ONE Championship today held a virtual press conference featuring face-off interviews between athletes competing at both ONE on Prime Video 3: Lineker vs. Andrade and ONE 162: Zhang vs. Di Bella.
ONE on Prime Video 3 sees knockout artists collide in the main event, with John Lineker defending his ONE Bantamweight World Title against surging Brazilian Fabricio Andrade.
Plus, dominant lightweight kickboxing king Regian Eersel looks to claim a second belt when he battles rising Thai star Sinsamut Klinmee for the inaugural ONE Lightweight Muay Thai World Title.
In addition, BJJ phenom Kade Ruotolo – the youngest ADCC World Champion in history – faces sambo stylist and decorated judoka Uali Kurzhev for the inaugural ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Championship.
ONE 162 night’s top attraction sees Chinese phenom Zhang Peimian takes on undefeated Canadian-Italian star Jonathan Di Bella for the ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Title, which was recently vacated by the legendary Sam-A Gaiyanghadao.
Athletes answered a series of questions from the media ahead of their highly anticipated matchups.
One on Prime Video 3 Face off Interviews
John Lineker, ONE Bantamweight World Champion:
I feel so good [at my new weight]. Much better than before. I feel better both physically and emotionally. I feel very good, I like it and I’m ready to go.
My heavy hands, my iron fist, that will be the difference. You guys have seen what happens when I strike, I pack a punch. That’s the difference.
This is like football. You only need one goal to win. Just like I only need one punch to win.
It’s very nice for [Fabricio] to dream about turning me into a wrestler. But I’m ready for him. I have over 50 fights, I’ve never been KO’d.
Fabricio Andrade, #2-Ranked Bantamweight:
I’m the guy who has been calling him out. He’s been ducking me. 100%, I’m going to put on a show, there’s going to be another knockout and we’ll have a new champion.
He thinks I’m like all the other guys he’s fought. And has no idea what’s coming. He can throw all the punches he wants. I’m still going to knock him out.
We all know Bibiano [Fernandes] is not a striker, he was able to knock Lineker down in their fight. Imagine what I’m going to do to him. Bibiano doesn’t have half the striking I have.
Regian Eersel, ONE Lightweight Muay Thai World Title Challenger:
I’m not going to underestimate him. Every fight in ONE Championship is big. Sinsamut is a new challenge. He KO’d his last two opponents. He’s very dangerous.
Maybe [I’d switch to MMA]. Never say never. I don’t know what the future will bring, but I’m open. I’m only 29-years-old, so I still have about 10-years to go!
Sinsamut Klinmee, ONE Lightweight Muay Thai World Title Challenger:
I see the weaknesses [in Regian Eersel], but I don’t want to tell anyone. But during the fight, everyone will see what happens.
My dad was a fighter. He was a champion. My entire family, all champions. They set an example, and that’s what I’d like to follow.
Kade Ruotolo, Multi-time BJJ World Champion:
Someone left a comment on my last Instagram post: ‘If Sambo was easy, it would be called Jiu-Jitsu.’ So these matches [Jiu-Jitsu vs. Sambo] are really cool, we can merge the two styles. Sambo guys have great takedowns and leg locks, so it’ll be fun to figure out his style. But I believe in BJJ, we have a few more moves, more options, so it’ll be an interesting matchup.
The biggest source of so-called pressure, holding it down for Jiu-Jitsu [vs. Sambo]. That’s the first thing my brother said when I signed this contract: ‘Sambo vs. Jiu-Jitsu, you gotta hold it down.’
Seeing Mikey’s [Musumeci] match and seeing him get the belt, that was super inspiring to me. I’m looking to do the same.
Uali Kurzhev, Sambo World Champion:
I don’t think I’m overlooked. I’ve been in the sport of Sambo for 27-years. I’m sure Kade has never experienced an opponent like me, since he’s so specialized. I’ll bring it to him in this match.
I understand the pressure and the audience, how big it is. But again, I’ve been doing this for a long time. I have methods to avoid nerves, I’m ready for this.
ONE 162 Face Off Interview
Zhang Peimian, ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Title Challenger:
I believe that 90% of me is hard work and less than 10% is talent. Without the hard work, there would be no results. Talent isn’t everything.
I predict a brutal knockout inside four rounds.
Jonathan Di Bella, ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Title Challenger:
I can’t wait to become the king of the division. And I will become the king of the division on October 21st.
I feel like Zhang has the home field advantage of sorts, since the fight is in Asia… But my home field advantage is the Circle. The Circle is my home.
Image Credits ONE Championship
