ONE Championship makes history in Bangkok with inaugural event ONE: Kingdom Of Champions

(Photo courtesy of: ONE Championship)

Yoshitaka Naito crowned new ONE Strawweight World Champion

Marat Gafurov submits Kazunori Yokota with fifth straight Rear Naked Choke victory 

Plus: Timofey Nastyukhin ties record with six second KO of Rob Lisita

27 May 2016 – Bangkok, Thailand: The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), rocked the packed Impact Arena in the great city of Bangkok at ONE: KINGDOM OF CHAMPIONS. Popular Thai bands Big Ass and Bodyslam electrified the stadium with adrenaline-inducing sets as ONE athletes took to the cage to excite local fight fans in attendance. In the main event, Yoshitaka Naito of Japan was crowned the new ONE Strawweight World Champion by submitting Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke.

In the main event of ONE: KINGDOM OF CHAMPIONS, Japan’s Yoshitaka “Nobita” Naito retained his unbeaten record by toppling Thailand’s Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke, winning by submission to capture the ONE Strawweight World Championship. Dejdamrong started out very strong in the first round, keeping Naito at the end of his thudding leg kicks and powerful straight punches while successfully stuffing takedown attempts. In the second round however, Naito made an adjustment and was able to drag Dejdamrong to the mat where the Japanese fighter utilized his superior grappling skills to control his opponent. The end came in the fourth round as Naito was finally able to execute the Rear Naked Choke he had been chasing throughout the bout.

In the co-main event of the evening, reigning ONE Featherweight World Champion Marat “Cobra” Gafurov impressed with another Rear Naked Choke submission over Japanese MMA veteran Kazunori Yokota to remain unbeaten as a professional mixed martial artist. Gafurov controlled Yokota throughout the duration of the bout both in striking and grappling exchanges before securing the finish in the second round. The victory is Gafurov’s 14th straight, his fifth straight by Rear Naked Choke, and the first successful defense of his title.

In a highly-anticipated matchup between two extremely aggressive fighters, Russia’s Timofey Nastyukhin needed just six seconds to stop Australia’s Rob Lisita in the first round, tying a ONE Championship record for fastest knockout. Nastyukhin met Lisita at the center of the cage as soon as the bell rang and immediately clipped Lisita with a right hook that dropped the Aussie. Just a second later, a technical ground kick landed to seal the deal.

Polish mixed martial artist Marcin Prachnio and Brazilian Leandro Ataides pummeled each other with punishing combinations over three rounds of solid action to the delight of the packed crowd. It was a close and gruelling bout that undoubtedly left both fighters exhausted by the final bell. In the end, Prachnio showed a little more down the stretch and did just enough to edge out Ataides, winning by unanimous decision in a clash of heavy-hitters.

Local MMA star Shannon “One Shin” Wiratchai was emotional after emerging victorious over Myanmar’s Kyal Linn Aung, winning by submission for the first time in front of friends and family in his hometown of Bangkok. Wiratchai showcased his pinpoint accurate striking early on, before taking matters to the ground where Aung was at a stylistic disadvantage. After gaining mount and tagging Aung with heavy elbows, Wiratchai took his opponent’s back and secured the fight-ending choke.

Fast-rising featherweight prospect Christian “The Warrior” Lee traded lightning quick strikes with the Philippines’ Rocky “The Outlaw” Batolbatol for a little over half of the first round, winning by referee stoppage to notch his fifth straight victory inside the ONE Championship cage. Lee rocked Batolbatol with a right hand and had him pressed up against the cage where he unleashed a flurry as the Filipino fell to the canvas.

Yodsanan “Little Tyson” Sityodtong lived up to his moniker, winning by technical knockout over Cambodia’s Khon Sichan, showcasing tremendous power with each strike. Drawing cheers from the crowd after each landed blow, Sityodtong’s thunderous punches, kicks and knees proved too much for Sichan who crumbled to the mat and was finished off minutes into the first.

Cambodian fighter by way of Thailand, Kritsada “Dream Man” Konsrichai kicked off a spectacular evening of world-class mixed martial arts action at ONE: KINGDOM OF CHAMPIONS with a technical knockout victory over fellow Cambodian, Kev Hemmorlor, winning by ground and pound in the first round.

In the second preliminary bout, unbeaten strawweight prospect Pongsiri Mitsatit of Chiang Mai made quick work of Myanmar’s Ye Thway Ne, unleashing a devastating series of knees on the ground to earn the victory also in the first round.

Official results for ONE: KINGDOM OF CHAMPIONS

ONE Strawweight World Championship bout: Yoshitaka Naito defeats Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:00 minutes of round 4

ONE Featherweight World Championship bout: Marat Gafurov defeats Kazunori Yokota by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:25 minutes of round 2

Catchweight bout (73kg): Timofey Nastyukhin defeats Rob Lisita by Knockout at 0:06 minutes of round 1

Catchweight bout (95.8kg): Marcin Prachnio defeats Leandro Ataides by Split Decision

Lightweight bout: Shannon Wiratchai defeats Kyal Linn Aung by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 2:17 minutes of round 1

Featherweight bout: Christian Lee defeats Rocky Batolbatol by Verbal Submission (Strikes) at 2:14 minutes of round 1

Catchweight bout (62kg): Yodsanan Sityodtong defeats Khon Sichan by TKO (Strikes) at 3:44 minutes of round 1

Strawweight bout: Pongsiri Mitsatit defeats Ye Thway Ne by TKO (Strikes) at 2:24 minutes of round 1

Strawweight bout: Kritsada Konsrichai defeats Kev Hemmorlor by TKO (Strikes) at 1:58 minutes of round 1

In case you missed the action log on to www.onefc.com/livestream for the full replay of the fights at only US $9.99.

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