martial arts for over 5,000 years and we will now showcase Asia's
striking arts to fans from around the world. Featuring the best martial arts
talent across the globe, ONE Championship Kickboxing aims to showcase Asia's striking
arts front and center as part of our ONE Championship live events," he
added.
MMA fans will be treated to some of the most exciting kickboxing
matches featuring talents who excel in and master the likes of Muay Thai, karate,
taekwondo, kickboxing, kung fu, sanda, silat and other related disciplines.
These bouts will be contested either in the ring under international kickboxing
rules or inside the cage under modified hybrid striking rules. With that in
mind, it is without any doubt that ONE's new venture is a game-changer that is
slated to change the landscape of the mixed martial arts (MMA) scene not only in
Asia, but around the world as well.
Kicking off ONE Championship Kickboxing is a showdown between Gietro
Petrosyan of Italy and Jo Nattawut of Thailand. Petrosyan (85-2-2) is known for
his incredible six-year stretch as a Muay Thai fighter where he won 42 straight
bouts, while Nattawut (60-11-2) is a former Lion Fight super welterweight and
WMC champion known for his powerful elbow and knee strikes. The Petrosyan-Nattawut
kickboxing showdown will be part of ONE: Heroes of Honor in Manila on April
which should be an interesting fight to watch out for.
