ONE Championship continued its historic run at the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium with ONE Fight Night 7: Lineker vs. Andrade II.
The event featured a showcase of MMA, kickboxing, Muay Thai, and submission grappling, punctuated by two massive World Title fights.
ONE Championship, in partnership with leading premium lifestyle and luxury performance brand TUMI, presented the prestigious ONE World Title belt to the World Champions.
Read More : John Lineker vs Fabricio Andrade 2 Preview
Andrade TKOs Hands of Stone in ONE Fight Night 7 Main Event
In the main event, #1-ranked bantamweight contender Fabricio Andrade powered through Brazilian countryman and #2-ranked John Lineker, winning by technical knockout to capture the vacant ONE Bantamweight World Title.
Both men pushed each other to the limit for four whole rounds in the highly anticipated rematch, as they traded their best offense throughout the contest.
Banking on his heavy hands, Lineker persistently hammered the taller Andrade with hard body shots and hooks to the chin from the opening bell.
The former World Champion also utilized his wrestling to land eye-catching takedowns.
Soon, however, “Wonder Boy” found his groove, as he peppered Lineker with long jabs and launched his signature knees to the midsection.
Andrade proceeded to rearrange Lineker’s face with a series of harrowing punches, accumulating damage as the bout progressed.
The punishment eventually took a toll on Lineker, which forced his corner to throw in the towel before the fifth round could even begin.
An emotional Andrade celebrated his victory, jotting his name in history as the fifth man to hold the coveted ONE Bantamweight World Title.
Co-Main Massacre
In the co-main event, ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai made quick work of #2-ranked Jamal Yusupov to successfully defend his gold. It took just 49 seconds for the Thai megastar to get the job done.
A crushing kick to the thigh had the challenger limping in obvious pain. Referee Olivier Coste deemed Yusupov unfit to continue, thus awarding Tawanchai the TKO victory.
One last shot for former Double Champ
Former two-division ONE World Champion Martin Nguyen flashed shades of his vintage form, torching Leonardo Casotti with his striking-heavy approach from bell to bell.
The #4-ranked featherweight offered a wide variety of offense right off the bat, catching Casotti with a jumping knee and consistently landing solid punching combinations.
Although Casotti would have his moments in the second round, Nguyen pulled away with clean counterpunching and a crucial takedown in the final stanza.
In the end, all three judges scored the bout in favor of Nguyen to win by unanimous decision.
Lead Card Recap
Former ONE World Title challenger Saemapetch Fairtex came out to a rousing reception as he demonstrated his kickboxing skills for the first time in front of passionate hometown fans in Bangkok.
Saemapetch overcame a spirited effort from China’s Zhang Chenglong, operating behind his expert timing and precise offense throughout the encounter.
After going back and forth for three rounds, Saemapetch was declared the winner before the raucous Thai crowd inside Lumpinee Boxing Stadium.
Former ONE World Title challenger and current #3-ranked flyweight Danny Kingad decimated rising Indonesian star Eko Roni Saputra over the course of three rounds to win by unanimous decision.
The Team Lakay standout showcased his strength throughout the contest, controlling the action in both the stand-up and grappling exchanges.
Kingad’s impeccable takedowns, slick submission attempts, and fiery striking combinations sealed the deal for the Filipino stalwart.
American BJJ phenom Danielle Kelly figured in her toughest test yet in ONE Championship against former ONE Women’s Strawweight World Title challenger Ayaka Miura. Miura pressured Kelly early, breaking the American’s rhythm in the opening minutes.
The Japanese MMA fighter secured her signature “Ayaka Lock,” but Kelly powered herself out of the predicament.
The Philadelphia native then clawed her way back in the latter half of the contest, taking Miura’s back and nearly completing a rear-naked choke. After time expired, Kelly came away with the unanimous decision win.
Setting the tone for an action-packed ONE Fight Night 7 was a riveting light heavyweight kickboxing bout, pitting Francesko Xhaja against Andrei Stoica.
The two highly experienced strikers went toe-to-toe, exchanging impactful blows and blistering combinations. After three close rounds, two of the three judges scored the bout in favor of Xhaja to win by split decision.
Performance bonus winners:
Tawanchai PK Saenchai (US$50,000), Tommy Langaker (US$50,000)
ONE Fight Night 7 Complete Results
MMA – Bantamweight: Fabricio Andrade def. John Lineker via TKO at 5:00 of R4
Muay Thai – Featherweight: Tawanchai PK Saenchai def. Jamal Yusupov via TKO at 0:49 of R1
MMA – Featherweight: Martin Nguyen def. Leonardo Casotti via Unanimous Decision
Kickboxing – Bantamweight: Saemapetch Fairtex def. Zhang Chenglong via Unanimous Decision
MMA – Flyweight: Danny Kingad def. Eko Roni Saputra via Unanimous Decision
Submission Grappling – Atomweight: Danielle Kelly def. Ayaka Miura via Unanimous Decision
Kickboxing – Light Heavyweight: Francesko Xhaja def. Andrei Stoica via Split Decision
MMA – Atomweight: Victoria Souza def. Linda Darrow via Unanimous Decision
Submission Grappling – Lightweight: Tommy Langaker def. Uali Kurzhev via Submission (Heel Hook) at 2:58 of R1
MMA – Strawweight: Adrian Mattheis def. Zelang Zhaxi via TKO (Strikes) at 0:57 of R2
Image Credit ONE CHAMPIONSHIP
