With the upcoming highly anticipated trilogy at ONE Fight Night 10 between Demetrius Johnson and Adrian Moraes on Friday, May 5 for the promotion’s debut on U.S. soil; We take a look at ONE Championship trilogies to make in 2023.
ONE Championship Trilogies
Reinier De Ridder vs Aung La N Sang
A trilogy middleweight showdown between Champion Reinier “The Dutch Knight” de Ridder and “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang is top of the list.
With the Myanmarese legend knocking out Gilbert Galvao and Yushin “Thunder” Okami in the first round at ONE Fight Night 6 and ONE 153 respectively the former champ wants one of the two World Titles he once owned back in his cabinet.
He has already displayed some vast improvements in his game, and with 27 finishes already to his name – fans are guaranteed a fighter who will participate come out guns blazing.
Although it is De Ridder, on the other hand, would enter this match as the heavy favorite. But after suffering his first loss at the hands of Anatoly “Sladkiy” Malykhin, “The Burmese Python” will find comfort in knowing there is chink in the armor of the Dutch Knight.
Both their past encounters ended in victory for De Ridder, but Aung La N Sang is a man with a burning desire inside to take back his belt.
Rodtang vs Jon Haggerty
Rodtang Jitmuangnon and Jonathan Haggerty have met twice before, in both instances, it was for the ONE flyweight Muay Thai world title.
In their first outing at ONE: Dawn of Heroes, ‘The General’ walked in the champion, but it was Rodtang who walked out with the gold via unanimous decision. Five months later, they ran it back at ONE: A New Tomorrow. Rodtang once again was victorious after scoring a third-round knockout to take the series 2-0.
Both fighters have won all their outings since their last encounter, and have shown that they truly are two of the top fighters in the division. With Rodtang losing a mixed rules bout against GOAT Demetrious Johnson and injuries hampering a serious run for Haggerty the only argument not to complete a trilogy bout between the two.
Christian Lee vs Martin Nguyen
This being the most unlikely to happen this year, with the tragic passing of Christian’s sister Victoria this past December, and also the dip in form by Nguyen since his last victory over Lee (3-4).
It can’t be denied that former ONE double champ Martin Nguyen sits in a unique spot in ONE Championship’s long line of great fighters. ‘The Situ Asian’ is the only man to ever finish current ONE lightweight world champion Christian Lee.
He did so by submitting Lee via guillotine choke back in 2016. Nguyen was also the only man to defeat ‘The Warrior’ twice, beating him in their rematch in 2018.
Taking into account the accomplishments and how dominant and invincible Lee has been inside the circle, these accolades by Nguyen are nothing short of incredible. Despite his incredible accomplishments in the promotion, Christian Lee has not been able to avenge his two losses to Nguyen.
Their first fight was Lee’s first-ever career defeat, where he fell to a slick guillotine choke by Nguyen that shut his lights out.
The rematch, which was for Martin Nguyen’s ONE featherweight world title, was more closely-contested. Although Lee was constantly the aggressor in the bout, Nguyen’s elusive movements and raw power did enough damage to earn him the split decision win. With a win over Nguyen being the only achievement missing from the legacy of Christian Lee will we see the two warriors step inside the ONE circle for their ONE Championship trilogy?.
With so many anticipated bouts this coming year do you agree with our list of ONE Championship trilogies for 2023? Which fights would you make- in the US or otherwise?
Image Credit ONE Championship
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